Sochi GP3: Niederhauser wins race two as Stoneman keeps title open
Patric Niederhauser won a thrilling GP3 race at Sochi on Sunday morning, an event punctuated by two safety cars and a red flag, but which featured an amazing climax
From eighth on the grid after his , Stoneman surged through the pack but had been involved in the first-corner crash that led to the red flag, as Alex Fontana was pincered between the Koiranen GP cars of Stoneman and Jimmy Eriksson.
His front wheels damaged, Fontana hit the brakes and was collected from behind by Riccardo Agostini, the pair heading straight into the barriers and taking Pal Varhaug and Richie Stanaway with them.
Stanaway's gearbox and rear wheels were torn off in his enormous impact, and the race was suspended in the pitlane while the wrecked cars were recovered and the track cleaned.
Eriksson was later given a 10-second stop/go penalty for his part in the crash, ending his slim title hopes.
At the restart, Niederhauser led from Arden team-mate Jann Mardenborough and points leader Alex Lynn (Carlin). Stoneman restarted sixth but quickly passed Kevin Ceccon.
ART's Marvin Kirchhofer passed Lynn for third at Turn 4 on lap four, and then overtook Mardenborough for second through Turns 1 and 2 in aggressive style a couple of laps later.
Stoneman passed title rival Lynn with a smart move at Turn 6 on lap five, but found Mardenborough a tougher nut to crack.
At this point, Lynn would be crowned champion unless Stoneman could gain places.
Stoneman had to make progress, and a late safety car to retrieve the stranded Hilmer car of Nikolay Martsenko proved his saviour.
At the restart, in a two-lap dash to the finish, Stoneman passed Mardenborough for third at Turn 4, then benefited as Niederhauser and Kirchhofer battled for the win.
In a wild final lap, Kirchhofer briefly grabbed the lead at Turn 13, but locked up and ran wide. Stoneman passed him for second and almost grabbed the lead from Niederhauser at the following corner, but the Swiss just held on by 0.3 seconds at the finish line.
Stoneman's second place, coupled with Lynn's fifth, was enough to take the title to the Abu Dhabi finale, although Stoneman will need to score almost every point on offer. Lynn will take the title if Stoneman doesn't qualify on pole.
Kirchhofer finished third, ahead of Mardenborough, Lynn and Nick Yelloly, with the top six covered by just 1.8s.
RESULTS - 15 LAPS:
Pos | Driver | Team | Gap |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Patric Niederhauser | Arden International | 54m22.342s |
2 | Dean Stoneman | Koiranen GP | 0.368s |
3 | Marvin Kirchhofer | ART Grand Prix | 0.683s |
4 | Jann Mardenborough | Arden International | 1.144s |
5 | Alex Lynn | Carlin | 1.416s |
6 | Nick Yelloly | Status Grand Prix | 1.869s |
7 | Alfonso Celis | Status Grand Prix | 2.330s |
8 | Emil Bernstorff | Carlin | 3.003s |
9 | Patrick Kujala | Trident | 3.540s |
10 | Robert Visoiu | Arden International | 3.977s |
11 | Matheo Tuscher | Jenzer Motorsport | 4.681s |
12 | Santiago Urrutia | Koiranen GP | 6.103s |
13 | Dino Zamparelli | ART Grand Prix | 7.844s |
14 | Mitch Gilbert | Trident | 8.135s |
15 | Luis Jorge Sa Silva | Carlin | 8.555s |
16 | Jimmy Eriksson | Koiranen GP | 9.153s |
- | Nikolay Martsenko | Hilmer Motorsport | Retirement |
- | Kevin Ceccon | Jenzer Motorsport | Retirement |
- | Alex Fontana | ART Grand Prix | Retirement |
- | Richie Stanaway | Status Grand Prix | Retirement |
- | Nelson Mason | Hilmer Motorsport | Not started |
- | Riccardo Agostini | Hilmer Motorsport | Retirement |
- | Pal Varhaug | Jenzer Motorsport | Retirement |
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER 16 OF 18 ROUNDS:
Pos | Driver | Points |
---|---|---|
1 | Alex Lynn | 185 |
2 | Dean Stoneman | 138 |
3 | Marvin Kirchhofer | 137 |
4 | Jimmy Eriksson | 127 |
5 | Richie Stanaway | 123 |
6 | Emil Bernstorff | 112 |
7 | Nick Yelloly | 108 |
8 | Dino Zamparelli | 101 |
9 | Jann Mardenborough | 77 |
10 | Patric Niederhauser | 56 |
11 | Alex Fontana | 35 |
12 | Matheo Tuscher | 29 |
13 | Robert Visoiu | 22 |
14 | Patrick Kujala | 22 |
15 | Riccardo Agostini | 18 |
16 | Kevin Ceccon | 14 |
17 | Pal Varhaug | 12 |
18 | Roman de Beer | 8 |
19 | Luis Jorge Sa Silva | 6 |
20 | Luca Ghiotto | 4 |
21 | Alfonso Celis | 2 |
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