Eriksson holds off Lynn for first GP3 win in Silverstone

Koiranen GP’s Jimmy Eriksson victorious in GP3 Race 1 over Alex Lynn

A day of firsts for the Swede Jimmy Eriksson: this morning marked his first pole position in the category and a few hours later he followed it up with a superb lights to flag victory, soaking up immense pressure from Carlin’s Alex Lynn in the final laps. Marvin Kirchhöfer from ART Grand Prix was third.

Pole man Eriksson made a good start to keep hold of his lead whilst Lynn had his mirrors full of the fast charging Jann Mardenborough (Arden International). Lynn covered his line, preventing the charge from Mardenborough on the inside whilst Kirchhöfer remained in third. Hilmer Motorsport’s Riccardo Agostini made a great start from P8 to be in fifth position on lap one behind Carlin’s Emil Bernstorff.

Eriksson was quick to build an early advantage over Lynn – with a 2.5s lead in the early stages. It was an premature end for Santiago Urrutia (Koiranen GP) who made contact with Luis Sa Silva’s Carlin, the Uruguayan ended his day in the gravel whilst the Angolan driver was able to continue.

Dean Stoneman (Marussia Manor Racing) was a man on the move – after qualifying in P16, the Brit was carving through the field and fought his way into the top ten, picking off his rivals including Pal Varhaug and Patrick Kujala.

During the race, the clouds thickened over and the skies became darker but the rain held off as the 15 laps ticked down. Eriksson and Lynn began to trade fastest laps and with five laps left, Lynn began to hunt down the Swede for the lead.

Kirchhöfer was a little further back in third with Bernstorff a second off the German. The battle between Nick Yelloly and rookie Agostini closed up in the latter part of the race for fifth place but all eyes were on the duel for top spot as Lynn reeled the Koiranen GP driver in and closed the gap down to 0.3s. However, Eriksson had the race under control and pulled out the margin to the Carlin man on the final lap.

The Swede drove a mature race to achieve his maiden victory, crossing the line just under a second ahead of Lynn. Kirchhöfer recorded his debut podium in GP3, in front of Bernstorff and Yelloly. Agostini achieved his and notably Hilmer Motorsport’s first points of the 2014 campaign. Richie Stanaway, Dino Zamparelli, Mardenborough and Stoneman completed the top ten and the final points with the Arden International rookie scoring his debut points in GP3.

The heat is on in the championship battle with only four points separating the top two: Lynn’s on 82 compared to Eriksson's 78. Stanaway, Bernstorff and Kirchhöfer complete the top five in the Drivers’ Standings. Carlin remain on top in the Teams’ Standings with 134 points, but with Eriksson’s win – Koiranen GP have moved into second on 78, one point ahead of Status Grand Prix.

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