Jimmy Eriksson maintained his slim chance of making a claim for the 2014 GP3 Series championship by taking his second win of the season, as both Alex Lynn and Richie Stanaway had struggles at Monza.
The Koiranen GP driver converted his pole position into victory and controlled the race superbly, and despite a late challenge from Dino Zamparelli of ART Grand Prix, took the win.
Marvin Kirchhofer completed the podium in the second ART Grand Prix machine, but was over six seconds adrift of the leading two who were at times in a race of their own up front. He had been in a great battle with the Arden International machine of Robert Visoiu, but once the Romanian was handed a drive-through penalty for overtaking under a yellow flag, it was plain sailing for the German to finish third.
Emil Bernstorff just missed out on a podium finish by taking fourth for Carlin ahead of Dean Stoneman of Marussia Manor Racing, but current championship leader Alex Lynn could only finish sixth for Carlin after having to take avoiding action at the first chicane on the opening lap and dropping down the order. Lynn managed to get by one Marussia Manor Racing entry of Patrick Kujala but could not find a way past Stoneman.
Matheo Tuscher will start Sunday’s second race from pole position after claiming eighth on the road on Saturday for Jenzer Motorsport, ahead of Status Grand Prix duo Richie Stanaway and Nick Yelloly, who both paid the price for disappointing opening laps. Stanaway, currently second in the championship, managed to survive a clash with the Jenzer Motorsport machine of Pal Varhaug but could not find a way through into eighth.
Monza Race 1 Result
POS | DRIVER | NAT | TEAM | TIME/Laps |
1 | Jimmy Eriksson | SWE | Koiranen GP | 28m35.462s |
2 | Dino Zamparelli | GBR | ART Grand Prix | +0.674s |
3 | Marvin Kirchhofer | GER | ART Grand Prix | +6.329s |
4 | Emil Bernstorff | GBR | Carlin | +7.380s |
5 | Dean Stoneman | GBR | Marussia Manor Racing | +8.287s |
6 | Alex Lynn | GBR | Carlin | +9.107s |
7 | Patrick Kujala | FIN | Marussia Manor Racing | +10.776s |
8 | Matheo Tuscher | SWI | Jenzer Motorsport | +11.805s |
9 | Richie Stanaway | NZL | Status Grand Prix | +12.647s |
10 | Nick Yelloly | GBR | Status Grand Prix | +13.438s |
11 | Jann Mardenborough | GBR | Arden International | +13.556s |
12 | Kevin Ceccon | ITA | Jenzer Motorsport | +16.625s |
13 | Patric Niederhauser | SWI | Arden International | +17.404s |
14 | Luis Sa Silva | MAC | Carlin | +18.024s |
15 | Riccardo Agostini | ITA | Hilmer Motorsport | +18.180s |
16 | Alfonso Celis Jr | MEX | Status Grand Prix | +21.308s |
17 | John Bryant-Meisner | SWE | Trident Racing | +31.499s |
18 | Mitch Gilbert | AUS | Trident Racing | +37.864s |
19 | Robert Visoiu | ROM | Arden International | +40.537s |
20 | Carmen Jorda | ESP | Koiranen GP | +1m15.351s |
21 | Luca Ghiotto | ITA | Trident Racing | +1 Lap |
RET | Alex Fontana | SWI | ART Grand Prix | 12 Laps |
RET | Ryan Cullen | GBR | Marussia Manor Racing | 7 Laps |
RET | Santiago Urrutia | URU | Koiranen GP | 3 Laps |
RET | Sebastian Balthasar | GER | Hilmer Motorsport | 2 Laps |
RET | Pal Varhaug | NOR | Jenzer Motorsport | 0 Laps |
DNS | Nelson Mason | CAN | Hilmer Motorsport | 0 Laps |