Abt and Laine share GP3 wins

Lotus driver Daniel Abt and MW Arden's Matias Laine shared the GP3 victories in Belgium at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps.

Mitch Evans retains Series lead heading into final two races

Lotus driver Daniel Abt and MW Arden's Matias Laine shared the GP3 victories in Belgium at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps. Both were maiden successes for the drivers, but the real winner from the weekend was Antonio Felix Da Costa who took a pair of second places to close the gap to Series leader Mitch Evans. After a delay in the earlier GP2 contest, the race was cut from 12 laps to a maximum of 25 minutes. MW Arden had locked out the front row in qualifying and it was Laine who made the best start from second to lead from Evans at La Source. But the New Zealander was not going to be outdone by his team-mate and retook the lead as Laine out-braked himself and fell back down the order. Felix Da Costa had taken advantage of Laine's error to take second, before battling past Evans for the lead. As the Series leader tried to retake the position, both drivers ran wide and Abt dived down the inside to take the lead. The race was red-flagged shortly after when Robert Cregan crashed at Pouhon, hitting the barriers at high-speed. Worryingly his rear wheel managed to find its way into the cockpit on impact, coming to a rest against his helmet. Following the crash he withdrew from Sunday's race. With only four laps having been completed, half-points were awarded, with Abt winning the race from Felix Da Costa and Evans. Lewis Williamson was the best of the British drivers in eighth, with William Buller 13th, Alice Powell 18th and Alex Brundle in 19th.

Race 2

Williamson started from pole for Sunday's reverse grid race alongside Conor Daly, but it was Matias Laine who made the best start from fourth on the grid to take the lead at La Source. The action was fast and furious with positions changing on every lap as the GP3 drivers wowed the fans who had turned up early ahead of the F1 race. Laine had opened up a gap of over two seconds at the front, but behind him the cars were five wide at times. Felix Da Costa found a way past Evans for fourth after the pair made brief contact and the New Zealander then fell through the field, eventually finishing 15th. The Carlin driver picked off Williamson and Daly with two laps to go, but could do nothing about Laine who won by 2.5 seconds. Williamson fell through the field in the closing stages with Alex Fontana, Abt, and Patric Niederhauser all finding a way past as the British driver finished seventh. Buller was eighth for Carlin, with Brundle 11th and Powell 12th. Drivers' Championship
1. Mitch Evans (NZL) - MW Arden - 147.5
2. Antonio Felix Da Costa (POR) - Carlin - 126
3. Aaro Vainio (FIN) - Lotus - 123
4. Daniel Abt (GER) - Lotus - 112.5
5. Conor Daly (USA) - Lotus - 94
6. Patric Niederhauser (SUI) - Jenzer - 91
7. Matias Laine (FIN) - MW Arden - 90
8. Tio Ellinas (CYP) - Marussia Manor - 64
9. Kevin Ceccon (ITA) - Ocean Racing - 56
10. Marlon Stockinger - Status - 41