Wharton wins in FREC for first time in Mugello race two

Photo: Dutch Photo Agency

Prema’s James Wharton picked up his first Formula Regional European Championship win in race two at Mugello.

Van Amersfoort Racing’s Brando Badoer started on pole, ahead of Wharton and Prema’s points leader Rafael Camara. His main title rival Tuukka Taponen was down in eighth on the grid after the R-ace GP driver was handed a two-place penalty.

Wharton swept past Badoer into the lead before even reaching turn one on the opening lap, and Camara got past Badoer too after turn three. Badoer reclaimed second place on lap two, and thereon Wharton controlled his pace to ensure the VAR driver never got close enough to attempt a pass despite setting the fastest lap several times in pursuit.

There was just under a second between them at the end of the 18-lap race, with Camara 10.5 seconds behind as in the race’s second half he became busy holding off VAR’s Pedro Clerot and Taponen. He began lap 15 by trying to break the tow to Clerot, but his weaving brought Taponen into play and at turn 12 they bunched together an Taponen got past Clerot.

He then tried to pass Camara around the outside of turn one on the next lap, but ran out of room and Clerot got back past him at turn three.

It was a bad race for Prema’s Ugo Ugochukwu, who lacked pace and finished 13th after starting fifth. Among the drivers who had to fight their way past him were Ivan Domingues (VAR), Noah Stromsted (Race Performance Motorsport) and Ruiqi Liu (Trident), who filled the final three points positions.

Race result (18 laps)