Aaro Vainio storms to GP3 victory after lights-to-flag drive at Budapest

Aaro Vainio has stormed to his third GP3 victory around the Hungaroring, after a masterful lights-to-flag drive from the Finn who managed to fend off the charging Conor Daly during the closing laps. The leading duo were followed by Russian ace Daniil Kvyat in the MW Arden, with Jack Harvey 4th.

At the start Aaro Vainio stormed into a commanding lead over Conor Daly, as the 27-car field negotiated the tricky first few corners without incident. During the opening few laps Championship leader Tio Ellinas plummeted through the order, after first Patric Niederhauser and then Alex Fontana and Dino Zamparelli all overtook the struggling Cypriot. Whilst the field began to evenly spread themselves out around the tight and twisty confines of the Hungaroring, Aaro Vainio managed to open up a comfortable two second lead over the American ace of Conor Daly.

By Lap 9 Tio Ellinas managed to recover after his highly uncompetitive start to the race, with the Marussia Manor Racing driver managing to overtake Dino Zamparelli down the start/finish straight. As the race progressed numerous battles raged on up and down the order, with the likes of Patric Niederhauser, Giovanni Venturini and Tio Ellinas all battling hard for position. The latter began pushing beyond the limits in the closing stages of the race, as he dipped a wheel onto the grass and run extensively wide on the exit of Turn 4 but managed to rejoin.

The flow of the race was disrupted on Lap 12, after a big shunt between Luis Sa Silva and Emanuele Zonzini, with Samin Gomez also involved but miraculously able to continue. As Sa Silva, Zonzini and Gomez negotiated Turn 1, utter disaster struck when Gomez collided with Sa Silva and the unsuspecting Trident of Zonzini barrel-rolled over the Angolan driver. This incident naturally brought out the safety car, as the efficient marshals cleared the two stricken cars and debris.

After only several laps behind the safety car the race was resumed, with Conor Daly pressurizing race leader Aaro Vainio. The ART Grand Prix driver was frustratingly denied the luxury of overtaking the race leader, as the duo negotiated Turn 2 practically side-by-side. Further back the traditional GP3 mayhem ensued, as Lewis Williamson suffered a spectacular spin in a cloud of tyre smoke. Melville McKee endured a frustrating end to the race, as he dropped through the order whilst running wide with Jimmy Eriksson between Turns 4 and 5.

Despite the crazy end to the race, Aaro Vainio managed to keep his composure and secure a masterful victory after a mature drive from the Koiranen GP driver. The leading duo were separated by just +0.6 seconds across the line, with Daniil Kvyat just under five seconds behind for MW Arden. Robert Visoiu managed to finish 8th, therefore securing him the reverse grid pole for tomorrow’s second race. The Romanian driver will start alongside Kevin Korjus.

Results - 17 laps:

Pos  Driver               Team          Time/Gap	
 1.  Aaro Vainio          Koiranen    29m17.213s
 2.  Conor Daly           ART            +0.691s
 3.  Daniil Kvyat         MW Arden       +4.853s
 4.  Jack Harvey          ART            +7.061s
 5.  Carlos Sainz Jr      MW Arden       +7.262s
 6.  Facu Regalia         ART            +7.507s
 7.  Kevin Korjus         Koiranen       +8.588s
 8.  Robert Visoiu        MW Arden       +9.307s
 9.  Patric Niederhauser  Jenzer        +10.295s
10.  Giovanni Venturini   Trident       +11.550s
11.  Alex Fontana         Jenzer        +12.736s
12.  Tio Ellinas          Manor         +13.175s
13.  Dino Zamparelli      Manor         +14.139s
14.  Jimmy Eriksson       Status        +16.751s
15.  Patrick Kujala       Koiranen      +18.645s
16.  Nick Yelloly         Carlin        +18.793s
17.  David Fumanelli      Trident       +19.245s
18.  Melville McKee       Bamboo        +21.309s
19.  Eric Lichtenstein    Carlin        +21.428s
20.  Samin Gomez          Jenzer        +21.725s
21.  Adderly Fong         Status        +22.012s
22.  Josh Webster         Status        +22.372s
23.  Carmen Jorda         Bamboo        +22.793s
24.  Lewis Williamson     Bamboo        +23.417s

Retirements:

        Driver            Team                Laps
        Luis Sa Silva     Carlin              12
        Emanuele Zonzini  Trident             12
        Josh Webster      Status              6

Picture Copyright © Alastair Staley/GP3 Series Media Service