India’s Jehan Daruvala raced to his sixteenth Components 2 podium with a hard-fought third-place end in Dash race of the championship’s Saudi Arabian spherical.
The 24-year-old MP Motorsport driver began fifth and was hustling eventual winner Ayumu Iwasa for the win however dropped to 3rd simply three laps from the tip after making a daring bid for the lead that very practically earned him his first win of the season.
Nonetheless, he crossed the road simply over a second behind Iwasa and fewer than half a second behind runner-up Victor Martins to attain his second successive podium across the barrier-lined, high-speed sweeps of the Crimson Sea monitor.
“To be honest, there are a bunch of mixed emotions,” stated Jehan after the race on Saturday.
“I would definitely say I was disappointed I didn’t win because the car was very good and I had a lot of pace today. But also not disappointed because I took a lot of risks. I have no regrets. I tried to win the race and, in the end, it didn’t pay off.”
Jehan made a lightning begin off the road however was boxed in by the Campos automobiles of Ralph Boschung and compatriot Kush Maini.
A second-lap security automobile that bunched the sphere up gave him a shot at passing Maini and Jehan duly seized the chance to muscle his well past his fellow Indian and set off in pursuit of Crimson Bull-backed racer Jak Crawford.
Jehan despatched Crawford on Lap 7 simply seconds earlier than a collision between Theo Pourchaire and Oliver Bearman triggered a second security automobile interval.
Jehan was sizzling on second-placed Boschung’s heels because the race obtained underway. The Swiss racer was powerless to withstand the MP Motorsport racer’s cost as he swept across the outdoors of Flip 1 to take second.
He then battled Iwasa, whereas additionally maintaining the speedy Martins at bay, earlier than in the end having to concede after his flip 1 gamble for a fifth F2 win didn’t repay.
The rostrum was Jehan’s first of the season. Set to maneuver up one spot on the grid to fourth after a penalty for Theo Pourchaire, he has a great likelihood of finishing a podium sweep.
Jehan, nevertheless, is eyeing victory. “All in all, I’m happy,” he stated. “I think I can even fight for the win tomorrow in the Feature Race.”
