Ralph Boschung took took victory in the rain affected GP3 Series Sprint Race – with the first half of the race taking place under safety car conditions. The race featured the safety car three times as the drivers’ tackled the difficult conditions.
ART Grand Prix‘s Alexander Albon and Trident‘s Antonio Fuoco completed the podium.
The 18-lap race was started behind the safety car due to concerns of spray and visibility meaning DAMS‘ rookie Jake Hughes led the pack at the start from reverse grid pole. ART’s Nirei Fukuzumi who started alongside the Briton on the front row was forced to retire on the opening lap due to technical gremlins – the Japanese rookie managed to bring his car into the pit lane.
When racing finally got underway Hughes and fellow Brit Matthew Parry made contact at the first turn; with Hughes spinning and falling back to P6, whilst Parry took a trip through the gravel bed. With the two leaders colliding, Boschung seized the opportunity to race into the lead.
It was a contrast on fates for the remaining ART drivers’ with Albon and Nyck de Vries running in second and third place, with Feature Race winner and Series leader Charles Leclerc had fallen from P7 to P16 due to a technical gremlin similar to that of Fukuzumi.
Campos Racing‘s Konstantin Tereschenko brought his race to a premature end after going off into the gravel, with fellow Russian Matevos Isaakyan who stopped at the side of the track and bringing out the safety car again.
When racing restarted on lap 14, Boschung led Albon and Fuoco – the Italian having fought his way back up to third after falling behind at the first restart. However, racing did not last for long as the safety car was brought out once again when Leclerc made contact with Tatiana Calderon, forcing the Monegasque driver into a spin where he collected Jake Dennis. The trio were all forced to retire from the race, the debris and cars were cleared swiftly with the safety car coming in on the final lap.
Following the race the stewards decided that Leclerc’s driving in the wet conditions was not at the standard expected and was handed a five place grid penalty for Silverstone.
Boschung crossed the line 0.8s ahead of Albon and Fuoco as he took his maiden GP3 win. De Vries, Jack Aitken, Hughes, Parry and Sandy Stuvik rounded out the top eight.
Leclerc’s lead in the championship has been cut to just five points with Albon in second and Fuoco third. Reigning champions ART hold control of the Teams’ Standings ahead of Koiranen with Trident in third.
Red Bull Ring Race 2 Results
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