Ryan pips Bharath for the top spot

Despite being in Raj Bharat’s (left) shadow for most of the race, Ryan Cullen had the last laugh with a clever move in the eighth lap.

Pole sitter Raj Bharath of India was hot to trot for most part of the race, but GP3 driver Ryan Cullen of Great Britain edged him out for the prime position on the podium in the opening race in the second round of the MRF Challenge at the Bahrain International Circuit here on Friday.

The Bengaluru boy made quite an impression this morning, storming away from the rest of the field at the lights. Bharath was so quick at the start that no one was able to keep pace with him.

But Ryan, whose fastest timing of 2:05.319s came in the seventh lap, had other ideas. He remained in the shadows of Bharath before making a clever corner move in the eighth lap of the 12-lap race. And that did the trick. Bharath applied the pressure, but it was Cullen who had the last laugh at the flag. For the latter, it was his first top-spot finish of the season.

“He defended well at the corners. I tried hard, earned the space in the eighth and made the best use of it to finish on top,” said Ryan, the second-placed driver in the championship table.

But Bharath did not agree to that point. “I never defended him. I don’t believe in doing so. Actually, I made a mistake. I braked and my engine cut off. That led to oversteer and I went on the power and got a slow exit. Cullen enjoyed a better exit and that turned the table in his favour.”

Chennai’s Vikash Anand, who started fourth on the grid, was slow off the blocks. He worked hard around the 5.41km track trying to catch up with the leaders, but only finished eighth.

The other Indians in fray, Advait Deodhar and Lee Keshav had to rest content with the 11th and the 13th places respectively.

Chennai’s Tarun Reddy disappointed yet again pulling out of the race due to drive shaft issues in only the third lap.

Bharath finishes fourth

In the second race, Bharath, after moving his way up to the second place, lost grip towards the end to finish fourth. British drivers S. Moore and Toby Sowery, the championship leader and Ryan wrested the top three positions.

The results (provisional):

Race 1: Ryan Cullen (GBR) 26:40.405; 2. Raj Bharath (Ind) 26:42.200; 3. Kyle Mitchell (ZAF) 26:44.890; 8. Vikash Anand (Ind) 26:51.928; 11. Advait Deodhar (Ind) 27:05.207; 13. Lee Keshav (Ind) 27:12.198. Tarun Reddy (Ind) DNF.

Race 2: 1. S. Moore (GBR); 2. Toby Sowery (GBR); 3. Ryan Cullen; 4. Raj Bharath; 7. Tarun Reddy (Ind); 13. Lee Keshav; 14. Advait Deodhar. Vikash Anand (DNF).