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Monza GP3: Kirchhofer inherits win, Ghiotto goes from back to third

Marvin Kirchhofer inherited victory from Jimmy Eriksson in a dramatic Monza GP3 race in which championship leader Luca Ghiotto flew from the back to third behind title rival Esteban Ocon

Koiranen GP driver Eriksson, who started fifth, had a great start to move up to third by the end of the opening lap.

He was then gifted second place when Matheo Tuscher ran wide going for the lead at the Lesmos.

By lap three he was able to take the lead on the inside of polesitter Alex Fontana into the first chicane.

The Swedish driver controlled the majority of the race, maintaining the gap to nearest challenger Kirchhofer around the two second mark.

Disaster struck on the penultimate lap, though. Eriksson began to slow with problems, gifting the lead to Kirchhofer, and he limped across the line in fourth before stopping at the end of the pitlane.

Mercedes protege Ocon held on to second place in an ART Grand Prix one-two despite a late surge from Trident rival Ghiotto.

The points leader started on the penultimate row of the grid having stalled on pole in Saturday's race but was able to carve his way into the podium positions by passing Kevin Ceccon at the Roggia chicane.

Jenzer Motorsport team-mates Tuscher and Ralph Boschung both enjoyed frenetic battles.

Tuscher had been as high as second but following his off at the Lesmos he continued to fall down the order to sixth, with Boschung close behind in seventh.

Status Grand Prix's Sandy Stuvik triumphed in a three way scrap for eighth, edging out Mitch Gilbert and front row starter Alex Palou, who spun on the way to the grid.

Race one winner Emil Bernstorff retired midway through the race after contact with Status driver Fontana.

The pair were side by side heading into the first chicane, before Bernstorff was sent briefly airborne as he was forced over the kerb in the middle of the corner.

Fontana was handed a 10-second time penalty for the incident.

Matt Parry and Seb Morris, who were both excluded from Saturday's race after scrutineers deemed their cars to be underweight, retired early on.

RESULTS - 16 LAPS:

Pos Driver Team Gap
1 Marvin Kirchhofer ART Grand Prix 26m50.969s
2 Esteban Ocon ART Grand Prix 1.211s
3 Luca Ghiotto Trident 1.459s
4 Kevin Ceccon Arden International 2.041s
5 Jimmy Eriksson Koiranen GP 6.759s
6 Matheo Tuscher Jenzer Motorsport 11.718s
7 Ralph Boschung Jenzer Motorsport 13.418s
8 Sandy Stuvik Status Grand Prix 15.754s
9 Mitch Gilbert Carlin 17.303s
10 Alex Palou Campos Racing 17.794s
11 Antonio Fuoco Carlin 18.069s
12 Amaury Bonduel Trident 19.512s
13 Brandon Maisano Campos Racing 20.484s
14 Pal Varhaug Jenzer Motorsport 20.571s
15 Zaid Ashkanani Campos Racing 21.748s
16 Alex Fontana Status Grand Prix 25.399s
- Emil Bernstorff Arden International Retirement
- Artur Janosz Trident Retirement
- Seb Morris Status Grand Prix Retirement
- Matt Parry Koiranen GP Retirement
- Alex Bosak Arden International Retirement

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:

Pos Driver Points
1 Luca Ghiotto 170
2 Esteban Ocon 156
3 Marvin Kirchhofer 140
4 Emil Bernstorff 127
5 Kevin Ceccon 77
6 Jimmy Eriksson 66
7 Antonio Fuoco 46
8 Matt Parry 43
9 Jann Mardenborough 32
10 Ralph Boschung 27
11 Matheo Tuscher 22
12 Alfonso Celis 19
13 Alex Palou 18
14 Oscar Tunjo 17
15 Alex Fontana 16
16 Sandy Stuvik 7
17 Seb Morris 6
18 Artur Janosz 4
19 Pal Varhaug 4
20 Alex Bosak 4
21 Mitch Gilbert 1
22 Adderly Fong 0
23 Zaid Ashkanani 0
24 Brandon Maisano 0
25 Amaury Bonduel 0
26 Beitske Visser 0
27 Samin Gomez 0
28 Christopher Hoher 0

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