Amna Al Qubaisi wins Race 2 at Red Bull Ring in dominant style

MP Motorsport’s Amna Al Qubaisi led from lights to flag as she collected a maiden win in Race 2 in the Styrian foothills.

The Emirati driver started on pole in the reverse grid race, having finished in eighth in Qualifying 1 and put in an assured performance to power away from nearest challengers Léna Bühler and Lola Lovinfosse.

A. Al Qubaisi said ahead of the race that she was feeling confident going into the second outing of the weekend and she showed that self-confidence right from the off, distancing herself from rival cars at lights out. Bühler successfully managed to overtake Lovinfosse into the opening corner.

Action happened all over the field, with Race 1 winner Marta García locked into a battle with PREMA Racing teammate Bianca Bustamante and Rodin Carlin’s Abbi Pulling from the early stages of the race.

There were a number of brave overtakes as they carved their way through the midfield pack as a trio, including a late dive from García down the inside on Carrie Schreiner into Turn 4 just past the midway point.

Whilst A. Al Qubaisi led from the front, Hamda Al Qubaisi continued to show her experience around the Red Bull Ring, the track at which she made her single seated debut, improving 10 positions as she took an impressive P5 from P15.

Making her way past Race 1 winner García and teammate Emely De Heus, the Emirati driver finished only 0.3s off Nerea Marti who crossed the line in P4. The Campos driver collecting valuable points after a technical infringement saw her disqualified from the podium in Race 1.

A. Al Qubaisi crossed the line with a 1.5 second lead ahead of Bühler in second. Lovinfosse rounded out the podium in third.

It will be a race to remember however for MP Motorsport with all three drivers securing valuable points in the team standings ahead of Race 3 this afternoon.

WINNER’s QUOTE - Amna Al Qubaisi, MP Motorsport

“This race win to me means everything, but for my family and my country I am happy to raise their flag and hear their national anthem played in a different track.”

AS IT STANDS

A. Al Qubaisi’s Race 2 win has launched her up to P2 in the standings behind Race 1 winner Marta García, whose P7 finish gave her another two points to take her to 30 points. The Spaniard’s PREMA teammate Bustamante sits in third position with 18 points.

In the team standings, PREMA continue to lead with 54 points, followed by Rodin Carlin with 36. After all three drivers scored in Race 2, MP Motorsport are third with 31 points.

WHAT’S NEXT?

This afternoon will see the final Race of Round 1 take place, with grid set from Friday’s Qualifying 2 session. Garcia starts on pole, with Bustamante in P2 and Marti in P3 as the lights go out at 17:20.