Having shown great consistency all season ART Grand Prix‘s Nyck de Vries finally claimed his maiden GP3 Series victory in the Monza Sprint Race.
Starting from the front row, the Dutchman passed his team-mate Alexander Albon on lap six to take control of the race. The podium was completed by Trident‘s Antonio Fuoco.
Starting his home race from reverse grid pole, Fuoco retained the lead at the start with Albon ahead of de Vries. The positive start for the Italian did not last for long with Albon passing into Turn one on the second lap with de Vries and Nirei Fukzumi following suit – before reclaiming fourth place from the Japanese driver.
A safety car period was called following contact between Series leader Charles Leclerc and team-mate Fukuzumi – following the race the Japanese driver was deemed at fault and has been handed a three place grid penalty for the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Arden International‘s Tatiana Calderon was also caught up in the accident and had to pit for a new nose cone – but her day went from bad to worse when she was found to have been speeding in the pit lane and was handed a five second time penalty.
When racing resumed Albon led de Vries, Fuoco, Jake Dennis and Jack Aitken. On lap six de Vries saw his opportunity and passed Albon for the lead of the race.
Behind the leading group, the battle for sixth place was heating up between Alex Palou and Sandy Stuvik with the pair battling it out corner after corner, with Arjun Maini soon joining in on the fun.
In the battle to be top Arden, Aitken had a look at his team-mate into Turn 1 on the penultimate lap but had to run wide and lost ground. Out front, de Vries’ lead was up to almost two seconds as he romped away to his maiden victory.
The battle for sixth place raged on as Maini passed Palou on the line to claim the place.
When the chequered flag was shown, de Vries took his much awaited debut victory, with Albon second ahead of Fuoco, Dennis, Aitken, Maini, Palou and Artur Janosz.
In the Drivers’ Championship, Leclerc now holds a 24 point advantage over Fuoco with Albon in third. The Teams’ title is all wrapped up for ART with Arden and Trident completing the top three.
GP3 returns to track at the end of the month with the Series making its first visit to the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia on September 30th – October 2nd 2016.
Autodromo Nazionale Monza Race 2 Results
[table id=1446 /]
