I've had GP3 for I don't know how long and decided some time ago to start a career and see how it went. Here's where I'm up to so far:
My career began in season 2000, starting off in the mighty Arrows (because they had the best livery of the minnows that year!)
First Grand Prix was Melbourne, my home Grand Prix, and hopes were for the top ten in qualifying and a top ten finish. A blistering qualy lap saw me take pole by a smidge from DC - not bad for rookie at his first GP! However it rained for the race and a dodgy setup and a bit of rookie exuberance (spun at Turn 4 after being passed by MS into the first corner on Lap 1 and dropped to the back of the field) saw me finish up in 9th, one place ahead of team mate Pedro de la Rosa.
Two DNFs followed, and then first points with a 6th at Silverstone, before another run of 3 DNFs. Things came good in Canada with an incredible 2nd from 7th on the grid, followed by two even more incredible wins, one at France and a lights to flag effort in Austria. Two more wins at Indy and Suzuka and a second at Sepang saw me finish the strongest of anyone in a championship no one wanted to win - Mika Hakkinen took his third straight title with a mere 86 points, with DC second on only 63. I ended up 5th in the Driver's standings, Pedro 15th and Arrows 3rd in the Constructors. The win in Japan was notable as I started 3rd and battled wheel to wheel with MS for much of the race, eventualy winning by less than 2 seconds.
My four wins and seven poles for the year saw Sir Frank come knocking for 2001...
2001 started brightly with two poles in Melbourne and Sepang, and a win and a fourth respectively. Things sucked for the next five races with a couple of crashes and mechanical problems before bouncing back with a dominant win at Montreal which is quickly becoming a happy hunting ground for me. Reliability (and crashing out) dogged me for the year so despite me winning 6 races for the season, Michael Schumacher claimed his third title with seven wins and 103 points. I wound up 2nd on 69 points, finishing off the year with a whimper with a 16th at Indy and a DNF at Suzuka. The highlight of the year was three wins in a row at Silvertsone, Hockenhiem and Budapest but by then the championship was already over. Qualy went to me over Ralf 15-2, fastest laps to me over Ralf 10-7, and my performance was enough to see the same line up retained for 2002.
2002.... CHAMPIONSHIP YEAR!!!!!
A tale of two ways to win a championship - very fast vs very consistent. I was very fast, Michael was uber-consistent, finishing off the podium only 3 times, significantly in three of the last four races. Meanwhile I DNF'd the opener in Melbourne thanks to dodgy electrics, before dominating in Malaysia, then a string of 3 third places before three wins on the trot, including Monaco for the first time and Montreal once again. During that time Michael racked up 2 wins, 4 seconds, a 3rd and a 4th.
After Canada Michael is on 51 and I'm on 52. Game on! We swap wins and third places in France and at the Nurburgring before disater strikes and I crash out at Silverstone trying too hard and Michael claims second. I bounce back with two wins in Germany and Hungary with Michael second in both, leaving me 86 and him on 83 with four races to go.
Controversy at Spa! I qualify on pole for the ninth time for the year with Ralf second so I'm hoping for a good start and that he'll be a good rear gunner for me. At the start however, on the entry to La Source, Michael drives straight into me (I'm not kidding!!) and in classic GP3 style sends my car rolling over and over again with wheels and wings flying everywhere. Michael meanwhile continued with no damage at all! He finished up in 3rd but the stewards (i.e. me) awarded him a 25 second penalty added to his race time, dropping him to 5 thus giving him only 2 points. So now it's 86 - 85 with three races to go.
Italy was a disaster - I was planning on a three stopper but lost a front wing early on, so switched to two stopper which just didn't work for me. After a very long, long race, I finished up 7th which was very frustrating, but at least team mate Ralf did the right thing by winning from his brother in second. 91-86 to Michael with two races to go.
So I'm down by 5 with two races remaining. Michael needs to win one and finish in the points in the other and he's claimed his fourth title. I really need to win both, given his consistency where he's only been off the podium once all year.
Off to Indy where I claim my 5th straight pole. Ralf's second while Michael's inexplicably qualified in 16th - by far his lowest grid slot for the year (I haven't played withe performance values I promise). A good start sees me still in the lead into Turn 1, Turn 2 and eventually the end of Lap 1 also. Ralf's right behind me, and we work a lead of several seconds over the rest of the field up to the first stops. Things are looking good - Ralf is a comforatble 3-4 seconds behind me, and everyone else a further 7 or 8 behind that. Then the happiest message I've seen flash upon the screen - 'Michael Schumacher is out of the race.' Transmission apparently, so now it's just a matter of cruising to the finish. Job done, me in 1st, Ralf in second.
96-91 to me with one race to go. Just finish in front of him anywhere and the title's mine!
The last race is in Japan again. My sixth straight pole, and Ralf again starting from second. Michael's starting from third so the run to the first corner will be interesting. I get a great get away, but Michael passes his brother so the battle is on! My lead increases a few tenths each lap, until I'm about 3 and half seconds in front, with Ralf being chased by Rubens another 3 or 4 behind that. And then another brilliant message flashes up on the screen 'Michael Schumacher is out of the race.' I can't believe my luck. That's the championship settled, I don't even need to finish. Michael had not finished lower than 5th all year, he'd won 3 races during the year but for whatever reason he couldn't finish the final two leaving me to take the wins and the championship!
I claimed 9 wins, 12 poles, 11 fastest laps, 106 points to win the Driver's Championship. Ralf had 4 wins, 2 poles, 1 fastest lap and 89 poitns to take 3rd in the Drivers and for Williams to take the Constructors.
In true Williams style though, once I'd won the world championship I was no longer needed. Toyota swooped (and offered a stupid amount of money
), so for 2003 and 2004 and I'm going to be trying to give Toyota their first win. I'll let you all know how I go!