Donington Park (UK): Young Chennai driver Tarun Reddy claimed an impressive podium finish in his second race weekend in the UK-based Protyre Formula Renault Championship at Donington Park.
The 16-year-old, who is also currently leading the Formula MRF 1600 category in the MMSC National Racing Championship, won a close battle for third place in the second race of the weekend.
Combined with seventh and ninth positions in the other two races, Reddy keeps sixth place in the championship. Reddy’s plan to get in some testing on the Donington track was scuppered by wet weather.
He shook off that handicap to qualify fourth for race two, and sixth for the other two races. In the first race, his car lacked pace and he lost sixth place before half-distance but held-off a rear attack to claim seventh.
Race two featured a fierce battle with title contender and eventual winner Matteo Ferrer. Reddy had moved up to third by passing Canadian Patrick Dussault, but then came under attack from Ferrer, who got by into the first corner. The Indian then repassed the Italian with a brave move into the Old Hairpin — which despite its name is the fastest corner on the track — and Ferrer went sailing off the track at the next corner. Reddy then held off a renewed attack from Dussault for his maiden podium in the UK.
“Considering I didn’t get a single dry lap before going into qualifying, to come away with a podium on my second weekend in Formula Renault is a good start,” said Reddy.
The third round of the series takes place at Brands Hatch on July 26-27.
