Doriane Pin doubles up in F1 Academy season opener at Jeddah

Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd

Doriane Pin doubled up in the second race of F1 Academy’s 2024 season opener at Jeddah, where Abbi Pulling and Maya Weug also joined her on the podium again.

Prema’s Pin enjoyed a good start from pole position and led away from Rodin Motorsport’s Pulling and team-mate Weug. Behind them, Campos Racing’s Nerea Marti took fourth place from Rodin’s Lola Lovinfosse braking on the outside line into turn one.

Lovinfosse’s slow getaway cost her, as she also dropped behind Campos’ Chloe Chambers at turn eight after going side-by-side in previous corners. The battle between Lovinfosse and Chambers continued and Rodin’s Jessica Edgar closed on them, while Marti ahead followed Weug closely.

On lap three of 13, Lovinfosse regained fifth place ahead of the braking zone into turn one. However, Chambers missed her braking point and hit her rival sending her into a spin. Lovinfosse tried to rejoin quickly, which resulted in a big contact with ART Grand Prix’s Lia Block. The safety car was then deployed to clear the debris on track.

Block continued after pitting for a new front wing, whereas Lovinfosse retired into the pits due to the damage sustained. The French racer was handed a five place grid drop for the next race for the incident.

The race resumed and Pulling attempted a move on Pin for the race lead helped by the slipstream, but the Mercedes-supported driver held on. In fourth, Marti struggled to keep Edgar and Chambers behind.

The safety car was brought out again on lap six to clear the car of Reema Juffali. She found the wall at the outside of turn two as she tried to avoid Campos’ Carrie Schreiner, who had been sent into a spin into turn one.

The track went green with four laps to the end. Marti attacked Weug for third place at the restart, but couldn’t pass settling for fourth position in the end.

Pin and Pulling showed superior pace in the closing laps of the race and exchanged fastest laps, with Pin taking it on the last lap.

Winner Pin is under investigation for taking the chequered flag twice. She did not realise the race had ended and completed an additional lap at pace.

ART GP’s Aurelia Nobels did not make it to the end of the race as MP Motorsport’s Amna Al Qubaisi ripped her rear wing off after touching her rear while running over the kerb at turn two.

Race result (13 laps)