Antonelli extends FRegional Middle East advantage with Dubai win

Photo: FRME

Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Formula Regional Middle East lead is now large enough for him to skip two races after he won race one at Dubai Autodrome.

The Mumbai Falcons driver lost the lead from pole on the opening lap to PHM Racing’s Joshua Dufek, and they went side-by-side several times after that before Antonelli dived down the inside of a hairpin to lead.

But the pair both then got passed by PHM’s Taylor Barnard at another hairpin, and Antonelli ended lap one in third while Barnard led.

Antonelli reclaimed second from Dufek on lap two before the safety car was called out for the first time following an incident for Pinnacle VAR’s Rafael Villagomez who had jumped over a kerb and destroyed the front-left of his car.

Racing resumed on lap five and Antonelli moved back into the lead while his team-mate Rafael Camara managed to pass Dufek for third.

Antonelli quickly opened up a gap at the head of the race, while Camara tracked down down Barnard and got past him.

Barnard later passed Camara, but would then returned second place to the Brazilian just before the safety car was called out again – possibly because he had already slowed due to marshal signals.

The safety car appeared due to Giovanni Maschio stopping with a severely smoking car, and the field ran behind it for the rest of the race which meant Antonelli won ahead of Camara, Barnard and Dufek.

Further down the order, Tim Tramnitz finished eighth on his series debut, ahead of title outsider Lorenzo Fluxa.

Race result (14 laps)