MRF Challenge Bahrain: Raj Baharat on the podium, Cullen and Moore win on Day 1

The second round of the 2014/15 MRF Challenge saw GP3 driver Ryan Cullen and F4 racer Struan Moore take victories in races one and two respectively at the Bahrain International Circuit on Friday, where the series is playing the role of a support series to the FIA World Endurance Championship event.

During the first MRF Challenge, Ryan Cullen had a poor start but was able to recover lost ground with some strong overtaking manoeuvres he would have learnt in F1’s official feeder series. By lap two he was up into second place, having overtaken championship leader Toby Sowery and South Africa’s Kyle Mitchell.

He then took advantage of the Safety Car that was deployed after Tarun Reddy’s Formula 2000 car came to a halt to reel in pole sitter Raj Bharath who had made a decent gap over the rest of the field in the opening laps of the race.

Bharath - who participated in the series last year - and Reddy took a win apiece in the opening round of the MRF Challenge in Qatar and while the former found his way to the podium, Reddy had a torrid time on Friday and will be looking to break into the top three today.

The reverse grid race two did what it was supposed to - provide more action on race track.

Pole sitter Dylan Young was put under pressure by Toby Sowery and Raj Bharath with both the drivers finding a way past by lap three.

The two drivers were then engaged in heated battle that continued until they ran wide on the left hander that succeeded the back straight. Struan Moore quickly sensed an opportunity to take the lead of the race and retained his position despite coming under pressure from Sowery.

While the duo were fighting at the front, race 1 winner Ryan Cullen found a way past Bharath to take the final spot on the podium, relegating the India to fourth.

The second round of MRF Challenge continues at the Bahrain International Circuit tomorrow with two more races scheduled.

MRF Challenge Bahrain Race 1 - Top three
Ryan Cullen
Raj Bharath +1.595
Kyle Mitchell +4.286

MRF Challenge Bahrain Race 2 - Top three
Struan Moore
Toby Sowery +0.750
Ryan Cullen +1.361