ART Grand Prix drivers Pourchaire and Martins claim F2, F3 Feature Race wins in F1 Bahrain GP

ART Grand Prix drivers Pourchaire and Martins claim F2, F3 Feature Race wins in F1 Bahrain GP

ART Grand Prix enjoyed a fantastic day today at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir, with two of the team’s drivers taking victories in the Formula 2 and Formula 3 Feature Races, held in support of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.

ART’s Theo Pourchaire clinched the win in F2 while Victor Martins triumphed in F3.

Both single-seater series were part of the F1 weekend’s stellar support race programme, which also included the Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East, in which Fahad Algosaibi secured a fine double today.

F2 and F3 both wrapped up their season-opening rounds in Bahrain, while the Porsche Sprint Challenge held its 2021/2022 championship-finale.

Pourchaire triumphs in F2 Feature Race

Pourchaire clinched his F2 Feature Race win following a tight battle with Kiwi Liam Lawson of Carlin.

Only 0.925 seconds separated the pair at the chequered flag, with Pourchaire taking first place in a total race time of one hour one minute and 54.454 seconds after 31 laps.

Juri Vips of Hitech Grand Prix completed the podium placers in third, finishing 1.714 seconds back.

Pourchaire started the Feature from the front row alongside pole-sitter Jack Doohan of Virtuosi Racing. At the start, Vips had a strong get-away and was able to snatch the lead after driving between Doohan and Pourchaire.

Pourchaire dropped all the way back to fourth in the early stages, but the Frenchman gradually fought his way back to the top positions. He captured the lead on lap 19, and following a late safety car period, was able to hold on until the very end.

Behind the top three was Ralph Boschung of Campos Racing in fourth, 3.863s from Pourchaire, while Marcus Armstrong in the other Hitech car came fifth 4.606s from the winner.

Felipe Drugovich of MP Motorsport was sixth on the final classification and Logan Sargeant in the other Carlin challenger was seventh. Roy Nissany was eighth for Dams, Jake Hughes ninth for Van Amersfoort Racing, and pole-sitter Doohan 10th. Each of the top 10 scored points in the race.

All 20 of F2’s 2022 drivers took part in the Feature.

The championship now heads to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia next week for the season’s second of 13 rounds.

Martins wins F3 Feature Race in Bahrain

ART’s Martins claimed an impressive win in F3.

After an early safety car, Martins was able to move up to second at the restart, and did well to maintain his place for much of the race. On lap 15, he made his move on then-leader Franco Colapinto to go first, and charged to the chequered flag from there.

The Frenchman won with a narrow 1.543 seconds gap ahead of Prema Racing’s Monegasque driver Arthur Leclerc, younger brother of Ferrari F1 star Charles Leclerc. Martins had a winning time of 46:47.389 over 23 laps.