Alex Lynn extends championship lead with sixth place
Sunday 6 July 2014 14:25, UK
Richie Stanaway took the second GP3 victory of his career as he led home a Status Grand Prix one-two in Race Two at Silverstone.
Reverse pole-sitter Dino Zamparelli bogged down at the start to end the opening lap in fifth. Stanaway made a clean getaway to go into the lead but Emil Bernstorff had a lightning launch from fifth to move into second aften the first few turns. Nick Yelloly and Kirchhofer held third and fourth whilst Series leaders Alex Lynn and Jimmy Eriksson dropped down several places and out of the top ten.
Contact was made between Alex Fontana and Patrick Kujala which meant a premature end for both. Action was frenetic throughout the field as Stanaway started to build an advantage back to his Status Grand Prix team-mate Yelloly.
Eriksson had Lynn filling his mirrors as the duo caught the Jenzer Motorsport car of Pal Varhaug and Arden International’s Patric Niederhauser. The Swiss driver attempted several moves to pass the Norwegian as Varhaug felt the pressure and ran wide, cutting a corner in the process. When Varhaug came back on track, Niederhauser once again pounced, this time trying a move down the inside of him at Stowe and Eriksson sensed his opportunity – diving down the middle of the pair of them at Club. Unfortunately, contact was made, with Eriksson and Niederhauser tumbling into the gravel and Varhaug suffering damage also and retiring.
This allowed some clear air for Series leader Lynn and he set his sights on Jann Mardenborough. The Carlin driver made the move stick and was then was embroiled in a four way battle for fifth: Dean Stoneman, Riccardo Agostini, Zamparelli and Lynn was a fierce fight and it was the Italian rookie who made the first successful manoeuvre on Stoneman for P5.
Zamparelli and Lynn were quick to follow suit and unluckily for Stoneman in his home race his car began to slow and he retired after a strong showing.
Stanaway held a 2.6-second margin over Yelloly, with a further two seconds advantage back to Bernstorff. The action wasn’t done yet with Lynn still on a charge to move up the order and on the last lap he got the better of Zamparelli for P6 to claim his first race two points of the 2014 GP3 season.
After 15 laps, Stanaway and Yelloly crossed the line and celebrated a wonderful one-two for Status Grand Prix. It was Yelloly’s first podium this year and a third rostrum appearance for Bernstorff, who once again picked up vital points in the championship. Kirchhofer came home fourth, ahead of Agostini – the Hilmer Motorsport driver posting his best result to date. Lynn, Zamparelli and Matheo Tuscher completed the final points positions.
GP3 Race Two - Great Britain
1) Richie Stanaway (NZL) - Status Grand Prix – 27:39.436
2) Nick Yelloly (GBR) - Status Grand Prix - +2.737
3) Emil Bernstorff (GBR) – Carlin - +7.789
4) Marvin Kirchhofer (GER) - ART Grand Prix - +14.363
5) Riccardo Agostini (ITA) - Hilmer Motorsport - +16.508
6) Alex Lynn (GBR) – Carlin - +17.503
7) Dino Zamparelli (GBR) - ART Grand Prix - +18.743
8) Matheo Tuscher (SUI) - Jenzer Motorsport - +19.748
9) Luis Sa Silva (MAC) – Carlin - +21.217
10) Alfonso Celis. Jr (MEX) - Status Grand Prix - +27.015
Selected others
15) Jann Mardenborough (GBR) – Arden International - +41.636
18) Dean Stoneman (GBR) – Marussia Manor Racing – DNF
Ryan Cullen (GBR) – Marussia Manor Racing – Not classified
Drivers' Championship
1) Alex Lynn - 86
2) Jimmy Eriksson - 78
3) Richie Stanaway - 68
4) Emil Bernstorff - 58
5) Marvin Kirchhofer - 49
