Home Z - Archive seriesGP3 McKee holds off Sims to become winner number eight

McKee holds off Sims to become winner number eight

by Peter Allen

Photo: Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service

Melville McKee held off a late charge from Alexander Sims to become the eighth different winner from eight races in GP3 this year in the Sunday morning race at the Nurburgring.

Starting second on the grid, McKee got a better start than pole-sitter Sims to take the lead. Nick Yelloly also made a fast start to move into second past Sims.

While McKee built a good advantage early on, Yelloly had begun to close that gap mid-race. He then started to struggle for pace however and Sims was able to attack him and take the place back.

Sims, making his return to GP3 with Status Grand Prix this weekend, then quickly closed the gap to McKee but was unable to get past as McKee claimed a maiden win in the category for both himself and the Bamboo team.

McKee?s team-mate Lewis Williamson finished in fourth, completing an all-British top four. Carlos Sainz spent much of the race under pressure from Tio Ellinas but held on for fifth, also avoiding any penalty after contact with Jack Harvey at the first corner of the race. Ellinas extends his points lead thanks to a continued run of points finishes, with nearest rivals Facu Regalia, Kevin Korjus, Harvey and?Conor Daly all failing to score. Regalia failed to get away at the start of the formation lap and was forced to start from the pits before retiring for good.

Dino Zamparelli had passed Marussia Manor team-mate Ellinas at the start before slipping behind to finish seventh, while Patric Niederhauser spent the entire race looking for a way past Conor Daly, succeeding in taking the final point away from the American on the very last lap.