INDIA in F1

Category: Indians Abroad

News about Indians racing in different motorsports events abroad

  • Arjun Maini qualifies P8; Russell on pole: GP3 Series

    George Russell has delighted the local fans with a sterling drive in cool conditions in this afternoon’s qualifying session in Silverstone, leading the way for most of the session to claim his second pole position ahead of ART Grand Prix teammates Anthoine Hubert and Nirei Fukuzumi.
    The Briton stopped the clock with a laptime of 1:46.608 to claim pole by a tenth in a tight session, which took place under overcast but dry conditions. All of the drivers were immediately on track given the chance of rain, looking to at least secure a banker lap while they could.
    The early pace was fast and frantic: Santino Ferrucci, Bruno Baptista, Steijn Schothorst, Niko Kari, Alessio Lorandi and Hubert all spent time on top of the timesheets before Russell grabbed P1 with a 47.5s, and with tyres clearly beyond their best the entire field returned to the pits for fresh rubber and to plan how best to use it.
    When they finally returned to the track the pace was no less rapid: Dorian Boccolacci missed pole by five thousandths before the ART teammates hit the front: Jack Aitken, Fukuzumi and finally Russell ran faster again, with Hubert slotting into P2 with 2 minutes remaining. Fukuzumi looked to improve on his final lap but was slightly wide in sector 3, and the top 3 was set.
    Behind then Boccolacci, Lorandi, Aitken, Niko Kari, Arjun Maini, Ryan Tveter and Julien Falchero were all within a second of the top spot and will be looking to make up the gap tomorrow when they hit the track once again for race 1.
    Provisional Qualifying Classification
    Driver
    Team
    Laptime
    Laps
    1.
    George Russell
    ART Grand Prix
    1:46.608
    12
    2.
    Anthoine Hubert
    ART Grand Prix
    1:46.714
    12
    3.
    Nirei Fukuzumi
    ART Grand Prix
    1:46.833
    12
    4.
    Dorian Boccolacci
    Trident
    1:47.052
    14
    5.
    Alessio Lorandi
    Jenzer Motorsport
    1:47.082
    13
    6.
    Jack Aitken
    ART Grand Prix
    1:47.090
    12
    7.
    Niko Kari
    Arden International
    1:47.259
    13
    8.
    Arjun Maini
    Jenzer Motorsport
    1:47.412
    12
    9.
    Ryan Tveter
    Trident
    1:47.412
    11
    10.
    Julien Falchero
    Campos Racing
    1:47.473
    11
    11.
    Raoul Hyman
    Campos Racing
    1:47.571
    12
    12.
    Giuliano Alesi
    Trident
    1:47.588
    11
    13.
    Kevin Jörg
    Trident
    1:47.658
    13
    14.
    Leonardo Pulcini
    Arden International
    1:47.677
    10
    15.
    Steijn Schothorst
    Arden International
    1:47.823
    13
    16.
    Santino Ferrucci
    DAMS
    1:47.898
    12
    17.
    Marcos Siebert
    Campos Racing
    1:47.977
    10
    18.
    Bruno Baptista
    DAMS
    1:48.544
    13
    19.
    Tatiana Calderon
    DAMS
    1:48.893
    14
     

  • More points for Ruhaan Alva: Italian Easykart

    Castelletto (Italy), 3 July 2017: India’s Ruhaan Alva picked up seven more crucial points with a ninth place finish in Round 6 of the Italian Easykart Championship here on Sunday.

    However, Ruhaan, the 10-year old schoolboy from Bengaluru and who is supported by Italian kart manufacturer Birel Art, was stripped of his second place points in Round 7 consequent of disqualification as his kart lost the front bumper during an overtaking move on the last lap.

    On Saturday, Ruhaan qualified fifth for Round 6 and finished in the same position in the Pre-Final. However, in the Final, Ruhan, drove brilliantly to move to third, but a Turn-1 crash dropped him to 26th before he fought his way back to eventually finish ninth.

    For Round 7 on Sunday, Ruhaan qualified fourth and finished second in the Pre-Final after making five spots. In the Final, Ruhaan was very much in contention for a win as he was placed second going into the last lap.

    Attempting a pass on leader Daniele D’Urso a few corners before the finish, Ruhaan made contact and in the process, the front bumper came off which led to his disqualification despite finishing second.

    Ruhaan is currently placed fourth in the championship, 29 points adrift of leader and team-mate Patrese Lorenzo. The championship concludes on the September 9-10 weekend in Lignano when the remaining two rounds will be run.

    eom/AP Media Comm press release

  • Jehan, 1st Indian to get FIA F3 Euro win

    Nuremberg (Germany) 2 July 2017: Jehan Daruvala of the Sahara Force India Academy created history by becoming the first ever Indian to win in the FIA F3 European Championship. Jehan’s victory in race 3 comes 18 years after Naren Karthikeyan won in the British F3 Championship.

    The 2.3-km Norisring is an extremely fast and flowing layout for a street circuit, with mistakes being punished by concrete walls instead of soft tyre barriers. The Formula 3 rookie showed immense skill to clinch the top spot with two full-course yellow flag periods and made no mistakes despite coming under sustained pressure from championship leader Maximilian Gunther.

    The 2001 Formula 1 title runner-up David Coulthard, who also won in F3 on several occasions, presented the winner’s trophy to Daruvala.

    FIA Formula 3 is the toughest junior racing category in the world, having produced some of the best racing talents ever known including Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.

    Daruvala had qualified on the front row for the final race of the weekend – behind pole-sitter and championship leader Maximilian Gunther. As the lights went out, the 18-year old got off the line in a scintillating fashion, getting side-by-side with his German rival before even reaching the braking zone into turn one. He comfortably defended the inside while others scrabbled behind him and never looked back – completing a perfect lights to flag win 39 laps later.

    That is not to say the race was uneventful. There were many incidents and full-course yellows were deployed twice during the course of the race – but the Indian kept his head down and executed perfect restarts every single time, belying his experience in this format of single-seater racing.

    Keeping an experienced rival like Gunther, the championship leader with three years of F3 experience under his belt went a long way in cementing Jehan’s credentials as one of the best new talents in junior motorsport.

    Daruvala had a one-second advantage when the first full-course yellow was called on lap six, after a collision between Mick Schumacher and Pedro Piquet. At the restart, Gunther got slightly close and then several times during the race length of the race, but Daruvala kept up his relentless pace and never allowed his German rival an opportunity to make a move, taking the chequered flag with a 0.4s cushion.

    “It feels brilliant to get my first F3 win. I have been quick all weekend & it finally came together this race. I knew the start was crucial, so I focused a lot on that. Once I had Max at the start, I just had to ensure that I made no mistakes. The pressure was immense through the race, but I was enjoying myself.

    I must thank the team for a fantastic car all weekend & everyone else around me who have been instrumental in my success.” Said an ecstatic Jehan.

    There was plenty of action earlier on in the weekend as well, as FIA Formula 3 once again ran alongside the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) – one of world’s leading tin-top championships. The first qualifying session saw Daruvala finish ninth with a laptime of 48.409s, less than two-tenths slower compared to pole-position time of Jake Hughes (48.231s). It once again showcased the ultra-competitive nature of the championship with the entire grid of 18 drivers covered by just seven-tenths of a second.

    A strong haul of points thanks to his sixth & fourth places finishes in the first 2 races, meant that Jehan is now fifth in the overall standings and second in the rookie standings.

    Shortly after the race ended, there was a great show of support for the young Indian driver – particularly from his compatriot Karthikeyan who enjoyed strong success in Formula 3, incidentally also with Carlin Motorsport.

    He tweeted, “18 years after I won my first British F3 race, another Indian has made it to the top step once again – well done & congrats @DaruvalaJehan!”

    “By far India’s brightest prospect of making it to F1. Today’s superb drive in the most competitive junior grid seals that. Awesome mate!” said the second tweet from the first Indian in Formula 1.

    The next round of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship is scheduled at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps Circuit in Belgium on July 29-30.

    eom/Rayo Racing release

  • Maini clocks 67 laps of testing: GP3

    The GP3 Series paddock has gathered at the Hungaroring in Budapest for a two day test mid-season session ahead of Round 2 at the Red Bull Ring in Austria next month. ART’s George Russell was the quickest man in both sessions of the opening day, with a fastest laptime of 1:32.159 set in the morning session, ahead of Dorian Boccolacci and Alessio Lorandi in P2 and P3 of the overall timings.
    The morning’s proceedings were delayed by one hour to wait for the full medical staff to be operational. As the pitlane went green at 10am local time, all cars fed onto the track to complete their installation laps with Tatiana Calderon the only driver to set a laptime in the opening 45 minutes. On the one hour mark Boccolacci went top, dipping under 1:34, but Russell found some extra pace to move up to P1, three tenths faster than Alessio Lorandi in P2.
    Russell remained top for most of the trouble-free session, improving to break the 1m33s barrier, but with thirty minutes left on the clock Boccolacci temporarily edged him out, going fastest by four hundredths. In the closing stages Russell went P1 again, as Aitken also improved to move up to P2, four tenths slower than his teammate. At the chequered flag, and behind the top 3, Arjun Maini, Santino Ferrucci, Lorandi, Raoul Hyman, Marcos Siebert, Nirei Fukuzumi and Anthoine Hubert rounded up the top 10.
    Following a two hour lunch break the action picked up again, with Leonardo Pulcini leading the way in the opening stages, but Bruno Baptista improved on the Italian’s laptime to go top. The session was briefly halted after Julien Falchero stopped at the exit of Turn 5. At the restart Niko Kari was soon sitting pretty at the top of the timesheets, before Lorandi went quickest under menacing skies.
    With one hour left on the clock, Russell put his head down to lap the Hungarian track under 1m33s, two tenths faster than Lorandi. In the closing stages, a red flag was shown after Baptista stopped at Turn 12. When the track went live again Russell improved further to set a laptime of 1:32.332, while Boccolacci also found some extra pace to move up to P2, one tenth slower than the Briton.
    When the flag dropped and behind the top 3, Aitken, Ferrucci, Maini, Fukuzumi, Siebert, Kevin Jörg and Hubert completed the top 10. The second and final day of testing will open tomorrow at 9am local time.
    Day 1 Morning results
    Driver
    Team
    Laptime
    Laps
    1.
    George Russell
    ART Grand Prix
    1:32.159
    31
    2.
    Jack Aitken
    ART Grand Prix
    1:32.654
    28
    3.
    Dorian Boccolacci
    Trident
    1:32.680
    22
    4.
    Arjun Maini
    Jenzer Motorsport
    1:32.765
    30
    5.
    Santino Ferrucci
    DAMS
    1:32.811
    34
    6.
    Alessio Lorandi
    Jenzer Motorsport
    1:32.864
    32
    7.
    Raoul Hyman
    Campos Racing
    1:32.913
    31
    8.
    Marcos Siebert
    Campos Racing
    1:33.014
    33
    9.
    Nirei Fukuzumi
    ART Grand Prix
    1:33.056
    20
    10.
    Anthoine Hubert
    ART Grand Prix
    1:33.273
    30
    11.
    Giuliano Alesi
    Trident
    1:33.303
    26
    12.
    Ryan Tveter
    Trident
    1:33.352
    24
    13.
    Kevin Jörg
    Trident
    1:33.384
    32
    14.
    Leonardo Pulcini
    Arden International
    1:33.694
    24
    15.
    Julien Falchero
    Campos Racing
    1:33.721
    32
    16.
    Bruno Baptista
    DAMS
    1:33.876
    26
    17.
    Tatiana Calderon
    DAMS
    1:34.099
    32
    18.
    Steijn Schothorst
    Arden International
    1:34.388
    22
    19.
    Niko Kari
    Arden International
    1:34.609
    20
     
    Day 1 Afternoon results
    Driver
    Team
    Laptime
    Laps
    1.
    George Russell
    ART Grand Prix
    1:32.332
    46
    2.
    Dorian Boccolacci
    Trident
    1:32.436
    50
    3.
    Alessio Lorandi
    Jenzer Motorsport
    1:32.459
    40
    4.
    Jack Aitken
    ART Grand Prix
    1:32.547
    46
    5.
    Santino Ferrucci
    DAMS
    1:32.696
    38
    6.
    Arjun Maini
    Jenzer Motorsport
    1:32.724
    37
    7.
    Nirei Fukuzumi
    ART Grand Prix
    1:32.728
    45
    8.
    Marcos Siebert
    Campos Racing
    1:32.997
    37
    9.
    Kevin Jörg
    Trident
    1:33.019
    38
    10.
    Anthoine Hubert
    ART Grand Prix
    1:33025
    49
    11.
    Leonardo Pulcini
    Arden International
    1:33.075
    34
    12.
    Bruno Baptista
    DAMS
    1:33.075
    31
    13.
    Ryan Tveter
    Trident
    1:33.275
    41
    14.
    Steijn Schothorst
    Arden International
    1:33.301
    37
    15.
    Giuliano Alesi
    Trident
    1:33.320
    37
    16.
    Niko Kari
    Arden International
    1:33.321
    37
    17.
    Julien Falchero
    Campos Racing
    1:33.462
    34
    18.
    Tatiana Calderon
    DAMS
    1:33.837
    33
    19.
    Raoul Hyman
    Campos Racing
    1:35.680
    23
     eom/GP3 release

  • Maini to take part in mid-season testing: GP3

    Hungaroring (Budapest), 5 June 2017:  The 2017 GP3 Series season continues tomorrow for a fourth test, to be held at the Hungaroring in Budapest, Hungary on 6-7 June. The teams and drivers will use the 2 day test to finalise preparations for the next round of the season, at the Red Bull Ring in Austria on 7-9 July.

    The test follows the first round of the season in Barcelona on 12-14 May, which saw a fierce competition as the entire grid battled for an early advantage in the Drivers’ Championship. Jack Aitken took pole from ART teammate Nirei Fukuzumi and Dorian Boccolacci, but in Race 1 a mechanical gremlin for the Briton saw the Japanese take the win ahead of Leonardo Pulcini and Alessio Lorandi. Arjun Maini dominated Race 2 from the reverse pole, winning from Boccolacci and Lorandi.
    Previous tests have been marred by rain, and the teams will be hoping that testing in central Europe in June will bring better weather to allow them to have a more useful test, which will once again feature access to the new for 2017 Drag Reduction System (DRS), restricted to use only within the 2 nominated DRS zones, in line with the FIA Formula 2 and Formula 1 championships. As usual all drivers will be allowed 4 sets of Pirelli’s medium compound for the test, and 3 sets of wets.
    The driver line up is unchanged once again, and the sessions will start each day at 09:00 local time and run until 12:00: on Tuesday the afternoon session will run from 14:00 to 17:00, while on Wednesday this will be pushed forward an hour to 13:00 before closing at 16:00.
    GP3 Series – Estoril Test Session: Drivers’ Entry List
    ART Grand Prix
    1. Jack Aitken
    2. Nirei Fukuzumi
    3. George Russell
    4. Anthoine Hubert
     
    Arden International
    5. Niko Kari
    6. Leonardo Pulcini
    7. Steijn Schothurst
     
    Trident
    8. Kevin Joerg
    9. Giuliano Alesi
    10. Ryan Tveter
    11. Dorian Boccolacci
     
    DAMS
    14. Santino Ferrucci
    15. Tatiana Calderón
    16. Bruno Baptista
     
    Jenzer Motorsport
    22. Alessio Lorandi
    24. Arjun Maini
     
    Campos Racing
    26. Julien Falchero
    27. Raoul Hyman
    28. Marcos Seibert
    eom/GP3 official press release
  • Sarath Kumar earns points at Suzuka: ARRC

    Sarath Kumar earns points at Suzuka: ARRC

    S Sarath Kumar at Suzuka on Sunday. A Rama Honda Racing team image

    Suzuka (Japan), 5 June 2017: India’s Shankar Sarath Kumar of Rama Honda Racing team by NTS T.Pro Ten10 secured a few more precious points in the first race of the SuperSport 600cc double-header following an improved performance in the third round of FIM Asia Road Racing Championship here over the weekend.

    Riding the Honda CBR 600WR, Chennai-based Sarath Kumar picked up two points in the first race on Saturday, but drew blank in the second outing on Sunday, but showed improvement through the weekend. He has nine points from three rounds.

    Sarath’s team-mate Rajiv Sethu, riding the Honda CBR 250RR in the Asia Production class for the first time at this iconic circuit, finished outside of points in both the races.

    Both Sarath and Sethu are backed by John Sudheer of the Rama Group of companies besides Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India and Honda Motorsports Japan.

    Sarath said: “Although I improved my timing with each session this time as well, I still do not have enough speed compared to my competitors. As such, I want to review the riding style and be able to run faster in the rounds to follow.”

    Sethu said: “Although racing at the Suzuka circuit was not the first time because of my participation in the Asian Dream Cup in the previous season, it was still a difficult race I was riding the CBR 250 RR for the first time here. Yet, it was still a good experience as I was able to put in some good lap times.”

    However, the Rama Honda team also enjoyed better results as their 600cc spearhead Taiga Hada finished sixth and fourth to be placed fourth in the championship while in the Asia Production class, Tomoyash Koyoma was third in both the races. The fifth RAMA Honda team rider Sena Yamada also picked up useful points in both the SuperSport 600cc races.

    The Rame Honda team is currently placed third in the 600cc championship and fifth in the AP 250 class after three rounds.

    John Sudheer, Chairman, Rama Group of Companies, said: “I am quite satisfied with our team’s overall performance here at Suzuka. It was heartening that both Sarath and Rajiv showed some improvement and I look forward to the next round in Indonesia in August.”

    Rama Honda team director Yusuke Teshima said: “We were aiming to win both AP 250 and SS 600 races, and though we couldn’t, it was one more step forward. We will continue to work on the bikes and be better prepared for the next round.”

    eom/AP Media Comm press release

  • Sarath, Sethu gear up for Suzuka challenge: ARRC

    Sarath, Sethu gear up for Suzuka challenge: ARRC

    Suzuka, 1 June 2017: Having scored points in the previous two rounds, India’s Shankar Sarath Kumar along with his RAMA Honda Racing team by NTS T.Pro Ten10 team-mate Rajiv Sethu hope to put in improved performance in the third round of the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship at the historic circuit here this weekend.

    Chennai-based Sarath and young Sethu are part of the five-member team spearheaded by Japanese ace Tiga Hada, and backed by John Sudheer of the RAMA Group of companies. The Indian duo is also supported by Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India and Honda Motorsports Japan,

    Sarath, in his second season in the SuperSport 600cc class, said: “Last year, I did not have a good outing in Suzuka as I was able to participate in only Race 1 and had to sit out of Race 2 due to injury. This circuit is very demanding on bikes and I feel I am much fitter this year and I want to improve my timing and position for sure.

    “On this circuit, it is important to get into a rhythm and from the very first session, our goal is going to get the flow and have the right setup rfor the race, My target it to stay within 1.5 seconds of the top lap time so that I can finish in top 15.”

    Sethu, in his debut season in the highly competitive Asia Production 250cc class astride a Honda CBR 250, had a forgettable second round in Buriram , Thailand, in April, following a crash in the pre-race practice session and is eager to make up for it.

    “Yes, Buriram was a big disappointment for me, but I hope I will do far better at Suzuka. The track here is one of the most technical in the calendar. Since I have already raced the 2-hour endurance in 2016 , I know about the track . So for me, the goal for this round is going to be a top-8 result in both races though there is much more to learn the competition and fight,” said Sethu.

    John Sudheer, Chairman, RAMA Group of Companies, said: “The first two rounds this season have been pretty exciting with some good results for our team. We are in good position in the championship. I am very satisfied with the performance and I hope we continue similar performance with some podium finishes in Japan also.

    “We are close to middle of the season and I think we have good chance this year to once again fight on the top spot. Tiga Hada is doing very well. However, I want to see our Indian riders finish on top soon. They have to put in a lot of hard work and I am sure they will come up soon.

    Ramji Govindarajan, Team Manager, said: “In such a competitive and short championship, we have to understand the machine and the competition quickly to adapt and perform which I feel both the riders are doing as compared the previous years.

    “They are able to understand the bikes and the competition well and now and based on that, we have set realistic goals for them for Suzuka and I hope we see a good improvement in their lap times and position.”

    eom/AP Media Comm Release

    File photo of Sarath Kumar by Anand Philar.

  • New challenges face Gill, MRF: APRC Round 2

    Canberra, 25 May 2017: A new challenge awaits Team MRF drivers Gaurav Gill and Ole Christian Veiby this weekend when they tackle Australia’s National Capital Rally for the first time.

    Based in Canberra, the event is the second round of the 2017 Asia Pacific Rally Championship, and comes following Team MRF’s dominating 1-2 finish in the opening round in New Zealand in late April. The Australian round of the series has previously been held in Queensland, but returns to Canberra this year, ensuring that no driver will have the advantage of having contested the event before.

    Gill, from India, is currently on a winning streak of seven consecutive APRC events, and is fully in sync with the team’s Skoda Fabia R5. He and Belgian co-driver, Stephane Prevot, were in hot form in New Zealand, and will be looking to continue that winning form this weekend.

    For 20-year old Norwegian star Veiby, the rally is yet another step up the ladder in a rapid learning curve that has already seen him take two top five placings in the World Rally Championship’s WRC2 category.

    Both drivers completed a successful test session near Canberra on Wednesday morning, and after heavy overnight rain they both found a good set up with their cars.

    Gill will start the event as the first car on the road, with Veiby in third position. “The rally will be an enthralling battle between Gaurav and Ole, as neither of them has contested this event before,” Team MRF boss Lane Heenan said.

    “Canberra has a reputation for being an event that is hard on cars, with stages that can cut up, particularly on the second pass of stages. It will be a test of both drivers to find that fine line between maximum speed and being conservative. It promises to be a great battle.”

    The weekend’s weather forecast is for frosty mornings followed by clear, blue skies and a maximum temperature of around 15 degrees celcius – perfect conditions for rallying.

    The National Capital Rally covers 14 competitive stages, with eight on Saturday’s Heat One across 111.48 competitive kilometres, and six on Heat Two across a further 120.92 kilometres. Team MRF’s biggest competition over the two days is expected to come from Finnish star, Jari Ketomaa in a Mitubishi Mirage AP4.

    eom/ MRF Team Release

  • Ruhaan misses another win by a whisker

    Ruhaan misses another win by a whisker

    Siena (Italy), 16 May 2017: Ruhaan Alva, a 10-year old schoolboy from Bengaluru, India, missed a second consecutive win in the 60cc class by a whisker and settled for second spot in the third round of the Italian Easykart Championship here on Sunday.

    In a thrilling 14-lap final, Ruhaan, supported by Italian kart manufacturer Birel Art, started second on the grid, but moved to the front of the 23-kart field on the second lap and held position despite close attention from his MLG Racing team-mate Lorenzo Patrese and Andrea Pirovano.

    The trio was bunched tight after 12 laps before Ruhaan was pushed wide on a right-hander which effectively cost him a possible victory as he had to rest content with second place at the finish behind a late-charging Daniele D’Urso who now heads the championship.

    The podium spot took Ruhaan to fourth in the championship with 48 points having missed the first round when he competed in the 60Mini category before opting for the for the more competitive higher class.

    Earlier, Ruhaan topped the pre-Final race starting from fifth as he led eight of the 11 laps to make up for a disappointing Heats outing when he finished fifth. The points from these two outings put him second on the grid for the Final.

    Ruhaan’s next outing in the championship is on June 10-11 in Lonato where the fourth round is scheduled to be held.

    eom/Press Release

  • Impressive sprint gets Maini a victory in Race 2: GP3

    Impressive sprint gets Maini a victory in Race 2: GP3

    Arjun becomes first Indian to win a GP3 race as he claims maiden win in Barcelona for Jenzer Motorsport team

    Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
    Sunday 14 May 2017
    Arjun Maini (IND, Jenzer Motorsport)
    Photo: Zak Mauger/GP3 Series Media Service
    Barcelona, 14 May 2017: Ace Indian racer Arjun Maini dominated Sunday morning’s race 2 at the Circuit de Catalunya here, easily grabbing the lead into turn one when the lights went out before leaving his rivals floundering with a mature and impressive sprint all the way to the flag to win by 6 seconds from Dorian Boccolacci and Alessio Lorandi.
    The 19-year-old Bengaluru boy was signed by HAAS F1 team as Development Driver last week and is competing in the GP3 series, which is being organised as a support race on the Formula One Sunday.

    One of the only two Indian drivers who raced in Formula One, Karun Chandhok tweeted saying A great start to the day,' as Arjun won his race while Haas F1 team too tweeted `Congratulations to our Development Driver, Arjun Maini, winner of Sunday morning’s GP3 Series race.”

    The victory was set up at the start, which opened under clear but cool conditions with the grid lying in the shadow of the giant front straight stadium: poleman Raoul Hyman made a poor getaway with Boccolacci in P3 making a strong start but being stuck behind the South African, handing Maini a clear run to the first corner. The Frenchman pushed the Indian hard for the lead but Maini was equal to the challenge, while behind them Hyman was looking in his mirrors at the coming menace of the ART threat looming there.
    Anthoine Hubert soon disposed of Hyman and was looking to get into the mix of the fight for the lead, but in front of him Maini and Boccolacci were running side by side all around the circuit, which was only resolved when a small touch saw the Frenchman stumble, falling back towards his countryman and allowing the Indian to scamper away.
    Further back and Lorandi was on a charge: the Italian was repeating his impressive speed from yesterday’s race to easily dispatch Hyman before focussing on Hubert, easing by the Frenchman at turn 1 with 5 laps to go and was looking towards Boccolacci, although he was running out of time to make a real challenge.
    At the flag all the applause was for Maini, who celebrated his new alliance with Haas F1 by bringing home Jenzer’s first win since 2012 and easily dominated his rivals all race long. Boccolacci held off the Lorandi charge to grab P2 by a second, with Hubert joined in the closing stages by teammates George Russell and Nirei Fukuzumi, with Hyman holding on for P7 ahead of Santino Ferrucci in the final points position.
    Fukuzumi leads the drivers’ title fight after Round 1 on 29 points ahead of Lorandi on 25, Maini on 21 with Boccolacci, Russell and Hubert all on 20 points ahead of Leonardo Pulcini on 18, while the teams’ fight has ART Grand Prix stake an early lead on 73 points ahead of Jenzer Motorsport on 46, Trident on 20 and Arden International on 18 points ahead of Round 2 of the series at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.
    Race 2 Provisional Classification 
                                             
    Driver
    Team
    Gap
     
    1.
    Arjun Maini
    Jenzer Motorsport
    2.
    Dorian Boccolacci
    Trident
    6.060
    3.
    Alessio Lorandi
    Jenzer Motorsport
    7.171
    4.
    Anthoine Hubert
    ART Grand Prix
    8.268
    5.
    George Russell
    ART Grand Prix
    9.335
    6.
    Nirei Fukuzumi
    ART Grand Prix
    11.309
    7.
    Raoul Hyman
    Campos Racing
    14.085
    8.
    Santino Ferrucci
    DAMS
    16.638
    9.
    Kevin Jörg
    Trident
    17.813
    10.
    Julien Falchero
    Campos Racing
    20.265
    11.
    Giuliano Alesi
    Trident
    23.251
    12.
    Jack Aitken
    ART Grand Prix
    23.511
    13.
    Bruno Baptista
    DAMS
    26.863
    14.
    Niko Kari
    Arden International
    27.888
    15.
    Steijn Schothorst
    Arden International
    29.709
    16.
    Marcos Siebert
    DAMS
    31.093
    17.
    Leonardo Pulcini
    Arden International
    66.654
    18.
    Ryan Tveter
    Trident
    1 LAP
    Not classified
    Tatiana Calderon
    DAMS