DUBAI // Pietro Fittipaldi, grandson of Brazilian Formula One legend Emerson Fittipaldi, is looking forward to the final leg of the MRF Challenge 2015 in India after extending his lead at the top of the championship over the weekend in Dubai.
Arriving in the UAE with a 12-point lead over Russia’s Nikita Troitckii, Fittipaldi will start the fourth and final leg of the Challenge in India, to be held in Chennai from January 29-31, with a 16-point cushion over his closest challenger.
That followed three podium finishes in four races at the Dubai Autodrome over the weekend, including victory in Race 4 yesterday.
“It feels great to stand on the top step of the podium again,” said the 19-year-old Brazilian, who had finished second in Race 1 on Friday and third in Race 3 yesterday morning. “The car was great this weekend and I had a great start.
“I overtook [Sean] Walkinshaw and [Harrison] Newey and then it was just about managing the gap to Alessio [Picariello]. I can’t wait to get to India to do the final round of the season.”
Picariello, who dominated the tracks in the second leg in Bahrain with two wins after missing the first leg in Abu Dhabi, had two victories in Dubai as well, winning Race 1 and the truncated Race 3.
The safety car was out early in Race 3 after Dylan Young’s crash on Lap 2 before a collision between Arjun Narendran and Mathew Draper on Lap 6 brought the red flags out, forcing the officials to stop the 10-lap race early.
The early stop meant Picariello was declared the winner, though he was overtaken by Troitckii on that ill-fated Lap 6.
“First race of the day was another close battle,” said the Brazilian Picariello, who has moved up to fourth in the championship with 134 points, behind Fittipaldi (168 points), Troitckii (152) and Tatiana Calderon (147 points).
“I had a good start and managed to pull away but Nikita came on strong after the Safety Car and I had to hold him off. The red flag cut the race short but it feels great to get yet another win.
“In the second race of the day I had a good start and managed to pass a few drivers but Pietro was too far ahead and I had to settle for second place.”
arizvi@thenational.ae
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