UAE4 – KEY QUALIFYING SESSIONS AND AN UNSURPRISING OPENING RACE
The first race of the UAE4 weekend saw the overall hierarchy respected, with a race marked by a few important battles before a finish under Safety Car conditions.
Intense qualifying sessions for the weekend
As per the format, Q1 set the grid for Race 1, while Q2 will determine the starting order for Race 3. Two crucial sessions for the weekend, where every lap counted in order to secure the best possible position for the different races. Scott Kin Lindblom claimed both pole positions with sensational laps, while Bondarev and Andy Consani completed the top three in both qualifying sessions.
A decisive start
When the lights went out, Scott Kin Lindblom made a poor start from pole position, allowing Bondarev to take advantage. Andy Consani immediately slotted in behind him and stayed there throughout the race, never quite finding an opening.
Behind them, the fight for third place animated the opening laps, with an intense battle between Maccagnani and Lindblom, who was determined to recover after his missed start.
A hard-fought restart and three-way battles
Following a Safety Car intervention, the restart provided one of the highlights of the race. Lindblom, Craigie and Maccagnani engaged in a huge wheel-to-wheel battle within a tightly packed group. Despite this action, the race remained relatively calm overall, with a few duels in the midfield but little change at the front.
A neutralised finish
A late crash brought out the Safety Car once again, definitively locking in the classification.
At the chequered flag, Bondarev took the victory, ahead of Consani, who secured a solid second place after applying pressure throughout the race. Scott Kin Lindblom completed the podium, an important third place after starting from pole position.
An opening race without major surprises, but one that sets the tone for the rest of the weekend and follows the trend of last weekend, with another battle between Bondarev and Consani.
Share this content:
