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Mass penalties hand Vietoris victory

Christian Vietoris took a surprise victory in the second Formula 3 Euro Series race of the Oschersleben weekend after all six drivers ahead of him had 30 seconds added to their race times

The Mucke Motorsport driver was only seventh on the road at the chequered flag, but he was classified the winner after 21 of the 23 drivers still running were penalised for setting personal best times through the first sector while yellow flags were out.

The drivers who were given a time penalty included all of those ahead of Vietoris - Stefano Coletti (who took a dominant win on the road), Mika Maki, Roberto Merhi, Jules Bianchi and Jean Karl Vernay.

The 30s penalties were added in the closing stages of the race, although in the confusion Coletti still celebrated as he took the chequered flag.

The Prema driver then opted not to spray the champagne on the podium and walked off immediately after receiving his trophy. Signature's Maki, who was second on the road, stayed on the podium but did not spray his champagne.

Coletti had commanded the race after snatching the lead from Maki at the start. The Finn initially blocked his attack on the inside of Turn 1, so he switched to the outside, and then made the move stick by having the inside line for Turn 2.

After that he cruised away, while Maki spent the entire race keeping a fast-starting Alexander Sims (Mucke) at bay.

Sims came under pressure occasionally from Manor's Roberto Merhi, but the Spaniard eventually had to shift his attention to his mirrors, where championship leader Bianchi (ART) was mounting an attack.

The race one winner had gained a place at the expense of team-mate Valtteri Bottas at the start, before passing Vernay (Signature) for sixth around the outside of Turn 1. He then pulled off a stunning move on Vietoris, catching the German unawares through the fast penultimate corner.

Vietoris went off and also fell behind Vernay, but in the end that did not matter as the penalties for those around him handed him a third victory of the season.

Pos  Driver                Team            Car     Time/Gap
 1.  Christian Vietoris    Mucke           D/M   40m33.472s
 2.  Stefano Coletti       Prema           D/M  +  17.570s*
 3.  Mika Maki             Signature       D/V  +  26.018s*
 4.  Alexander Sims        Mucke           D/M  +  26.687s*
 5.  Roberto Merhi         Manor           D/M  +  27.412s*
 6.  Jules Bianchi         ART             D/M  +  28.545s*
 7.  Jean Karl Vernay      Signature       D/V  +  29.022s*
 8.  Valtteri Bottas       ART             D/M  +  31.033s*
 9.  Esteban Gutierrez     ART             D/M  +  31.549s*
10.  Henkie Waldschmidt    SG              D/M  +  39.697s*
11.  Jake Rosenzweig       Carlin          D/V  +  41.917s*
12.  Basil Shaaban         Prema           D/M  +  44.715s*
13.  Sam Bird              Mucke           D/M  +  48.301s*
14.  Renger van der Zande  Motopark        D/M  +   48.355s
15.  Tiago Geronimi        Signature       D/V  +  48.969s*
16.  Cesar Ramos           Manor           D/M  +  50.236s*
17.  Brendon Hartley       Carlin          D/V  +  52.520s*
18.  Nick Tandy            Kolles & Heinz  D/V  +  59.022s*
19.  Marco Wittmann        Mucke           D/M  +1m01.731s*
20.  Johnny Cecotto        HBR             D/M  +1m11.953s*
21.  Pedro Enrique         Manor           D/M  +1m12.584s*
22.  Tom Dillmann          HBR             D/M  +    1 lap*
23.  Andrea Caldarelli     SG              D/M  +   4 laps*

Retirements:

     Christopher Zanella   Motopark        D/M  l lap
     Johan Jokinen         Kolles & Heinz  D/V  l lap

* Includes 30s penalty

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