Maiden Pole & F2 Points for Doohan at Season Opener 🇧🇭
Race 1 - P10
Jack Doohan took an emphatic first pole position at Bahrain International Circuit on his debut with Virtuosi Racing, utilising an almost empty track to set a 1:40.542, when the majority of the field were busy in pitlane changing tyres.
Saturday’s Race was a Sprint Race, meaning the Top 10 were reversed and Sunday’s pole-sitter Doohan started from the fifth row.
The Alpine Academy Driver Made his way up to P6 after a masterful pass on Lap 7 following the Safety Car restart.
As the race progressed however, Doohan dropped down the order to P10, admitting he was lacking pace compared to some of his rivals.
Doohan in the end finished where he began and turned his focus to Sunday’s Feature Race.
“Some positives & negatives, had a decent first few laps and got into P6, but it was a testing race as we had quite a few difficulties which lead to us falling back a little. Happy to survive the race, it was far from ideal but we didn’t lose any positions, thankfully we are starting from the best seat in the house for the feature race.”
Race 2 - P10
Starting from Pole, Doohan had a difficult start to the Race, having some wheelspin off of the line and dropping into P3.
The Australian had made his way up to P2 following the Lap 5 Safety Car restart and later assumed the Race Lead on Lap 14.
Quickly taking his mandatory pit stop after assuming the lead, Virtuosi Racing team had a clean stop and Doohan rejoined in P6, but had contact with Pourchaire and sustained damage to his front wing.
Doohan had to head into the lane again on Lap 16 to change the front wing and rejoined in last position, and was forced to stop for a third time to change to a new hard tyre.
Another Safety Car came out and Doohan stopped a fourth time for tyres so he could try and push forward in the final laps.
By the chequered flag, Doohan had moved from P20 to P10 to claim the final point on offer at the Bahrain GP.
“I didn’t have the best start to the race, but I was able to hold onto P3 which was good. When I rejoined after our first stop and as I broke Pourchaire went around the outside of me, I probably should have yielded, I was on the cold tyres and the slightest touch meant I lost the front wing. Very disappointing to be so far down the order but we are quick, to get pole on our debut and to be able to go racing again with our strong pace next weekend is a positive, I will be aiming to finish the job with some better points. Thanks to the team and everyone for the support, it has been great.”
