http://www.gpupdate.net/ Wed, 16 Jan 2013 12:44:34 +0000 http://www.gpupdate.net/en/world-series-renault-news/289362/melker-switches-to-fr3-5-with-tech-1/ Nigel Melker will join the Formula Renault 3.5 grid with Tech 1 this season, moving over from the GP2 Series. The 21-year-old Dutchman, who explained that budget was the main reason for his switch, is targeting the title in his maiden campaign and believes the French outfit will provide him with the best chance of doing so. http://www.gpupdate.net/en/world-series-renault-news/289362/melker-switches-to-fr3-5-with-tech-1/ Wed, 16 Jan 2013 11:47:43 +0000 http://www.gpupdate.net/en/gp2-news/283356/ocean-investigating-cause-of-melker-crash/ Ocean Racing Technology continues to look into what caused Nigel Melker’s heavy accident in the early stages of Saturday’s GP2 at Spa. Red flags came out when the Dutchman lost control at the top of Eau Rouge, embedding his car into the tyre wall. http://www.gpupdate.net/en/gp2-news/283356/ocean-investigating-cause-of-melker-crash/ Mon, 03 Sep 2012 12:14:08 +0100 http://www.gpupdate.net/en/videos/2541/heavy-accident-for-nigel-melker-at-spa/ http://www.gpupdate.net/en/videos/2541/heavy-accident-for-nigel-melker-at-spa/ Sat, 01 Sep 2012 16:01:00 +0100 http://www.gpupdate.net/en/gp2-news/270876/dams-confirms-haryanto-and-melker-for-final/ The DAMS outfit has confirmed that Rio Haryanto and Nigel Melker will make up its formation for next weekend’s first ever GP2 Final event in Abu Dhabi. http://www.gpupdate.net/en/gp2-news/270876/dams-confirms-haryanto-and-melker-for-final/ Thu, 03 Nov 2011 09:21:00 +0000 http://www.gpupdate.net/en/gp2-news/270051/melker-to-join-ocean-for-gp2-testing/ Ocean Racing Technology will be running Nigel Melker at this week’s GP2 test session in Barcelona, which will run between Wednesday and Thursday. Having competed in GP3 in 2011, the Dutchman has already tested with Arden and finished last month’s Jerez test third quickest. http://www.gpupdate.net/en/gp2-news/270051/melker-to-join-ocean-for-gp2-testing/ Mon, 17 Oct 2011 09:58:00 +0100 http://www.gpupdate.net/en/gp2-news/269728/airasia-and-isport-confirm-testing-line-ups/ The AirAsia and iSport GP2 teams have verified their driver line-ups for next weekend’s test session at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya. http://www.gpupdate.net/en/gp2-news/269728/airasia-and-isport-confirm-testing-line-ups/ Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:43:00 +0100 http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f3-news/269075/melker-triumphs-in-valencia-opener/ Nigel Melker took a lights-to-flag victory during the opening F3 Euro Series race of the weekend at Valencia on Saturday, ultimately crossing the line just under a second ahead of Mücke Motorsport team-mate Felix Roseqnvist. Spain’s Roberto Merhi completed the podium, keeping his bid for the title well on-track. http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f3-news/269075/melker-triumphs-in-valencia-opener/ Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0100 http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f3-news/269041/melker-and-merhi-clinch-valencia-poles/ Nigel Melker and Roberto Merhi have picked up the two pole positions which were on offer in the Formula 3 Euro Series qualifying session on Friday afternoon. At Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit, the Spanish Champion elect topped the timesheets although Melker’s individual second best time was quicker than Merhi’s. http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f3-news/269041/melker-and-merhi-clinch-valencia-poles/ Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:27:00 +0100 http://www.gpupdate.net/en/gp2-news/268496/bird-to-test-for-trident-at-jerez/ A number of GP2 teams have confirmed their line-ups for next weekend’s text session at Jerez, with Trident announcing that Mercedes F1 reserve driver Sam Bird will spend a day with the team. http://www.gpupdate.net/en/gp2-news/268496/bird-to-test-for-trident-at-jerez/ Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:27:00 +0100 http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f3-news/263393/post-race-penalties-give-melker-victory/ Mücke Motorsport driver Nigel Melker has been named as the winner of this morning’s opening race at the Norisring, after initial race winner Laurens Vanthoor was penalised along with seven other drivers. http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f3-news/263393/post-race-penalties-give-melker-victory/ Sat, 02 Jul 2011 12:37:00 +0100 http://www.gpupdate.net/en/autosport-news/263124/penalties-handed-to-three-drivers/ Three drivers have been handed penalties following the second GP3 race of the weekend in Valencia on Sunday. http://www.gpupdate.net/en/autosport-news/263124/penalties-handed-to-three-drivers/ Mon, 27 Jun 2011 10:01:00 +0100 http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f3-news/261342/melker-heads-practice-at-red-bull-ring/ The Netherlands’ Nigel Melker led the way as the Formula 3 Euro Series returned to Austria’s newly-named Red Bull Ring on Friday. On top in practice with a best effort of 1:25.621, the Mücke Motorsport driver finished ahead of Signature’s Marco Wittmann and recently-appointed Motopark Academy driver Tom Dillmann. http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f3-news/261342/melker-heads-practice-at-red-bull-ring/ Fri, 03 Jun 2011 13:07:00 +0100 http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f3-news/259664/melker-storms-to-race-1-victory-at-zandvoort/ Nigel Melker claimed the top step of the podium in the first race of the weekend at Zandvoort on Saturday morning, leading home Felix Rosenqvist after making his way past the Swedish driver on the fourth lap. Prema Powerteam’s Roberto Merhi finished third, increasing his championship lead over team-mate Daniel Juncadella. As the lights went out at 10:15am local time (BST +1) Rosenqvist jumped ahead of Melker at the first corner, taking advantage of a slower start by the Dutchman to move into second place. However, it was not long before Melker began fighting for the position, and he made his way back past with a clever move on Lap 4. Melker went on to extend his lead thanks to a small mistake from Rosenqvist as the race entered its final ten laps and he eventually crossed the line with an advantage of more than three seconds. Behind Merhi in third, Laurens Vanthoor secured fourth ahead of the second Prema machine of Juncadella. Columbia’s Carlos Muñoz claimed sixth, while Motopark Academy trio Kimiya Sato, Gianmarco Raimondo and Jimmy Eriksson were covered by less than a second at the chequered flag. Marco Wittmann endured a tough race, receiving a drive through penalty early on for an incident with team-mate Daniel Abt, before coming home tenth. Race 2 begins at 4.10pm local time (BST +1) http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f3-news/259664/melker-storms-to-race-1-victory-at-zandvoort/ Sat, 14 May 2011 12:01:00 +0100 http://www.gpupdate.net/en/autosport-news/259184/melker-wins-season-opener-at-istanbul-park/ Nigel Melker kicked off his second campaign in GP3 in the best possible fashion by sealing victory during the opening race of the season at Istanbul Park on Saturday. The 20-year old from Barendrecht stole the lead on the first lap and went on to take the chequered flag ahead of Andrea Caldarelli and pole-sitter Tom Dillmann. Melker had qualified in fifth place during Friday’s qualifying session, but the Dutchman was able to take advantage of grid penalties for Alexander Sims and Lewis Williamson. Dillmann was slow off the line when the race got underway and slipped back to third position behind Caldarelli and Melker. By the end of the first lap Melker was in the lead, finding his way past Caldarelli at Turn 12. As the race reached its halfway point, there was a safety car period for a clash between Leonardo Cordeiro and Williamson leading to both men retiring, with their cars picking up substantial damage in the incident. Melker was able to stay calm at the restart and build a small lead over second place man Caldarelli. The top three remained unchanged at the end of the race, with Melker eventually winning by a margin of 0.605 seconds. Valtteri Bottas was next up in fourth, ahead of António Félix da Costa and 16-year-old Mitch Evans. Michael Christensen secured seventh in the second of the three RSC Mücke Motorsport cars, while Alexander Sims was the quickest British representative just over a second behind. The top ten was completed by two of the Addax machines, with Dean Smith leading home team-mate Gabriel Chaves. Sunday's Race 2 begins at 10:25am local time (BST +2) http://www.gpupdate.net/en/autosport-news/259184/melker-wins-season-opener-at-istanbul-park/ Sat, 07 May 2011 16:37:00 +0100 http://www.gpupdate.net/en/autosport-news/259021/melker-moves-ahead-in-second-practice/ Following the second practice session made available to GP3 runners on Friday morning, The Netherlands’ Nigel Melker has moved to the top of the timesheets in Turkey. Behind the MSC Mücke driver, MW Arden pairing Lewis Williamson of Scotland and Mitch Evans of New Zealand complete the top three. With only half an hour of running time available, GP3 practice is always a crowded affair although that was only intensified following a late red flag stoppage for the spinning Marlon Stockinger’s Atech CRS car. Evans was able to find good space on-track, but was unable to move into the top two. Just behind, Italy’s Andrea Caldarelli and Indonesia’s Rio Haryanto completed the leading five for Tech 1 and Marussia Manor, correspondingly. In eighth place, Alexander Sims of Status confirmed two Britons in the top eight as Practice 1 pace-setter Valtteri Bottas dropped to ninth for Lotus ART. GP3 Qualifying in Turkey begins at 9:45am local time on Saturday (BST +2) http://www.gpupdate.net/en/autosport-news/259021/melker-moves-ahead-in-second-practice/ Fri, 06 May 2011 16:56:00 +0100 http://www.gpupdate.net/en/autosport-news/257474/melker-delighted-with-testing-form/ Nigel Melker was left in high spirits as the final GP3 pre-season test came to an end in Barcelona on Thursday. The Dutchman set the only time of the three-day test under the 1:38.000 barrier, and he is thrilled with the progress his RSC Mücke Motorsport team has made at the Circuit de Catalunya this week. "I think it’s really good," he told GPUpdate.net at the Montmeló track on Thursday afternoon. "The first day I was third, the second day I was second and today I was the fastest; I think that was really good and I really like this track. We have developed the car a lot and I think every day was a step better and better." When asked if he could repeat the strong start he made in the F3 Euroseries earlier this year, Melker replied: "I hope so, I will do my best and there’s a big chance of having a good start. It looks very good and I’m really quick, so I think I can do a better job in GP3 than last year." http://www.gpupdate.net/en/autosport-news/257474/melker-delighted-with-testing-form/ Thu, 14 Apr 2011 18:25:00 +0100 http://www.gpupdate.net/en/autosport-news/257471/melker-ends-final-pre-season-test-day-on-top/ Nigel Melker was the fastest man as the final GP3 pre-season test of 2011 came to an end at the Circuit de Catalunya on Thursday. The Dutchman set his personal best lap during the morning session, with the afternoon once again failing to produce a pace-setting time. Britain’s Alexander Sims ended his time at the wheel just over three tenths behind Melker, while Nico Müller secured third for Jenzer Motorsport. http://www.gpupdate.net/en/autosport-news/257471/melker-ends-final-pre-season-test-day-on-top/ Thu, 14 Apr 2011 17:28:00 +0100 http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f3-news/256264/melker-wins-first-f3-race-of-the-year/ Nigel Melker has claimed victory in the opening race of the Formula 3 Euro Series season at Paul Ricard. The Dutchman took the chequered flag first after 19 laps, leading home with teammate Felix Rosenqvist by four seconds. Daniel Juncadella was third, while pole sitter Roberto Merhi had to settle for fourth place. http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f3-news/256264/melker-wins-first-f3-race-of-the-year/ Sat, 02 Apr 2011 10:17:00 +0100 http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f3-results/5002/free-practice-f3-euro-series-paul-ricard-2011/ http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f3-results/5002/free-practice-f3-euro-series-paul-ricard-2011/ Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:10:00 +0100 http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f3-news/256209/melker-quickest-in-opening-practice-session/ The Netherlands’ Nigel Melker led the way on Friday morning as the first Formula 3 Euro Series practice session was held at Paul Ricard in France. Behind the Mücke Motorsport driver's best effort of 1:52.639, Roberto Merhi of Spain and Germany’s Marco Wittmann completed the top three. http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f3-news/256209/melker-quickest-in-opening-practice-session/ Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:09:00 +0100