GP3 Monza: Red Bull's Daniil Kvyat dominates as title race erupts
Red Bull junior Daniil Kvyat dominated the first GP3 Series race of the weekend at Monza after a first-corner pile-up behind handed him an enormous first-lap advantage
MW Arden driver Kvyat made a perfect start from pole, while fellow front-row man Robert Visoiu made a slow getaway.
As Carlos Sainz Jr and Tio Ellinas battled for second at the first corner, Dino Zamparelli took to the grass on the inside and speared into the side of Manor team-mate Ellinas, who in turn rammed Sainz into a spin.
NEWS UPDATE: Zamparelli suspended for causing crash
Visoiu was also taken out, while title contender Conor Daly bounced over the kerbs and sustained a front-right puncture. He too retired.
Kvyat completed the opening lap with a 3.4-second advantage, which he extended to 5.3s by the finish over Carlin's Nick Yelloly, who inherited second after the first-corner calamity.
Kvyat's repeat of his Spa victory also keeps his championship hopes alive.
Points leader Facu Regalia (who spun without harm on his way to the grid!) worked his way past Alexander Sims for third place with a big tow on the start/finish straight.
Sims re-attacked ART's Regalia at Roggia, but a slow exit allowed a charging Lewis Williamson (Bamboo) to jump up to fourth at Lesmo 1.
Behind Sims, Kevin Korjus finished sixth, ahead of Jack Harvey and Patric Niederhauser, who will start Sunday's reversed-grid race from pole.
Sainz recovered to finish ninth from 19th following his opening lap spin.
Results - 17 laps: Pos Driver Team Time/Gap 1. Daniil Kvyat MW Arden 28m10.516s 2. Nick Yelloly Carlin +5.352s 3. Facu Regalia ART +8.084s 4. Lewis Williamson Bamboo +8.694s 5. Alexander Sims Carlin +10.683s 6. Kevin Korjus Koiranen +12.426s 7. Jack Harvey ART +13.557s 8. Patric Niederhauser Jenzer +23.166s 9. Carlos Sainz Jr MW Arden +28.336s 10. Patrick Kujala Koiranen +30.410s 11. Giovanni Venturini Trident +30.779s 12. Melville Mckee Bamboo +31.301s 13. Jimmy Eriksson Status +32.192s 14. Emanuele Zonzini Trident +33.913s 15. David Fumanelli Trident +34.447s 16. Aaro Vainio Koiranen +42.557s 17. Samin Gomez Jenzer +1m10.797s 18. Carmen Jorda Bamboo +1m40.461s 19. Adderly Fong Status +1 lap Ryan Cullen Manor +1 lap Retirements: Luis Sa Silva Carlin 4 laps Alex Fontana Jenzer 2 laps Robert Visoiu MW Arden 1 lap Conor Daly ART 1 lap Josh Webster Status 0 laps Dino Zamparelli Manor 0 laps Tio Ellinas Manor 0 laps
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