Christian Vietoris has just kept the Formula 3 Euro Series title battle alive by claiming a brilliant, if unlikely, win at Dijon. Vietoris went from fifth to the lead in one move during a chaotic restart early in the race.
The erstwhile leader Jules Bianchi – who needs just one more point to claim the title – caught the safety car before it pitted, forcing him to back off. This caused general confusion among the leaders, with Jean Karl Vernay actually crossing the line in first place. Further back Vietoris had a great tow and swept into the lead.
Vernay (Signature) picked up a drive-through penalty and dropped out of contention, leaving ART's Bianchi to chase home his title rival. But surprisingly he could not match the Mucke driver's pace and will have to wait for at least another day to be confirmed as champion.
Mika Maki came home third for Signature, fending off SG driver Andrea Caldarelli's mid-race charge. Manor's Roberto Mehri made a great start and further benefited from Valtteri Bottas (ART) picking up a jump-start penalty to move into fifth.
Sam Bird made the move of the race to relieve sixth from Motopark Academy driver Christopher Zanella, while Bird's Mucke teammate Alex Sims held off a late surge from Tiago Geronimi to finish eighth (Signature), which gives him pole position for tomorrow's race.