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Pla takes first win in chaotic race

Jim Pla scored his maiden Formula 3 Euro Series victory from ninth on the grid in an eventful second race at Oschersleben

The French ART driver worked his way up from ninth to second in the early laps, and he pursued pole-sitter Carlos Munoz (Mucke) from then on. Pla then took the lead with just three laps remaining, when Munoz locked up and went off at Turn 5 after hitting a kerb.

Pla got himself up to fourth on a chaotic opening lap. He was demoted to fifth by Motopark's charging Antonio Felix da Costa on lap two, but he capitalised on a collision between the Portuguese driver and Valtteri Bottas (ART) two laps later to take third.

He then snatched second place from championship frontrunner Marco Wittmann (Signature) at the first corner on lap 11, and from then on set about harassing Munoz.

The race leader appeared to have things under control, as he sustained Pla's pressure all the way to his lap 27 error. He rejoined from his off in fifth place, but came into the pits to retire with a heavily damaged front left tyre.

Wittmann took second, while Nicolas Marroc avoided all of the carnage to take his second podium finish of the season for Prema.

Plenty of the usual frontrunners hit trouble during the race. Newly-crowned champion Edoardo Mortara retired on lap one after he damaged his Signature Dallara-VW in a collision with ART's Alexander Sims at the start.

Mucke's Roberto Merhi was another one to suffer on lap one, as he locked up and went straight on at the first corner when challenging the frontrunners.

Pos  Driver                  Team       Car    Time/Gap
 1.  Jim Pla                 ART        D/M  40m26.450s
 2.  Marco Wittmann          Signature  D/V    + 2.151s
 3.  Nicolas Marroc          Prema      D/M    + 3.851s
 4.  Laurens Vanthoor        Signature  D/V    + 4.373s
 5.  Renger van der Zande    Motopark   D/V   + 15.697s
 6.  Daniel Juncadella       Prema      D/M   + 16.105s
 7.  Tobias Hegewald         Motopark   D/V   + 22.784s
 8.  Alexander Sims          ART        D/M     + 1 lap
 9.  Roberto Merhi           Mucke      D/M     + 1 lap

Retirements:

     Carlos Munoz            Mucke      D/M  27 laps
     Valtteri Bottas         ART        D/M  23 laps
     Matias Laine            Motopark   D/V  14 laps
     Antonio Felix da Costa  Motopark   D/V  14 laps
     Edoardo Mortara         Signature  D/V  0 laps

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