From the first corner to the last, Arden’s Kevin Ceccon controlled this morning’s race, his second consecutive sprint race victory following his maiden win at Silverstone 3 weeks ago. Esteban Ocon achieved his second 2nd place of the weekend, with Jimmy Eriksson fending off Koiranen teammate Matt Parry for the final podium position. Championship leader Ghiotto scored further solid points, finishing in 5th.
After an aborted start, poleman Fuoco couldn’t hold his lead off the line, a flying Ceccon sailing past into turn 1, taking teammate Bernstorff with him. The pair were unable to shake Fuoco completely, and around the following corners a close battle ensued. It was Bernstorff and Fuoco who came to grief in the second half of the turn 6/7 chicane, the Arden driver getting a wheel under the Carlin and launching the latter up in the air, putting an end to both of their races. At the rear of the field, Jann Mardenborough’s run of terrible luck continued as he was hit into a spin, but managed to continue.
Welshman Matt Parry pulled a determined move off on the Trident of Ghiotto, his confidence still on a high after his Silverstone podium and set off on a race long campaign to take the last step on the podium off his Swedish teammate. In the midfield we saw some contact between Seb Morris and Matheo Tuscher, the bright blue liveried Jenzer running off the track.
Kirchhöfer, after having a relatively quiet first lap, shot to attention, with a phenomenal pass around the outside of turn 5 on Pal Varhaug. The field settled down, many catching those in front but unable to pass. An exception to this was Tuscher, who in his efforts to score points snuck around Adderly Fong, the Hong Kong driver losing two places in 5 corners.
With 16 laps gone Kevin Ceccon took the chequered flag for the race victory. Esteban Ocon, having gained in the earlier tangle between Fuoco and Bernstorff, came home in a secure 2nd, followed by Jimmy Eriksson, who’d kept ahead of Matt Parry and denied the Brit another podium. Ghiotto finished 5th coming from 8th on the grid, a result which prior to the race he said he’d be pleased with, and the man trying to catch him in the championship tried to catch him in the race but Kirchhöfer settled for 6th. Rounding out the points was the Jenzer duo of Varhaug and Boschung, the rookie holding off his teammate Tuscher for the final point and pride.
Full result: http://www.gp3series.com/Results/