Japan's Keisuke Kunimoto took a surprise victory in the Formula 3 Macao Grand Prix on Sunday as his TOM's team took their second consecutive win in the event.
Kunimoto claimed the title with 41 minutes 01.864 seconds, while Edoardo Mortara from Italy took second at 41:03.574. Brendon Hartley came third with 41:05.870.
Kunimoto, making his first appearance in Macao, got away better than pole position driver Edoardo Mortara from second spot on the grid and managed to fight off his rival all the way down to Lisboa Bend.
Behind the leading duo, however, there was chaos as Roberto Streit collided with Sam Bird as he tried to defend the position. Streit speared into the barriers on the right hand side of the track before spinning across the circuit.
Kunimoto was able to maintain his advantage but Mortara briefly hit trouble.
The Italian had locked up under braking for Lisboa on lap four, and the incident allowed Daniel Campos-Hull and Jaime Alguersuari past him. Mortara was able to recover third from Campos-Hull on lap six, and then moved up to second when Alguersuari was handed a drive-through penalty for jumping the start.
At the restart on lap 10, Kunimoto managed to edge clear and it all went wrong for Mortara when he hit the wall in the hill section and slightly damaged his car.
Although able to continue and trim the gap to Kunimoto, he could not get close enough to launch a challenge for the lead and eventually finished 1.7 seconds behind. Brendon Hartley finished third, having started 20th but benefited from a number of incidents in the race that moved him up the field.
Speaking about his win, Kunimoto said: "I cannot believe this result, but my TOM's team is the best in the world and that is why I could get on top of the podium."
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article