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Abu Dhabi GP3: Kirchhofer wins penultimate race after Ocon penalty

ART Grand Prix driver Marvin Kirchhofer inherited victory in the penultimate race of the GP3 season at Yas Marina, with a time penalty for Esteban Ocon setting up a Sunday title showdown.

Marvin Kirchhofer, ART Grand Prix

Marvin Kirchhofer, ART Grand Prix

GP3 Series Media Service

Marvin Kirchhofer, ART Grand Prix
Race 1 Winner Marvin Kirchhofer, ART Grand Prix
Race 1 Winner Marvin Kirchhofer, ART Grand Prix
Esteban Ocon, ART Grand Prix
Emil Bernstorff, Arden International
Jimmy Eriksson, Koiranen GP
Jimmy Eriksson, Koiranen GP
Alex Palou, Campos Racing
Alex Palou, Campos Racing

Ocon needed to outscore Luca Ghiotto by 16 points to wrap up the title with a race to spare, and was in position to do so at one stage.

But a five-second penalty for an early track limits offence meant that the Frenchman, who led every lap of the race, did not even get a podium finish.

As the lights went out, Ocon got a solid enough start off pole position but it was a better getaway for Kevin Ceccon - and the Italian looked set to challenge the Frenchman into Turn 1.

Defending the spot, Ocon attempted to take a wider line and ended up running off-track on the outside of the corner, keeping his foot stuck in and re-emerging with a solid lead before Turn 2.

Ideally for him, rival Ghiotto had a miserable start, slipping behind the Koiranen machine of Jimmy Eriksson - and then allowing Emil Bernstorff through as well.

As Bernstorff cleared Eriksson, Ghiotto looked to do the same, but did not get the chance, the safety car coming out for the stranded car of Adderly Fong.

Ocon headed the restart, with Ghiotto divebombed by Campos driver Alex Palou into Turn 1 - albeit the Trident man stuck to his line and was back into sixth a corner later.

Subsequently, his chances took an upturn when the stewards announced an investigation into Ocon's Turn 1 move at the start - and immediately levied the Frenchman with a penalty.

On Lap 8, Ghiotto - who appeared to be struggling for pure pace at that stage - inherited a spot when Ceccon came to a halt out of P2, bringing out the virtual safety car.

The status quo was then maintained at the restart, although Ghiotto was suddenly in with a chance of finishing ahead of Ocon.

Needing to be within five seconds, he got as close as 5.4s, but couldn't make further inroads - and then had to give up on chasing Ocon after a massive lock-up on lap 15, which put him under pressure from Matt Parry.

Meanwhile, Ocon himself attempted a late push to pull a gap and gain position in the race classification, but despite second-placed Kirchhofer coming under pressure from Bernstorff, the duo kept up enough to take advantage of the Frenchman's penalty at the chequered flag - as did Eriksson.

Ghiotto took fifth ahead of Parry, Ferrari junior Antonio Fuoco and Palou, who will start from reverse-grid pole tomorrow.

Rookie Matevos Isaakyan scored his maiden points in ninth, with Artur Janosz making up the points-scoring top 10.

An early benchmark lap from Ocon was unheaded, giving him two additional points at the end and placing him six points clear of Ghiotto before the decider.

Pos. Driver Team Time/Delay
1 Marvin Kirchhofer ART Grand Prix 38'13.565
2 Emil Bernstorff Arden International 0.618
3 Jimmy Eriksson Koiranen GP 1.299
4 Esteban Ocon ART Grand Prix 1.973
5 Luca Ghiotto Trident 5.407
6 Matt Parry Koiranen GP 6.694
7 Antonio Fuoco Carlin 14.728
8 Alex Palou Campos Racing 15.382
9 Matevos Isaakyan Koiranen GP 15.946
10 Artur Janosz Trident 17.538
11 Pal Varhaug Jenzer Motorsport 18.810
12 Ralph Boschung Jenzer Motorsport 19.274
13 Seb Morris Status Grand Prix 20.244
14 Mitch Gilbert Carlin 21.205
15 Alex Fontana Status Grand Prix 21.760
16 Matheo Tuscher Jenzer Motorsport 24.542
17 Sandy Stuvik Status Grand Prix 32.754
18 Alex Bosak Arden International 36.882
19 Zaid Ashkanani Campos Racing 39.805
20 Michele Beretta Trident 1'43.964
Ret Kevin Ceccon Arden International  
Ret Alfonso Celis ART Grand Prix  
Ret Adderly Fong Carlin  
DNS Konstantin Tereshchenko Campos Racing  

 

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