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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