Jimmy Eriksson boosted his slim GP3 title hopes with a second win of the season at Monza, with those around him in the points race all suffering contrasting fortunes.

Koiranen GP racer Eriksson, who had only scored seven points in the last seven races and tumbled to fifth in the standings, dominated from pole position.

Although his winning margin over ART’s Dino Zamparelli was only 0.6 seconds at the finish, it was as much as 2.1s with seven laps to go.

Behind the strong-finishing Zamparelli, Marvin Kirchhofer inherited third for ART when the fast-starting Robert Visoiu was given a drive-through penalty for a marginal overtaking-under-yellow-flags call on the entry to the Roggia chicane.

Kirchhofer, who started eighth, was literally pushed into fourth place at the first corner by Dean Stoneman.

Emil Bernstorff (who started the race ahead of Eriksson in the points) just nipped ahead of Stoneman’s Manor car, and would hold fourth place in his Carlin machine until the finish.

Points leader Alex Lynn finished sixth, despite an appalling start. He towed past Patrick Kujala’s Manor car at the Curva Grande with four laps remaining.

Lynn’s main title rival, Richie Stanaway, also suffered a bad start, and then went through the gravel at the Roggia and was involved in a clash with Pal Varhaug at Lesmo 1.

From 13th, Stanaway battled his way back through to ninth, but just missed out on the reversed-grid pole, which goes to Matheo Tuscher.

Nick Yelloly, who was third in points and started third, finished 10th after a dismal first lap.

Results – 17 laps:

Title contenders struggle as Erickson takes GP3 win