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After a thrilling finish, and the victory of Tio Ellinas from Cyprus, Mitch Evans secured the 2012 GP3 title after the final rounds presented at Monza.
Mitch Evans held the championship's lead by a healthy margin before Monza, and thought he had made a step forward to the title when he clinched pole position.
But the driver from New-Zealand, who could have secured the title after race 1, lost everything at the start. He went straight at the first chicane, then wide at the second corner, which damaged his car.
Evans was forced to retire, while Daniel Abt was flying to the victory, which allowed the German driver to stay in contention for the title, mathematically, ahead race 2, the very last race of the season. Meanwhile, Antonio Felix Da Costa was out of championship race, having retired with a broken gear box.
Abt could still clinch the title, but to do so, he had to win again, and hope that Evans would not score any point. From his 25th position on the grid, Evans had a great comeback up to P10, which was enough for him to secure the title.
But, once more, the New Zealander ran out of luck when he suffered a puncture following an off road, and was forced to stop in the pits again.
Evans could only hope that Abt would not win. Luckily for him, Tio Ellinas got passed the German with two laps remaining, which gave Evans the championship lead back.
Abt passed Ellinas back with two laps remaining, but Ellinas was able to overtake once more the German driver in the penultimate lap. Evans, who once more failed to score any points, there
fore got away with the championship, by only two points.
Monza - Race 1 :
1 - Daniel Abt - Lotus - 16 laps in 28'17"548
2 - Tio Ellinas - Manor - 0"349
3 - Matias Laine - MW Arden - 1"881
4 - Conor Daly - Lotus - 14"108
5 - Patric Niederhauser - Jenzer - 14"602
Etc.
Monza - Race 2 :
1 - Tio Ellinas - Manor - 16 laps in 28'18"541
2 - Daniel Abt - Lotus - 1"003
3 - Giovanni Venturini - Trident - 1"408
4 - Marlon Stockinger - Status - 1"715
5 - Antonio Felix Da Costa - Carlin - 7"377
Etc.
Championship :
1. Evans 151,5 points ; 2.Abt 149,5 ; 3.Da Costa 132 ; 4.Vainio 123 ; 5.Laine 111, etc.
Mitch Evans held the championship's lead by a healthy margin before Monza, and thought he had made a step forward to the title when he clinched pole position.
But the driver from New-Zealand, who could have secured the title after race 1, lost everything at the start. He went straight at the first chicane, then wide at the second corner, which damaged his car.
Evans was forced to retire, while Daniel Abt was flying to the victory, which allowed the German driver to stay in contention for the title, mathematically, ahead race 2, the very last race of the season. Meanwhile, Antonio Felix Da Costa was out of championship race, having retired with a broken gear box.
Abt could still clinch the title, but to do so, he had to win again, and hope that Evans would not score any point. From his 25th position on the grid, Evans had a great comeback up to P10, which was enough for him to secure the title.
But, once more, the New Zealander ran out of luck when he suffered a puncture following an off road, and was forced to stop in the pits again.
Evans could only hope that Abt would not win. Luckily for him, Tio Ellinas got passed the German with two laps remaining, which gave Evans the championship lead back.
Abt passed Ellinas back with two laps remaining, but Ellinas was able to overtake once more the German driver in the penultimate lap. Evans, who once more failed to score any points, there
fore got away with the championship, by only two points.
Monza - Race 1 :
1 - Daniel Abt - Lotus - 16 laps in 28'17"548
2 - Tio Ellinas - Manor - 0"349
3 - Matias Laine - MW Arden - 1"881
4 - Conor Daly - Lotus - 14"108
5 - Patric Niederhauser - Jenzer - 14"602
Etc.
Monza - Race 2 :
1 - Tio Ellinas - Manor - 16 laps in 28'18"541
2 - Daniel Abt - Lotus - 1"003
3 - Giovanni Venturini - Trident - 1"408
4 - Marlon Stockinger - Status - 1"715
5 - Antonio Felix Da Costa - Carlin - 7"377
Etc.
Championship :
1. Evans 151,5 points ; 2.Abt 149,5 ; 3.Da Costa 132 ; 4.Vainio 123 ; 5.Laine 111, etc.