Lynn out of points and championship lead cut to 13 points
Sunday 22 June 2014 11:51, UK
Emil Bernstorff followed up his first GP3 podium with his maiden win after a dominant display at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.
Jimmy Eriksson drove a determined race to finish second and Richie Stanaway took the final spot on the rostrum.
Glorious blue skies and warm temperatures were perfect racing conditions for the second GP3 race of the weekend in Austria with Carlin’s Luis Sa Silva starting from reverse pole. However, Marvin Kirchhofer’s morning did not start well – the German rookie stalled on the pre-grid and despite the best efforts from his ART Grand Prix team, he was unable to start the race. Alex Fontana and Alfonso Celis Jr started from the pitlane after grid penalties issued after Race One.
Sa Silva made a good start but Nick Yelloly made a better one as the two diced wheel to wheel on the lap one with the Brit passing the Carlin driver on the second lap for the lead of the race. Sa Silva came back at him though in a great duel and re-claimed P1. GP3 Series leader Alex Lynn suffered a puncture after being tagged on the opening lap and had to pit for new Pirelli rubber and finished outside of the points.
At the front of the race, Jenzer Motorsport’s Matheo Tuscher tried to make a move on Sa Silva and the two made contact, with the Swiss driver’s car going airborne for a quick moment. His race was over, while Sa Silva pitted to repair damage to his car. This incident caused a bottleneck to the drivers behind with Bernstorff grabbing the lead of the race and a swap of positions between the Status Grand Prix drivers with Kiwi Stanaway demoting Yelloly. Eriksson also found a way through to move into third ahead of the Brit during the incident.
Arden International’s Jann Mardenborough who was running in the points spun off into the gravel and retired from the race, whilst Bernstorff at the front began to build a margin to Stanaway and Eriksson. Trident’s Roman De Beer moved up the order and was up to fifth at the midway point of the race. Stanaway was soon in the clutches of Eriksson with the Swede making the move stick for second position.
The battle for the third became a four-way battle with Stanaway, Yelloly, De Beer and Patric Niederhauser all fighting fiercely for the podium place. Bernstorff held an eight second advantage over his next rival Eriksson, whilst South African rookie De Beer got the better of Yelloly to rise to P4.
At the chequered flag, the day would belong to Bernstorff and Carlin after signing off with a stylish win. Eriksson re-enforced his position in the standings to achieve a second podium of the weekend, whilst Stanaway took his second podium of the season. Trident and De Beer were all smiles as they celebrated their first points of the 2014 GP3 campaign, ahead of Yelloly, Niederhauser, Patrick Kujala and Dino Zamparelli completing the final points positions.
GP3 Race Two – Austria
1) Emil Bernstorff (GBR) – Carlin – 23:24.023
2) Jimmy Eriksson (SWE) – Koiranen GP - +7.793
3) Richie Stanaway (NZL) – Status GP - +11.891
4) Roman de Beer (RSA) – Trident - +12.336
5) Nick Yelloly (GBR) – Status Grand Prix - +12.985
6) Patric Niederhauser (SUI) – Arden International - +13.423
7) Patrick Kujala (FIN) – Marussia Manor Racing - +16.947
8) Dino Zamparelli (GBR) – ART Grand Prix - +19.196
9) Pal Varhaug (NOR) – Jenzer Motorsport - +19.701
10) Dean Stoneman (GBR) – Marussia Manor Racing - +21.213
Selected others
15) Ryan Cullen (GBR) – Marussia Manor Racing - +24.676
20) Alex Lynn (GBR) – Carlin - +57.946
Jann Mardenborough (GBR) – Ardent International – Not Classified
Drivers’ Championship
1) Alex Lynn – 62
2) Jimmy Eriksson – 49
3) Richie Stanaway – 45
4) Emil Bernstorff – 36
5) Marvin Kirchhofer - 26
