Sepang GP3: Dennis wins Race 2, Leclerc edges closer to title
Jake Dennis took his GP3 second win in two rounds by leading every lap of the sprint race at Sepang.
Jake Dennis, Arden International
GP3 Series Media Service
The Arden driver took the lead at the start when both front-row starters Antonio Fuoco and Nirei Fukuzumi ran wide at Turn 1.
He exited the corner in the lead ahead of Fukuzumi with Fuoco narrowly staying in third despite going over the kerbs at Turn 2.
Fuoco's issues continued as he was soon demoted by Jack Aitken and several others before pitting for new tyres and then eventually retiring.
While Dennis spent the race safely in the lead, Fukuzumi started to come under pressure from Aitken.
However, the Japanese driver managed to stay ahead to claim his first podium finish since the season opener with Aitken taking his second top three result of the weekend.
Matt Parry finished fourth holding off Charles Leclerc, who ended up as the highest-scoring title contender.
He kicked off the race right ahead of Alex Albon on the grid, the latter going side-by-side with him off the line, slightly running on the grass.
However, the Thai racer eventually had to back out and was only 11th after the opening lap.
He managed to make moves on GP3 debutant Alessio Lorandi, Fuoco and Steijn Schothorst to take eighth and salvage one point.
Leclerc and Albon were separated by only two positions as a result, those taken by Nyck de Vries and Arjun Maini.
Lorandi and Schothorst completed the top 10.
Leclerc will enter the final round in Abu Dhabi leading Albon by 29 points with Fuoco also staying with a narrow chance, being 45 points adrift.
Race results
Cla | Driver | Team | Time |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Jake Dennis | Arden International | - |
2 | Nirei Fukuzumi | ART Grand Prix | 3.4 |
3 | Jack Aitken | Arden International | 5.6 |
4 | Matthew Parry | Koiranen GP | 8.7 |
5 | Charles Leclerc | ART Grand Prix | 9.1 |
6 | Nyck de Vries | ART Grand Prix | 9.9 |
7 | Arjun Maini | Jenzer Motorsport | 10.9 |
8 | Alexander Albon | ART Grand Prix | 18.0 |
9 | Alessio Lorandi | Jenzer Motorsport | 20.3 |
10 | Steijn Schothorst | Campos Racing | 22.0 |
11 | Kevin Joerg | DAMS | 22.4 |
12 | Jake Hughes | DAMS | 23.2 |
13 | Giuliano Alesi | Trident | 25.5 |
14 | Matevos Isaakyan | Koiranen GP | 27.2 |
15 | Tatiana Calderon | Arden International | 27.8 |
16 | Artur Janosz | Trident | 30.0 |
17 | Konstantin Tereshchenko | Campos Racing | 30.2 |
18 | Akash Nandy | Jenzer Motorsport | 30.6 |
19 | Alex Palou | Campos Racing | 48.3 |
20 | Sandy Stuvik | Trident | 67.1 |
Antonio Fuoco | Trident | 3 laps | |
Santino Ferrucci | DAMS | 10 laps |
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