Nael scores his and Sainteloc’s first FRegional win at Yas Marina

Photo: FRME

Theophile Nael took a comfortable victory for Sainteloc Racing under the lights in the second Formula Regional Middle East race of the weekend at Yas Marina

The reigning Spanish Formula 4 champion made a perfect getaway from third, ironically benefitting from a 10-second penalty imposed after race one for contact with Taylor Barnard, dropping him five places in the final classification and moving him up the reversed grid.

Mumbai Falcons’ Ugo Ugochukwu made another slow start from pole, pulling to the inside to defend from fellow front-row starter, PHM Racing’s Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak and Nael. It was the Frenchman who had the momentum to sweep around the outside of the first corner to slot into a lead he would hold until the end.

Giovanni Maschio was the first to hit the barriers on the exit of the hotel, forcing him into the pits with a bent rear wing.

Ugochukwu’s team-mate James Wharton moved into fourth, ahead of the duelling Matteo de Palo and Zachary David, who made contact at the chicane on lap two, forcing the R-ace GP driver into retirement while Sainteloc Racing’s de Palo was able to continue at the rear of the field.

Nael quickly pulled out a gap of over two seconds from Inthraphuvasak out front, as Mumbai Falcons’ Rafael Camara began to haul in his two team-mates ahead, now in third and fourth positions, with Pinnacle Motorsport’s Mari Boya on his tail.

Further down, race one winner Tuukka Taponen was involved in another close fight with his R-ace GP team-mate Martinius Stenshorne and PHM Racing’s Barnard, the trio locking up into the chicane at the end of lap three as they jostled for position.

By lap seven, Wharton was in Ugochukwu’s slipstream and keen to find a way past, locking up into the chicane, and allowing Camara to latch onto the battle.

Next time around on the run down the back straight to Turn 6, Ugochukwu moved to the inside to defend the charging Wharton, who ran wide into the right-hander, before attempting an optimistic pass on the inside at the following left-hander.

Wharton hit Ugochukwu’s car amidships, pitching the McLaren junior into the barriers, with Wharton rolling to a stop on the exit of the corner.

The incident brought out the safety car, bunching up the field and moving Camara up to third. The incident itself will be investigated after the race, with Wharton adding to his problems by crossing the track.

Racing resumed at the end of lap 11 with four minutes and a lap remaining, and Nael managed the restart to perfection to lead into Turn 9.

Taponen, who had got ahead of Stenshorne before the race was neutralised, was looking to make a move on Boya for third, trying to go around the outside of the sweeping Turn 9, but being forced off the track although he rejoined without losing a position.

Boya was soon putting pressure on Camara ahead, the Ferrari junior defending his position. However, Boya was not to be denied and having forced Camara into a slow exit from the chicane was able to out-accelerate his rival as Taponen tried to follow him through.

Approaching the chicane on the penultimate lap, Taponen dived to the inside to take fourth, but Camara’s momentum allowed him to pull alongside on the exit. Behind them, Stenshorne got a run on both to squeeze between them on the start-finish straight.

Taponen held on to the inside line and Stenshorne was forced to yield, having demoted Camara in the process.

With Barnard pulling off after seemingly hitting the barrier at Turn 14, the R-ace GP pairing were able to extend their points lead in the overall championship standings.

Race results (15 laps)