GP3: Kirchhofer wins, Ghiotto 19th to third

Marvin Kirchhofer inherited victory from Jimmy Eriksson in a dramatic Monza GP3 race in which championship leader Luca Ghiotto flew from the back to third behind title rival Esteban Ocon.

Koiranen GP driver Eriksson, who started fifth, had a great start to move up to third by the end of the opening lap. He was then gifted second place when Matheo Tuscher ran wide going for the lead at the Lesmos. By lap three he was able to take the lead on the inside of polesitter Alex Fontana into the first chicane.

The Swedish driver controlled the majority of the race, maintaining the gap to nearest challenger Kirchhofer around the two-second mark.

Disaster struck on the penultimate lap, though. Eriksson began to slow with problems, gifting the lead to Kirchhofer, and he limped across the line in fourth before stopping at the end of the pitlane.

Mercedes protege Ocon held on to second place in an ART Grand Prix one-two despite a late surge from Trident rival Ghiotto. The points leader started on the penultimate row of the grid having stalled on pole in Saturday's race but was able to carve his way into the podium positions by passing Kevin Ceccon at the Roggia chicane.

Jenzer Motorsport teammates Tuscher and Ralph Boschung both enjoyed frenetic battles. Tuscher had been as high as second but following his off at the Lesmos he continued to fall down the order to sixth, with Boschung close behind in seventh.

Status Grand Prix's Sandy Stuvik triumphed in a three way scrap for eighth, edging out Mitch Gilbert and front row starter Alex Palou, who spun on the way to the grid.

Race one winner Emil Bernstorff retired midway through the race after contact with Status driver Fontana. The pair were side by side heading into the first chicane, before Bernstorff was sent briefly airborne as he was forced over the curb in the middle of the corner. Fontana was handed a 10-second time penalty for the incident.

Matt Parry and Seb Morris, who were both excluded from Saturday's race after scrutineers deemed their cars to be underweight, retired early on.

RESULTS - 16 LAPS:

Originally on Autosport.com