MRF Challenge Qatar: Bharath and Sowery take victories on Day 2

Round 1 of the 2014-15 Formula 2000 MRF Challenge season came to a conclusion on Saturday with Raj Bharath (car number 5) and Toby Sowery emerging victorious in races 3 and 4 respectively at Qatar’s Losail International Circuit.

The grid order of race 3 was decided on the basis of the second fastest lap set by the 14 drivers competing in the first round, with top six race positions reversed to determine the order for the final race of the MRF Challenge weekend.

In race 3, Mercedes Young Star Driver Programme winner Raj Bharath took the top step of the podium, fending off Kyle Mitchell and Toby Sowery with the top three separated by just 1.2 seconds.

In race 4, it was Toby Sowery who took his second win of the weekend, with the impressive Bharath taking the runners up spot on the podium. Marussia’s GP3 driver Ryan Cullen rounded off the rostrum.

16 year old Tarun Reddy, who won race 2 on Friday, had to be content with seventh and fifth places in races 3 and 4 respectively.

Sowery will leave Qatar with the lead of the MRF Challenge championship having stood on the podium in each of the four races held during the weekend. Apart from racing in the Indian one-make series, the British driver is competing in F3 Cup series, where he has clinched the title with one race to go.

The next round of MRF Challenge takes place at the Bahrain International Circuit from 14th-15th November, with the event serving as a support race to the penultimate round of World Endurance Champion.

The season will conclude in Chennai in late January, with winner bagging INR 65,00,000 in cash.