Bahrain GP3: Ocon takes points lead with pole position

ART Grand Prix driver Ocon, who came into the weekend two points behind leader Luca Ghiotto, secured the top spot by an impressive 0.504s.

Arden’s Emil Bernstorff set the early pace on 1m47.806s, but was quickly toppled from P1 by Trident’s Ghiotto on 1m47.677s. Ocon was third-fastest at that point.

Russian racer Matevos Isaakyan then caused a red flag after 10mins, the Formula Renault 2.0 frontrunner stopping at Turn 10.

At the resumption, Kevin Ceccon leapt to third, 0.148s off the pole time.

In the closing moments, Alex Palou rocketed to the top of the times on 1m47.218s, just 0.041s ahead of Marvin Kirchhofer.

Ghiotto improved to 1m47.307s, which was only good enough for third, before Ocon jumped to the top on 1m46.684s – over half a second clear of his rivals.

Ceccon improved to 1m47.197s to go second, but Ghiotto beat him by 0.009s, snatching a front row spot at the chequered flag.

The title rivals will thus start alongside each other for Friday afternoon’s race one.

Palou will start fourth, ahead of Kirchhofer, Artur Janosz, Bernstorff and Jann Mardenborough.

Pos.	Driver	Team	Time	Gap
1	Esteban Ocon	ART Grand Prix	1:46.684
2	Luca Ghiotto	Trident	1:47.188	0.504
3	Kevin Ceccon	Arden International	1:47.197	0.513
4	Alex Palou	Campos Racing	1:47.218	0.534
5	Marvin Kirchhofer	ART Grand Prix	1:47.259	0.575
6	Artur Janosz	Trident	1:47.618	0.934
7	Emil Bernstorff	Arden International	1:47.663	0.979
8	Jann Mardenborough	Carlin	1:47.686	1.002
9	Jimmy Eriksson	Koiranen GP	1:47.713	1.029
10	Antonio Fuoco	Carlin	1:47.833	1.149
11	Alex Fontana	Status Grand Prix	1:47.944	1.260
12	Ralph Boschung	Jenzer Motorsport	1:47.947	1.263
13	Mitchell Gilbert	Carlin	1:47.954	1.270
14	Alfonso Celis	ART Grand Prix	1:48.103	1.419
15	Pal Varhaug	Jenzer Motorsport	1:48.109	1.425
16	Seb Morris	Status Grand Prix	1:48.265	1.581
17	Michele Beretta	Trident	1:48.290	1.606
18	Matt Parry	Koiranen GP	1:48.304	1.620
19	Matheo Tuscher	Jenzer Motorsport	1:48.314	1.630
20	Aleksander Bosak	Arden International	1:48.359	1.675
21	Matevos Isaakyan	Koiranen GP	1:48.576	1.892
22	Zaid Ashkanani	Campos Racing	1:48.775	2.091
23	Sandy Stuvik	Status Grand Prix	1:48.815	2.131
24	Konstantin Tereshchenko	Campos Racing	1:48.946	2.262