Bahrain: Consistency is a tough act in motorsports and Tio Ellinas has set out to master it in the MRF Challenge. The Cypriot has become the only driver to finish on the podium in all races this year and he did it again by breaking into the top two in Race 1 and 2 of the third round at the Bahrain International Circuit on Friday.
Ellinas has overtaken Frenchman Arthur Pic in the overall championship and with two more races to go in the third round the scenic BIC is sure to spit fire on Saturday.
Ellinas came 2nd in Race 1 and he was behind British driver Rupert Svendsen-Cook and Japanese Shinya Michimi in Race 2 before
the top two collided in lap six sending him through to win it.
Race 2 could not be completed and the safety car was called in with four of the 15 rounds remaining.
It was the second crash in the race and while the first had only pushed Cook outs, Spanish women driver Carmen Jorda and local guy Salman Rashid AlKhalifa had collided in lap 13 that called for a forced end to the day’s racing.
“In Race 1 I lost out to Rupert at the start and even though I managed to close in on him I just could not get past him. It was a good battle with Rupert and Arthur and I am happy to finish on the podium,” said Ellinas after a thrilling day at office.
Among the Indian drivers, Raj Bharath, who had earlier qualified in 8th position, was the best and finished a creditable 12th.
Vikash Anand was running in 11th place before being given a drive-thru penalty for jumping the start. The 16-year old Tarun Reddy, youngest in the Challenge who made his debut in the season, had a tough qualifying session and started in 19th place.
