Van Leeuwen wins brilliantly in DD2

The last race of the programme, the DD2 Final of the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals 2021, promised to be exciting. Under clear skies, the wind could not be overlooked in the battle for its role in the slipstream, as well as in the spread of sand on the Bahrain track. Martijn van Leeuwen (NLD) and Antoine Barbaroux (FRA) shared the front row.

Barbaroux made a good start ahead of van Leeuwen, but Kyleaditya Kumaran (IND) finished the first lap in the lead. Patriks Locmelis (LVA) was 4th ahead of Patriks Locmelis (LVA) and Xen De Ruwe (SVN). Four drivers were fighting for the 1st place with very small gaps. Nicolas Picot (FRA) moved up from 19th to 10th place. On lap 8, van Leeuwen attacked for 2nd place, Locmelis followed and Barbaroux was 4th. Gianluca Savaglio (CAN) was 5th ahead of Glenn van Parijs (BEL). Barbaroux went on the offensive to follow van Leeuwen, the new leader at mid-race. Barbaroux seemed to be waiting for his moment to attack van Leeuwen. The Dutch driver stayed in the lead, defended his position in the last lap and won by 0,128” against Barbaroux. The Frenchman was then penalised and demoted to 11th (start). Kumaran took 2nd position, followed by Locmeris. Savaglio finished 4th by more than a second with van Parijs 5th. Picot was 7th after a gain of 12 places.

Info Kartcom / Photo © KSP