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Pourchaire resists and wins the Main Race

Despite a Safety Car at the end of the race and pressure from Liam Lawson and Jüri Vips, Théo Pourchaire took his first victory of the season.

Published on 20/03/2022 à 12:48

Gonzalo Forbes

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Pourchaire resists and wins the Main Race

It was hard but he managed it. With a Safety Car restart to manage at the end of the race, Theo Pourchaire (ART Grand Prix) emerged victorious in the duel against Liam Lawson (Carlin) and Jüri Vips (Hitech GP) to claim victory in the Main Race in Bahrain.

However, everything did not start well for the Tricolore who did not make the best start of his career and went from 2e the 4e place before turn 1. But a Safety Car on the first lap of the race put him back upright as he returned to 3rd after getting rid of Ralph Bosschung (Campos) during the restart on the 5th loop. A calm period followed for the Habs, still clinging to the lead led by Jüri Vips ahead of Jack Doohan (Virtuosi) until the first passages through the pits.

Among the first drivers to change tires on the 13th lap, Théo Pourchaire swapped his hard tires for soft ones and saw Jüri Vips lose more than 10 seconds during his garage while Jack Doohan remained on the track. A boon for the 2020 vice-champion of F3 who didn't ask for so much.

Having passed through the pit lane a lap earlier, the Sauber Academy protégé was once again helped by a bad pit-stop, this time that of Jack Doohan, and emerged in front of the Australian. Neck and neck at the first corner, the two men made contact and the last city came out the loser since he saw his front wing give way while the Frenchman continued his route without incident.

Launched, Théo Pourchaire got rid of Felipe Drugovich (MP Motorsport) to gain 2nd position which put him virtually in the lead since Ayumu Iwasa (DAMS) in front of him still had to make his stop. In control on the 18th lap, the Grassois imposed his pace and was not disturbed by his pursuers over whom he gave himself a margin of more than 2 seconds.

Everything then seemed to be coming together for him but a Safety Car four laps from the finish after the collision between Richard Verschoor (Trident) and Enzo Fittipaldi (Charouz) forced him to redo a good part of his work. With the safety car out of the way, Théo Pourchaire managed the restart perfectly and protected himself from any attack from Liam Lawson during the first braking. The race finally reduced by one lap (31 instead of 32), the ART Grand Prix driver could then head straight towards his first victory of the season, his 3rd in F2, seizing the reins of the championship in the process. A great way to end the weekend in Bahrain after his disillusionment with the Sprint Race this Saturday where he abandoned due to mechanical problems. Unhappy during his stop, Jüri Vips completed the podium after almost closing his gap on the leading group ahead of Ralph Boschung and Marcus Armstrong (Hitech GP).

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Gonzalo Forbes

In charge of promotion formulas (F2, F3, FRECA, F4...). Carried by the grace of Franco Colapinto.

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