GP3: Kirchhofer gets penalty for blocking

ART Grand Prix driver Marvin Kirchhofer has received a three-place grid penalty following GP3 qualifying at Spa for impeding Koiranen GP driver Matt Parry. The penalty means Kirchhofer will lose third place and will have to start back in sixth, just in front of Parry, for the opening race of the weekend.

Kirchhofer was deemed to have blocked Parry, who was on a flying lap, three minutes before the end of the session between Rivage and the unnamed downhill left-hander at Turn 9.

The incident promotes Arden International driver Emil Bernstorff up to third, while Ferrari protege Antonio Fuoco and Hungary race winner Kevin Ceccon move up to fourth and fifth, respectively.

Parry agrees that his lap was disrupted by Kirchhofer but believes the German didn't do it on purpose as he was being impeded as well.

"Yeah he blocked me but it wasn't on purpose," said Parry. "It was a bit of a difficult situation in terms of the driver in front of him and it's weird that we've never had any issues with traffic at all but we come to the biggest circuit and you get loads!

"But, yeah, I think my lap was blocked, I went purple through the first sector so for me that was looking like my best lap because you only really have one lap with the tire wear. So it really affected my qualifying session because I think we were on for pole, definitely top three with the pace we had."

Kirchhofer also agreed he impeded Parry on his lap but feels the penalty he received was harsh.

"When I saw it on the video I think it was a difficult situation because I was also blocked by another car in front even if I was not on the hottest lap ever I was still pushing because I was supposed to be on a hot lap as well," said Kirchhofer.

"In one way I can understand Matthew that he was disturbed by me but in the end I don't agree so much with the three-place penalty, because I've never had any issues so far this season – I always move over to the side way off the racing line, so I don't really agree with that."

Originally on Autosport.com