Evans scores victory in chaotic GP2 encounter

Mitch Evans chalked up his maiden GP2 win of the season after coming through a chaotic red flagged feature race at the Red Bull Ring.

The New Zealander emerged in a prime position when the race was suspended with 10 laps to go following Artem Markelov’s crash under the Safety Car after a heavy rain shower.

After benefiting from an early pitstop, Evans inherited the lead when leader Philo Paz Armand was given a 10 second penalty.

Armand, who had yet to make his compulsory stop, overtook the Safety Car as the field filed into the pits under the red flag.

After a lengthy delay officials elected to restart the race under the Safety Car with Evans leading the field.

The 22-year-old made no mistakes on the restart before going on to take the chequered flag by 4.6s from Campos team-mate Sean Gelael, who also took advantage of an early stop.

Raffaele Marciello stormed from fifth to third in the final laps but was unable to make an impression on Gelael and Evans.

Luca Ghiotto finished fourth ahead of Jimmy Eriksson, Oliver Rowland, Norman Nato and pole-sitter Sergey Sirotkin.

Sirotkin failed to convert his pole at the start losing out to Antonio Giovinazzi as the race began in dry conditions.

A charging Pierre Gasly came through to take the lead on the sixth lap before the rain hit at the halfway point.

A spin from Gasly saw the introduction of the Safety Car with Giovinazzi taking over the lead.

Several runners opted for wets during the stoppage before racing resumed in tricky conditions.

Giovinazzi’s race came to a premature and when his car failed to start when the race restarted.

Race winner Evans will start Sunday’s sprint race from eighth position.