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Esteban Ocon leads first GP3 running in Bahrain

by Peter Allen
Esteban Ocon

Photo: Sam Bloxham/GP3 Series Media Service

Esteban Ocon led the way as GP3 cars lapped the Bahrain circuit for the first time in free practice ahead of the penultimate round of the season.

The Frenchman, who is just two points behind championship leader Luca Ghiotto, went to the top of the times with a couple of minutes left on the clock.

He displaced his ART team-mate Marvin Kirchhofer, who was pushed back to fourth before the end by Matt Parry and Antonio Fuoco.

Matevos Isaakyan, driving a GP3 car for the first time after being drafted in at Koiranen, had gone quickest with five minutes remaining and was still a creditable sixth at the flag behind Mitch Gilbert.

In his second GP3 appearance with Campos, Konstantin Tereshchenko was seventh ahead of Artur Janosz, the leader for much of the session.

Matheo Tuscher, on double duty this weekend in both GP3 and the World Endurance Championship, was ninth with Ghiotto 10th.

Practice session results
Pos Driver Team Time Gap Laps
1 Esteban Ocon ART Grand Prix 1:47.121 16
2 Matt Parry Koiranen GP 1:47.464 0.343 19
3 Antonio Fuoco Carlin 1:47.799 0.678 19
4 Marvin Kirchhofer ART Grand Prix 1:47.913 0.792 16
5 Mitch Gilbert Carlin 1:48.192 1.071 17
6 Matevos Isaakyan Koiranen GP 1:48.443 1.322 17
7 Konstantin Tereschenko Campos Racing 1:48.483 1.362 18
8 Artur Janosz Trident 1:48.893 1.772 19
9 Matheo Tuscher Jenzer Motorsport 1:48.949 1.828 10
10 Luca Ghiotto Trident 1:48.971 1.850 17
11 Jann Mardenborough Carlin 1:48.998 1.877 20
12 Jimmy Eriksson Koiranen GP 1:49.013 1.892 19
13 Kevin Ceccon Arden International 1:49.082 1.961 17
14 Ralph Boschung Jenzer Motorsport 1:49.241 2.120 17
15 Pal Varhaug Jenzer Motorsport 1:49.283 2.162 19
16 Alex Bosak Arden International 1:49.504 2.383 16
17 Alex Palou Campos Racing 1:49.624 2.503 21
18 Emil Bernstorff Arden International 1:49.631 2.510 10
19 Alex Fontana Status Grand Prix 1:49.669 2.548 17
20 Zaid Ashkanani Campos Racing 1:49.702 2.581 14
21 Michele Beretta Trident 1:49.729 2.608 16
22 Seb Morris Status Grand Prix 1:49.795 2.674 17
23 Sandy Stuvik Status Grand Prix 1:49.911 2.790 18
24 Alfonso Celis ART Grand Prix 1:50.606 3.485 10