Falchero pips Kalmthout for victory

FrenchGP3racing driver Julien Falchero won hismaidenraceoftheMRFChallenge2017whenhegotpastRinus vanKalmthoutinthefourthand final race of Round 1 at the Bahrain International Circuit.

DutchmanvanKalmthouthad earlier dominated Race 3 to win ahead of championship leader Felipe Drugovich, who had won both races on Friday, and Falchero.AfterRound1ofthechampionship, Drugovich leads with 80pointswithFalcherosecondon 65,PresleyMartonoon63andvan Kalmthout on 61.

In the opening race of the day, vanKalmthoutmadetheperfect getawaytoleadinto the first corner with Drugovich holding off Falchero. Behind them Alex KarkosikmanagedtopassDylan Young as Martono lost places.

Van Kalmthout pulled away with Drugovich and Falchero lockedinbattle.Hewasnottroubled and crossed the finish line more than eight seconds ahead. Falchero came alongside Drugovichbutwasunabletopassthe

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Brazilian and had to settle for third. “After yesterday’s disappointment,todaywasaverygood day. I had the lead and managed to gofaster to wincomfortably. It was unfortunate that the safety car came out so early but I am very happy with second place,” van Kalmthout said.

The final race of Round 1 once againsawvanKalmthouthaving the perfect start with Falchero slottingintosecondaheadofDrugovich.The17-year-oldBrazilian passed Falchero only to be re-passed by the Frenchman.

The safety car came out when YounghitEnqvistinthefirstcorner. At the restart, Falchero passedvanKalmthoutwithabrilliant move into the first corner. On Lap 4, Martono passed Drugovich for third and closed in on the leaders. Harri Jones and Michael Amendola collided on Lap7, bringing out the safety car for the second time. Van Kalmthouttried toget pastFalcheroat therestartonlyforMartonotoget past in the first corner. Van Kalmthout fought back and got pastMartonoatTurn4.Falchero heldontotakehisfirstwinahead of van Kalmthout and Martono.

SAKHIR(BAHRAIN):

HT PHOTO Drivers in action at the MRF Challenge 2017 in Bahrain.