Double joy for Picariello
Debutant and 2013 Formel 3 ADAC Masters driver Alessi Picariello from Belgium in 20 minutes 238.133 seconds with an average speed of 157.4 kph maintained his top qualifying form to win Race 1 yesterday of the MRF Challenge 2015 at the FIA WEC Bapco 6 Hours of Bahrain hosted by the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir.
Starting on pole, Picariello maintained the lead throughout the 10-lap race for his maiden winner in this competition.
Russian Nikita Troitckii (+3.707) claimed second place after starting third on the grid behind Colombian Tatiana Calderon (+6.644) and overtaking her during the second lap as she had to settle for the third and final place on the podium.
Fourth place went to Pietro Fittipalsi (Bra, +7.110), fifth Matheus Leist (Bra, +8.572), sixth Sean Walkinshaw (Gbr, +16.754), seventh Harrison Newey (Gbr, +21.927) and eighth Dylan Young (Aus +21.999).
Picariello finished with the fastest lap on the seventh in two minutes 3.076 seconds.
In the second race Picariello completed a dream debut with his second win and timed at 20 minutes 12 .866 seconds, closely followed in second by Fittipaldi (+5.081), with Troitchi (+5.172) taking the third and final podium.
Fourth was Newey (10.607), fifth Leist (+12.768), sixth Clderon (+13.583), seventh Sam Dejonghe (Ger, 14.256) and eighth Walkinshaw (+18.218).
The Bahrain leg of the championship is now concluded and the 14 race series which began at the end of October with four races in Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi before shifting for two in Bahrain, now moves next month to Dubai Autodrome which will host four races and the final four races of the season are in January at the Madras Motor Racing Track in Chennai, India.
Photo Caption: (left to right) Troitckii, Picariello, Calderon, MRF MD Arun Mammen
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