Great first for Iwasa, winner of the Main Race at Le Castellet, podium for Pourchaire

That's it, Ayumu Iwasa is finally a race winner in F2 ! Often fast and in a good position to win since the start of the season but regularly poorly rewarded, the DAMS driver overcame the Indian sign by winning the Main Race at Le Castellet this Sunday.

In the game since the start of the weekend at Paul-Ricard, Ayumu Iwasa knew that he had a golden opportunity to finally join the circle of winners of the 2022 campaign. And the least we can say, it The Japanese did not miss their chance. Always 2^e after the lights went out despite the poleman's bad start Logan sargeant (Carlin), the Japanese was quick to stand out. While Jack Doohan (Virtuosi) had taken control of the race, the member of the Red Bull Junior Team responded straight away with an authoritarian overtake at the entrance to the North chicane on the first lap.

From then on, Ayumu Iwasa had a relatively calm race. Quickly sheltered from Jack Doohan and the other pursuers, the Japanese was able to safely negotiate his pit stop on the 14th lap, shortly before the halfway mark. Coming out temporarily in the lead, he only had to wait for the last refueling stops to regain control of the Main Race and never let go of them afterward.

Pourchaire takes his revenge

On the podium of the Sprint Race the day before but penalized during the evening and fell to 7th, Theo Pourchaire had a revenge to take this Sunday. Fifth on the grid, the ART Grand Prix driver retained his position at the start, preferring to wait for the burst of pit stops to take action.

The first driver from the leading group to pass through the pit lane at the end of the 10th lap, Théo Pourchaire took advantage of this strategy shifted by a few laps to show off his comrades. It was Jack Doohan who first paid the price. Well helped by a premature pit-stop and warmer tires, the Grassois gave him no chance before setting the table again a pass later on his teammate Frederik Vesti.

These two overtakes in quick succession then allowed Théo Pourchaire to move into 2nd provisional position while waiting for the final stops. Too far and short to get Ayumu Iwasa in front of him, the Sauber Academy protégé then had to fight to resist the return of Jack Doohan. Returning to the Frenchman's DRS zone, the Australian attempted an attack at the entrance to the North chicane on the 19th of 30 laps but did not master his maneuver, failing to send his opposite number into the background .

Freed from the pressure put on by Jack Doohan, Théo Pourchaire then contented himself with completing his last ten laps to take the checkerboard in 2nd position, almost 9 seconds behind the winner of the day. Deprived of a podium for an overtake on Marcus Armstrong (Hitech GP) deemed illegal the day before, the Habs took their revenge to celebrate with their large crowd this Sunday morning at Paul-Ricard.

In the championship, this 2nd place allows Théo Pourchaire to take 6 points from leader Felipe Drugovich (MP Motorsport), 4th this Sunday. Once again runner-up to the Brazilian, the Frenchman is now 39 lengths behind.

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