Daniil Kvyat puts himself into the GP3 title chase in Italy
Perfection: four points for pole, a lights to flag victory and two bonus points for fastest lap, does it get any better for MW Arden’s Daniil Kvyat? It does when the Russian ace moves into P2 in the Drivers’ Standings with three races to go. Carlin’s Nick Yelloly finished in second with Series leader Facu Regalia (ART Grand Prix) in third.
Kvyat made a clear getaway from P1, with Tio Ellinas (Marussia Manor Racing) moving into second before Turn 1. Dino Zamparelli from P11 on the grid braked late and made contact with his teammate Ellinas going into the first corner. The Cypriot’s car tagged the back of Carlos Sainz’ MW Arden as a result, sending the Spaniard into the spin, whilst Conor Daly (ART Grand Prix) and Robert Visoiu were also caught up in the action. Damage caused to Series contenders’ Ellinas and Daly put them both out of the race, the same for Visoiu.
Luis Sa Silva (Carlin) made contact with Marussia Manor Racing’s Ryan Cullen which brought a halt to both of their proceedings, whilst Aaro Vainio (Koiranen GP) was also victim to the incident but able to continue. Alex Fontana (Jenzer Motorsport) also had a short race, resulting in the gravel. By the end of lap one, Kvyat had pulled half a second advantage over the Carlin duo of Yelloly and Alexander Sims, with Regalia and Lewis Williamson (Bamboo Engineering) next along.
Series leader Regalia was on the move and was quick to pass Williamson and Sims and move into a potential rostrum position. But Williamson wasn’t ready to give up on the fight and harassed the Argentine until the chequered flag, keeping within half a second of the ART Grand Prix machine.
Sainz who had dropped back to P20 began to carve his way through the field, enjoying some tussles with Patrick Kujala (Koiranen GP), Melville McKee (Bamboo Engineering), Giovanni Venturini (Trident) and Patric Niederhauser (Jenzer Motorsport).
Kvyat increased his advantage at the front in the final laps to finish five seconds clear of Yelloly at the chequered flag. The Brit recorded another strong result for Carlin, equalling his career best in GP3. Regalia achieved another podium and solid points for his championship fight. Williamson pocketed his best result of the year in fourth ahead of Sims, Kevin Korjus (Koiranen GP) and Jack Harvey (ART Grand Prix).
Patric Niederhauser will start from reverse pole for Jenzer Motorsport in Race 2 tomorrow after finishing P8, ahead of Sainz and the young rookie Kujala who picked up his first point in the Series in P10 for Koiranen GP.
Regalia reigns at the top of the Drivers’ Standings but the gap has decreased to 11 points with the Argentine on 130 points, compared to Kvyat’s 119. Daly and Korjus are jointly in third on 101 whilst Ellinas has dropped to P5 on 95.
ART Grand Prix top the Teams’ Standings on 312, with MW Arden and Koiranen GP on 228 and 177 respectively.
Race 2 starts tomorrow at 09.25 local time…the battle for the title is truly on!
