Mitch Evans nearest GP3 rival cops penalty

ROBERT KITCHEN/Fairfax NZ

HOT PROPERTY: New Zealand's Mitch Evans is leading the GP3 world series.

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Kiwi motor racing driver Mitch Evans will have a prime opportunity to extend his lead in the GP3 world series after his nearest challenger, Finn Aaro Vainio, copped a 10-place grid penalty for the next round in Germany.

Race stewards deemed that Vainio and Marlon Stockinger caused a collision in the reverse grid race at Silverstone in England overnight (NZT), and slapped both drivers with a 10-place grid penalty which will be enforced in the next round, at Hockenheim from July 20-22.

It will give Evans a chance to further extend his lead after a solid weekend in England, at the fourth of eight rounds this season, which saw him jump 11 points clear of Vainio in the overall standings.

The New Zealander started from pole position in the feature race on Saturday but could not hold off Portugal's Antonio Felix Da Costa, who made his move early in the race and went on to claim his first major victory of the season to move up to third in the overall standings.

Evans entered the Silverstone stop with a four-point advantage over second-placed Vainio but, with the Finn finishing third to Evans' second, the Kiwi extended his advantage to 11 points.

Evans, who was 11th in the reverse grid race, now has 100 points, with Vainio on 89.

- © Fairfax NZ News