Renault academy driver Jack Aitken won the Hungarian GP3 feature race from pole position to bring himself back into drivers’ championship contention.

Aitken, who started the event 40 points behind leader George Russell after his problematic weekend in Spain, cut his deficit to just nine as the Mercedes Formula 1 junior failed to start the race with mechanical issues.

The victor held off team-mate and Honda protege Nirei Fukuzumi early on between safety car and virtual safety car periods before creating a buffer which ended in a winning margin of 4.4 seconds.

Anthoine Hubert finished a further 4.4s adrift of the Japanese to claim his second podium in three races and create the second ART 1-2-3 race finish of 2017.

Jenzer’s Alessio Lorandi finished fourth to continue his streak of completing every race in the top-10.

Trident’s Dorian Boccolacci, Giuliano Alesi – Ferrari academy racer and son of ex-F1 driver Jean – and Kevin Joerg were fifth, sixth and seventh.

Their team-mate Ryan Tveter took eighth place and pole for the sprint race.

Red Bull’s Niko Kari was ninth, while DAMS’ Bruno Baptista claimed his maiden points finish.

GP3 newcomer Matthieu Vaxiviere ended in 12th place.

Sauber and Haas development drivers Tatiana Calderon and Arjun Maini both failed to complete the first lap.