22 Monday, April 17, 2017 Monday, April 17, 2017 23 Cullen Borkovic sprints to triumphs victory in TCR Race 2 in season Manama to benefit from the ever-growing interest attendance with 32.500 on race day and ollowing the conclusion of the in Formula One in the region. 92,000 over the three days. 2017 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, “As the sport enters a new era under Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al-Khalifa, Chief ArifF Rahimi, Chairman of the Bahrain the ownership of Liberty, we look Executive of the Bahrain International International Circuit issued a statement forward to working closely with them Circuit, added: “The crowds here have saying, “I offer our congratulations to as we share new ideas of how to make yet again been treated to an incredible ending Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari on a superb the race weekend even more spectacular weekend of motorsport. The spectacle victory under the lights here at the for fans. It is clear to us that they share a of racing under lights in the desert has Aidan Payne/DTNN highly successful Porsche formula In the Silver category, Oman’s place in the Bronze category and BIC. similar vision for the future of the sport without doubt been made even better [email protected] for one-make series racing and Al Faisal Al Zubair (21:27.019) was was fifth overall, ahead of second With another record crowd of 33,000 and we will work hard alongside them in with the new faster cars, combined with the challenge gives every driver an a class ahead of his nearest rivals placed Philipp Sager (21:41.831 of today and 93,000 over the weekend, all making that happen. a hugely competitive field. reland’s Ryan Cullen completed equal chance to compete, racing and won the category to finish Austria, with Sweden’s Christoffer our main stands were completely sold out, “I offer my sincerest thanks to those “Putting on a race weekend of this Ia brilliant season for his eighth in identically constructed Porsche fourth overall following his Race 1 Bergstrom (21:43.306, +18.643) as well as Paddock Club and corporate who have contributed to the success of nature is a major undertaking and I win from 12 races in Race 2 GT3 Cup cars. overall category win on Saturday, for Team Sweden third on the boxes for the first time ever. We have the weekend, from the team here at the thank all those involved for making it of Round 6 as this season’s Cullen’s time was 21 minutes with Luxembourg’s Carlos Rivas podium. now broken our race day attendance BIC, to the race teams, our colleagues at such as success. I particularly thank the race 2016/17Porsche GT3 Cup 24.663 seconds over the 10 lap - (21:42.380, +17.717) behind Cullen Shaikh Hamad Al Khalifa records every year since we began racing the FIA and Formula One Management, huge support from the Government Challenge Middle East came to a 53.874 kms course to also win the and completing the podium was also competed but did not finish under lights and expect that to continue and of course the fans.” ministries, my team here at the BIC, as conclusion yesterday as a support Gold category, followed in second Bahrain’s Shaikh Isa bin Abdulla after completing eight laps and Aidan Payne/DTNN for many years to come, as we continue This year the record exceeded the 2016 well as our partners and sponsors.” race to the 2017 Formula One place by Luxembourg’s Dylan Al Khalifa (21:43.407, +18.744), of classified as finishing 13th. [email protected] Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at Pereira (21:24.826) a mere 0.163 Team Bahrain ho claimed the final The fastest began with Bahrain erbia’s Dusan Borkovic (20 minutes 20.221 seconds) the Bahrain International Circuit seconds behind, while Dutchman podium place and finished ninth hosting the opening, round, Dubai in a Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR, won Race 2 of Round in Sakhir. Charlie Frijns (21:26.584, +1.901) out of the 15 drivers. the second and third rounds, Abu 2S of this season’s TCR International Series support race World championship This was Cullen’s maiden drivers driving for Frijns Structural Steel Meanwhile, Team Bahrain’s Dhabi the fourth and Bahrain the yesterday at the 2017 Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand title in this series which was in its ME claimed the final podium Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa fifth and the sixth final round this Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir. standings eighth season and is based on the position in third. (21:38.295, +13.632):clinched first weekend. The winner who was fourth in Race 1 completed nine (after three races) laps of the circuit over a distance of 48.462 kms with 16 cars in the starting line-up and recorded the fastest lap time Drivers (2:13.476 on the second. 1. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 68 pts, Second place went to Briton James Nash (20:24..375) driving a SEAT Leon TCR was 4.154 seconds behind, 2. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 61, with the final podium position going to Frenchman Hugo 3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) 38, Leclerk clinches F2 race Valente (+4.881) also driving a SEAT Leon TCR. Aidan Payne/DTNN seconds ahead of Russia’s TIME, +18.953), Johnny Fourth to sixth placings went to France’s Jean-Karl Vernay 4. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN) 34, [email protected] Luca Ghotto of RUSSIAN Cecotto VEN, Rapax, (+5.391) driving a Volkswagon Golf GTi TCR, followed by 5. Max Verstappen (NED) 25, TIME who started second +11.382), and Antonio Race 1 winner, Italian Roberto Coloiago (+5.690) in a harles Leclerk of on the grid, while the third Fuoco (ITA, PREMA Racing Honda Civic Type-R TRC and Hungarian Ferenc Ficza 6. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 22, Monaco (43 minutes and final podium place went +19.983). (+9.161) in a SEAT Leon TCR. C 7. Felipe Massa (BRA) 16, 01.023 seconds driving for to Britain’s Oliver Rowland The fastest lap was The seventh to tenth places went to Pape Oriola (+14.967) PREMA Racing clinched (+2.898) for the (DAMS team. recorded by Brazilian Sergio of Spain in a SEAT Leon TCR, Attila Tassi (1+15.154) of 8. Sergio Pérez (MEX) 14, Race 2 of the opening round Fourth to six places went Sette Camara (1:43.950) Hungary in a Honda Civic Type-R TCR, Stefano Comini 9. Carlos Sainz (ESP) 10, of the 2017 FIA Formula 2 to Nicholes Latifi, CAN, on lap 22 driving for MP (+15.261) of Switzerland in a Audi RS 3 LMS TCR and Manama have been fast enough to Car was deployed after a Championship race of the DAMS, +7.575), Jordan Motorsport. completing the top ten was Gianni Morbidelli (+16.525) of ewis Hamilton took overhaul the triumphant collision. 10. Romain Grosjean (FRA) 4, season yesterday, which King (GBR, MP Motorsport, After this weekend, 10 Italy in a Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR. the blame for the five- Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel. The Mercedes team 11. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) 4, is in support of the 2017 +9.962), and Nyck De Vries more rounds are scheduled Driving standings The 10-round series which began in Georgia at the start secondL penalty that upset his “The pit lane situation called in both Bottas and Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain (NED, Rapax, +10.865). for Spain, Monaco, after Race 2 (points): of this month, thenBahrain goes to Belgium, Italy, Austria, bid to win Sunday’s Bahrain was really my fault, so Hamilton and the latter 12. Esteban Ocon (FRA) 3, Grand Prix at the Bahrain Four other drivers picked Azerbaijan, Austria, UK, Hungary, Germany, Thailand, China and concludes in late Grand Prix, but added that apologies to the team for slowed in the pit lane ahead 13. Nico Hülkenberg (GER) 2, International Circuit in up points after finishing Hungary, Belgium, Italy, 1) Charles Leclerc (36), November at the Yas Marina Circuit as a support race for he was not certain he had losing time there,” said of Ricciardo to avoid having Sakhir. seventh to tenth Alexander Spain and concluding on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. the speed for victory. Hamilton. “I didn’t know if to wait behind Bottas in the 14. Daniil Kvyat (RUS) 2 2) Artem Markelov (28), Starting third on the grid, Albon (THA, ART Grand November 25-26 at the Yas The three-time world I could catch Sebastian, but pits. Leclerc completed the 23 lap Prix, +18.953) Artem Marina Circuit for the Abu 3) Oliver Rowland (20), champion said the penalty the penalty made it twice A slow stop for Bottas Constructors race over 124.230 kms 1,569 Markelov (RUS, RUSSIAN Dhabi Grand Prix. 4) Luca Ghiotto (18), was a setback, but that as hard. further delayed Hamilton his Mercedes may not “I’m sorry and apologise, who lost a position when he 1. Ferrari 102 pts, 5) Norman Nato but we still got good rejoined before he was given 6) Jordan King (18), points for the team and a five-seconds penalty. 2. Mercedes-AMG 99, we still had a great fight.” He went on to pass the 7) Alexander Albon (10), 3. Red Bull 47, Hamilton Hamilton was running Australian before serving 8) Nicholes Latifi (8), second between team- his penalty during his 4. Force India 17, 9) Nyck De Vries (5), takes blame mate Valtteri Bottas second pit stop before 5.