Ghiotto bags GP3 series

Italy’s Luca Ghiotto of Team Trident (40 minutes 51.074 seconds) and an average speed of 113.7kph over 15 laps won the second GP3 Series yesterday to the FIA WEC Bapco 6 Hours of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir.

Ghiotto who began the race fifth on the grid moved into second place after the opening lap behind Mexican Alfonso Celis Jr of Art Grand Prix who started in pole position, but by the end of the second leg the Italian displaced the Mexican to take the lead and maintained the lead at the finish line.

French driver Esteban Ocon of Art Grand Prix (+2.370 seconds) finished as the runner-up after coming third in the first race and the podium was completed with Briton Mathew Parry of Koiranen GP (+9.193) coming third after steadily moving up the field after starting 11th on the grid.

Fourth place went to Emil Bernstorff (Gbr, Arden International, +13.550), fifth Antonio Fuoco, (Ita, Carlin, +14.240), with the first race winner Marvin Kirchhofer (Ger, Art Grand Prix, + 14.361) in sixth.

Completing the top eight were Jimmy Eriksson (Swe, Koiranen GP, +16.248) in seventh, followed by Alfonso Celis Jr (Mex, Art Grand Prix, 17.677). Ghiotto recorded the fastest lap (1:48.228) on the sixth and the race was the eighth of nine rounds in the championship with 24 teams competing.

Top Ten (after 8 rounds): 1) Luca Ghiotto (227), 2) Esteban Ocon (225), 3) Marvin Kirchhöfer (169), 4) Emil Bernstorff (164), 5) Jimmy Eriksson (95), 6) Kevin Ceccon (Ita, Arden International, 77), 7) Antonio Fuoco (70), 8) Jann Mardenborough (Gbr, Carlin, 58), 9) Matt Parry (59), 10) Álex Palou (Esp, Campos Racing, 30).