MRF Challenge Abu Dhabi: Matsushita and Fittipaldi share wins, Reddy scores podium

The opening round of 2015/16 MRF Challenge concluded at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit on Saturday, with Honda protege Nobuharu Matsushita and F3 racer Pietro Fittipaldi winning the final two races of the weekend.

Race 3: Matsushita takes dominant win

Nobuharu Matsushita notched his second victory of the weekend in race 3, with an equally dominant performance from pole position.

However, the real battle happened behind the Japanese driver with F3 racers Jake Dennis, Pietro Fittipaldi, Tatiana Calderon and Indian Tarun Reddy all scrapping for final two podium positions. While Dennis managed to build a buffer later, the rest remained embroiled in a battle of their own. Calderon and Reddy pipped Fittipaldi right at the end, dropping the Brazilian driver to fifth place.

Nikita Troitskiy, who won the second race yesterday, finished only sixth, but ahead of Harrison Newey, Sean Walkinshaw and Max Fewtrell.

MRF Challenge - Race 3 Results

1. Nobuharu Matsushita
2. Jake Dennis +5.505
3. Tatiana Calderon +8.575

Race 4: Fittipaldi victorious from second on the grid

Pietro Fittipaldi made the best of a poor start of pole sitter Nikita Troitskiy to secure his first win in MRF Challenge.

Having dislodged Troitskiy earlier, the 19 year old faced little challenge from behind, winning the shortened race by well over five seconds.

Meanwhile, Calderon and Reddy were again indulged in a race long battle which concluded at the final corner, but with no contact between the two. Having bided his time earlier in third place, Calderon made a maneouvre over Reddy right at the end of the race, beating him off the line by  a mere 0.013 seconds.

Matsushita finished outside the podium places in fourth but ahead of fellow F3 racer Dennis and the aforementioned Troitskiy.

MRF Challenge - Race 4 Results

1. Pietro Fittipaldi
2. Tatiana Calderon
3. Tarun Reddy