Pulcini scores maiden GP3 win in Russia as ART seals teams' title
Leonardo Pulcini controlled proceedings in the opening GP3 race of the weekend♓ in Russia to claim his maiden victory in the series.
The Campos driver started from pole position - after Nikita Mazepin was stripped of his first-ever sin💫gle seater pole for track limits abuse – and pulled clear of the field to score a convincing win.
He crossed the line four seconds clear of Mazepin, who charged from eighth on the grid to take second, passing championship ℱleader Anthoine Hubert on the final lap to reduce his ART Grand Prix teammate’s points advantage down to 26.
Leonardo Pulcini controlled proceedings in ꧟the opening GP3 race 🌠of the weekend in Russia to claim his maiden victory in the series.
The Campos driver started from pole position - after Nikita Mazep🔜in was stripped of his first-ever single seater pole for track limits abuse – and pulled clear of the field to score a convincing win.
He crossed the line four seconds clear of Mazepin, who charged from eighth on the grid to take second, passing champওionship leader Anthoine Hubert on the final lap to💝 reduce his ART Grand Prix teammate’s points advantage down to 26.
The Russian’s recovery drive featured some questionable overtaking manoeuvres, includ💃ing gaining three places by running wide in avoidance at Turn 2 on the open⭕ing lap.
Hubert had looked comfortable in second place but came under late pressure as he lost the positioꦚn to Mazepin, though he managed to hold off the adv🧔ances of Richard Verschoor to complete the podium. The result ensured ART secured a fourth consecutive teams' title and its eighth championship crown in total.
Dav♔id Beckmann turned in a remarkable drive to scythe his way from 15th to fifth𒀰, ahead of Simo Laaksonen’s Campos, Jake Hughes and Joey Mawson, who claimed reverse grid pole for Race 2 thanks to his eighth-place finish.
Jenzer pair Juan Manuel Correa and Tatiana Calderon rounded out the top 10, ꦦwith the Colombian pipping Arden’s Gabrieཧl Aubry to the final point.
It was a nightmare race for Callum Ilott, who plummented down the order to 13th, a result whꦏich sees him fall 44 points behind Hubert and all but ends his fading championship hopes.
Lewis r൩egularly attends Grands Prix for mahbx.com around the world. Often reporting on the action from the ground, Lewis tells the stories of the people who matter in the sport.
