Formula Regional Asia -Dubai Race 1 review and results 30.01.2022: FORMULA REGIONAL ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP CERTIFIED BY FIA 2022 Dubai Autodrome, UAE Round 2 (Races 4-6) Sunday, January 30th 2021 RESULTS DOWNLOAD HERE

FORMULA REGIONAL ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP CERTIFIED BY FIA 2022
Dubai Autodrome, UAE Round 2 (Races 4-6)
Sunday, January 30th 2021


RESULTS DOWNLOAD HERE



Rookie Sebastian Montoya made a good start from pole, but wasn’t fast enough to shake off the blindingly-quick Hadrien David.


Pepe Marti also got away well, the Rookie getting by Red Bull Junior Team driver Jack Crawford to go third, with Dino Beganovic following him past the American. Marti tried a move on David which briefly saw the Spaniard drop down to fourth behind Beganovic, but he quickly reclaimed the position from the Swede.



Although Montoya had managed to create a modest gap at the front, David was flying and in no time was all over the back of the Colombian, who defended well. After a bold challenge, which saw the pair knock wheels, David won out and roared off with the race lead.



Next Montoya came under fire from Marti, but a safety car intervention to recover the car of Abu Dhabi Racing by Prema’s Amna Al Qubaisi interrupted his challenge. At the restart, with 15 minutes remaining on the clock, David had no trouble pulling away, while behind him Marti made his move on Montoya to claim second. Crawford, meanwhile, found his way past Beganovic, demoting the Swede to fifth ahead of Gabriel Bortoleto.



With less than 10 minutes remaining, there was disappointment for Hitech GP when championship leader and winner in Abu Dhabi, Gabriel Minì, was forced to retire. Moments later, the safety car was called out for a second time after Masters Trophy driver Thomas Luedi spun out. The incident saw the field cross the finish line behind the safety car, and a triumphant David lead home Rookies Marti and Montoya.



Just missing out on a podium finish was Crawford, who led home Beganovic, Bortoleto and Pinnacle Motorsport’s Dilano van’t Hoff, third of the Rookie finishers. Crawford’s fellow Red Bull Junior Isack Hadjar was eighth ahead of Mumbai Falcons’ Arthur Leclerc, with BlackArts Racing’s Pierre Louis Chovet taking tenth and thereby locking in pole position for the start of Race 2.



Winner in the Masters Trophy was Abu Dhabi Racing by Prema’s Khaled Al Qubaisi ahead of Pinnacle Motorsport’s Salih Yoluç.



- Nikki Kemp  photo FRA