Pourchaire powers to F2 victory

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Theo Pourchaire of ART Grand Prix was victorius yesterday in the Feature Race of the season-opening round of the 2022 FIA Formula 2 Championship, held at Bahrain International Circuit in support of the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.

The Frenchman clinched the win following a tight battle with Kiwi Liam Lawson of Carlin. Only 0.925 seconds separated the pair at the chequered flag, with Pourchaire taking first place in a total race time of one hour one minute and 54.454 seconds after 31 laps.

Juri Vips of Hitech Grand Prix completed the podium placers in third, finishing 1.714 seconds back. Pourchaire started the Feature from the front row alongside pole-sitter Jack Doohan of Virtuosi Racing.

At the start, Vips had a strong get-away and was able to snatch the lead after driving between Doohan and Pourchaire. Pourchaire dropped all the way back to fourth in the early stages, but gradually fought his way back to the top positions.

He captured the lead on lap 19, and following a late safety car period, Pourchaire was in the lead and was able to hold on until the very end. Behind the top three was Ralph Boschung of Campos Racing in fourth, 3.863s from Pourchaire, while Marcus Armstrong in the other Hitech car came fifth 4.606s from the winner.

Felipe Drugovich of MP Motorsport was sixth on the final classification and Logan Sargeant in the other Carlin challenger was seventh. Roy Nissany was eighth for Dams, Jake Hughes ninth for Van Amersfoort Racing, and pole-sitter Doohan 10th.

Each of the top 10 scored points in the race. All 20 of F2’s 2022 drivers took part in the Feature. Following the season’s opening round, Pourchaire leads the drivers’ championship with 25 points.

Lawson is second just a single point behind, while Vips is third on 18. Carlin lead the team’s championship standings with 33 points, followed by Hitech Grand Prix with 28 and ART with 25. The championship now heads to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia next week for the season’s second of 13 rounds.