Dean Stoneman claimed his third win of the GP3 campaign after beating championship leader Alex Lynn as the duo diced for the lead across the opening few laps.
Front row starters Matheo Tuscher and Patrick Kujala both struggled to get off the line, allowing Stoneman to leap into the lead, closely challenged by Lynn.
Lynn went side-by-side with Stoneman into the Roggia chicane but had to bail out of a move, while a similar approach a few laps later also failed to pay dividends.
Lynn and Stoneman battled on with the Carlin driver prevailing into the Rettifilo, only to lose out at Roggia and consequently drop behind team-mate Emil Bernstorff, although Lynn soon got back ahead into the Parabolica.
Marvin Kirchhöfer tried to pass Bernstorff but went wide and had to depend against Kujala, who spun and retired at Roggia.
Kirchhöfer’s path was cleared, though, when Bernstorff slid wide at the second Lesmo and slipped to fourth.
Up front Stoneman gradually extended his advantage over Lynn to come home almost a second clear of Lynn, with Kirchhöfer third and Bernstorff fourth.
Nick Yelloly was a lonely fifth, ahead of Kevin Ceccon, while Luis Sá Silva claimed seventh position following a frantic late battle with Jimmy Eriksson, Dino Zamparelli and Alex Fontana.
It was a poor day for Lynn’s nearest title rival Richie Stanaway, who retired from the action towards the end of the race.
