Fukuzumi wins opening round in dominating fashion

Nirei Fukuzumi has won the first GP3 race of the season after soaring of the line at the start of the race. Pole man Jack Aitken did not have the best start which was emphasised even more by his team mate Nirei Fukuzumi’s rocket launch.

The two ART’s went side by side with Dorian Boccolacci joining in for good measure. Boccolacci tried to fight Aitken for second but Aitken shut the door which led to Boccolacci running wide and Leonardo Pulcini to take third position. George Russell did not get a good start either and dropped down to eighth position.

Throughout the top ten there were battles constantly with Alessio Lorandi making his way from seventh on the grid to third and his maiden podium. He may not have stepped onto the podium if it hadn’t been for Aitken retiring due to mechanical issues as he was catching up with his teammate.

Italian Leonardo Pulcini scooped second after Aitken’s retirement and kept Lorandi at bay to take his first podium as well. Russell worked his way back up to fourth position by pulling some good moves to get some decent points for his team. The final ART car of Anthoine Hubert started ninth and eventually found his rhythm and ended up behind Russell, finishing fifth.

It was a close battle for reverse grid pole between Marcos Siebert, Raoul Hyman and Santino Ferrucci. It came down to the final corner and Siebert, who was in front at the time, made a mistake coming round the final corner which gifted reverse grid pole to teammate Hyman with Ferrucci lining up next to him.

Sian Williams