Hitech’s Martinius Stenshorne wins the Monaco Formula 3 Sprint Race after overtaking polesitter Alessandro Giusti at the start and holding on to claim victory.
The 19-year-old stormed into the lead after the Italian struggled to get off the line, as Laurens van Hoepen and Tukka Taponen jumped up into the podium places.
The ART Grand Prix drivers went on to finish in second and third, completing the top three for the Sprint.
Several drivers were punished after Friday’s qualifying session, including championship leader Rafael Camara.
The Brazilian was handed a three-place grid penalty for a red flag infringement, as the Trident driver was found to be below the minimum delta time during the stoppage.
After qualifying eighth overall, Camara started the Sprint Race from eighth on the grid – rather than fifth – with the same penalty carrying over to the Feature Race.
Nikola Tsolov ended the Trident’s streak of pole positions from the opening three rounds, setting the fastest lap overall in qualifying to take pole in Monaco.
Giusti, sixth fastest in Group B, started the Sprint from pole, lining up alongside Stenshorne on the front row.
Stenshorne makes strong start in F3 Sprint Race
On the way to the grid, Van Amersfoort Racing’s Ivan Domingues stalled near the pit lane entry – but was able to rejoin and take the start from the pit lane.
The Norwegian made an excellent getaway to take the lead into Sainte Devote, as polesitter Giusti dropped down to fourth with a poor launch off the start grid.
The ART duo of van Hoepen and Taponen jumped up into second and third, respectively.
Multiple incidents at the back of the pack prompted the Safety Car’s deployment on Lap 1.
Callum Voisin and Noel Leon made contact heading into Portier – the latter forced to retire from the race.
Santiago Ramos attempted a move down the inside of Nicola Lacorte’s DAMS Lucas Oil car, damaging the front wing on his VAR in the process.
Lacorte – who had been disqualified from qualifying – was forced to retire, while AIX Racing’s James Hedley and Ivan Domingues, running just behind, were unfortunate casualties of the incident and came to a stop.
Sunday’s polesitter Tsolov entered the pits on Lap 7 with an issue on his Campos Racing car, returning to the track a lap down.
Eight laps into the 23-lap race, the incidents were finally cleared and racing resumed.
Hitech race leader nails Safety Car restart
Stenshorne comfortably held onto his race lead at the start, the ART pair van Hoeoeb and Taponen following close behind.
Giusti remained in fourth, Tim Tramnitz in fifth, Charlie Wurz sixth and Camara up one place before the Safety Car into seventh.
Mari Boya had climbed two places before the incidents, as Voisin and Louis Sharp held the final point-scoring positions.
After limited on-track action, Noah Stromsted made contact with Brad Benavides on Lap 14, as the Trident damaged his front wing and suffered a puncture.
The title contender dropped down to 24th place, set to take some punishment in the Drivers’ Standings, as Tramnitz in fifth would leapfrog him into second place.
Bruno del Pino was handed a 10-second time penalty after replays showed he cut the corner into Turn 1.
After 23 laps, Stenshorne completed his return to the top step of the podium after the chaos of the race start.
Van Hoepen and Taponen crossed the line in second and third for a double ART podium.
Giusti finished fourth, Tramnitz fifth, Wurz sixth and Camara seventh.
On the final lap, Voisin attempted to pass Boya for ninth into the Nouvelle Chicane, but made contact with the rear of the Campos, allowing Sharp to get by the Rodin driver.
Boya crossed the line in eighth, Sharp now in ninth with Voisin settling for 10th place and the final point-scoring position.
READ MORE – Nikola Tsolov seals F3 Feature Race pole in Monaco
