Abu Dhabi: Dorian Boccolacci finally grabbed his elusive maiden win in Race 2 of the 2017 GP3 Series at Yas Marina Circuit, making a strong start before overtaking for the lead early in the race and then soaring off into the distance in the last race of the season ahead of teammate Ryan Tveter and Daniel Ticktum.
The race opened in gloriously sunny conditions, with pole-sitter Tveter making a perfect start to lead Boccolacci, Steijn Schothorst, Alessio Lorandi, Ticktum, Arjun Maini, Niko Kari and George Russell into Turn 1. The Frenchman was soon all over the race leader as the pack took shape, with Ticktum putting Lorandi on notice on the back straight and Kari squeezing by Maini for sixth place just behind them.
It only took two laps for Boccolacci to make the pressure tell. He was easily past Tveter for the lead on the back straight before heading off into the distance, while further back Russell and Maini were involved in a lengthy battle for supremacy, swapping positions lap after lap.
Ticktum was less interested in a protracted fight though, and blasted inside and through Lorandi on the back straight on Lap 7 and was soon looking for more.
Next time around he tried to repeat the move on Schothorst, who looked to close the door. Ticktum squeezed past but with all four wheels over the line, picking up a five second time penalty in the process. Worse was to come for Lorandi, who also tried the move a lap later but lost his front wing on the Dutchman’s rear tyre, prompting an unscheduled pit stop for the Italian.
Russell finally got the better of Maini on Lap 11 and headed off after Kari, who himself was closing in on Schothorst. It took just two laps for the trio to engage, with the Dutchman and the Finn colliding to give the new champion a clear run through at the Marina complex. Ticktum, meanwhile, continued his serene run up the timesheets as he easily dispatched Tveter for second.
At the flag Boccolacci sailed to a simple win by 5.5 seconds over teammate Tveter, who stayed close enough to Ticktum to gain second place back after the Briton’s time penalty was added, with Russell rounding out a tremendous season in fourth ahead of teammate Anthoine Hubert and a recovering Kari, with Bruno Baptista holding on from Maini on the line by 0.1s for seventh place.
So the 2017 GP3 Series season closes with George Russell as champion ahead of teammates Jack Aitken and Nirei Fukuzumi, and their team ART Grand Prix once again finishing as team champions, ahead of Trident and Jenzer Motorsports.
Provisional Race 2 Classification
Driver Team
1 Dorian Boccolacci Trident
2 Ryan Tveter Trident
3 Daniel Ticktum DAMS
4 George Russell ART Grand Prix
5 Anthoine Hubert ART Grand Prix
6 Niko Kari Arden International
7 Bruno Baptista DAMS
8 Arjun Maini Jenzer Motorsport
9 Kevin Jorg DAMS
10 Jack Aitken ART Grand Prix