Photo: Alastair Staley/GP3 Media Service
GP3 Series newcomers Koiranen GP scored an emphatic one-two finish in race two at Barcelona, Aaro Vainio leading home Kevin Korjus after making a flying start.
Starting from fourth, Vainio reacted so much quicker than those around him that it looked like a jump start. It was legal though, and he swooped into the race lead past pole-sitting team-mate Korjus.
The Koiranen pair quickly built up a good advantage over the rest of the field and went untroubled for the rest of the race.
Nick Yelloly made a fast start to get up into third place at the start but came under pressure from David Fumanelli, who made a slow getaway from alongside Korjus on the front row. Despite running wide at one point, Yelloly managed to remain ahead until the end of lap 12 when Fumanelli gave him a long shove under braking for the chicane, turning him around.
Race one winner Tio Ellinas took advantage of the clash ahead of him to get into P3, but Patric Niederhauser was on a charge, and the Swiss driver managed to secure the final podium spot three laps from the end.
Behind Ellinas, Fumanelli crossed the line in fifth but should get a penalty for turning Yelloly around. Conor Daly finished where he started in sixth, while Carlos Sainz made good progress to finish seventh ahead of Jack Harvey.
After the first weekend, Ellinas leads the points on 39 ahead of Niederhauser on 28 and Vainio on 25. Round two is a stand-alone event at Valencia’s permanent Ricardo Tormo circuit on 15-16 June.
Results to follow