Jehan Daruvala Breaks Circuit Record At Toyota Racing Series

Giving another proud moment to every Indian motorsport enthusiast, Jehan Daruvala has broken the Ruapuna Park circuit record for the Toyota Racing Series Cars in Christchurch, New Zealand. Moreover, the eighteen-year-old Sahara Force India Academy racer also grabbed the first two pole positions of the season, starting his 2017 campaign on a high note. Interestingly, Ruapuna Park is the same circuit where the Mumbai-based student won his maiden race in Formula Cars last year.

Jehan was quick throughout practice among a competitive grid of 20 cars and he dominated the first qualifying session, roping in pole position for race 1 with a lap time of 1m17.424s around the 3.33km Ruapuna Park Circuit. Close behind him was home favourite and Ferrari Academy racer, Marcus Armstrong, finishing second with a gap of just 0.158 seconds. The third position was secured by Austrian racer Ferdinand Habsburg, who finished third.

Other highly accomplished racers in the competition were Richard Verschoor – Red Bull Academy racer, and Pedro Piquet – Son of Former F1 World Champion, Nelson Piquet. 

The record-breaking qualifying session 2 started as a closer affair for Jehan as Marcus was a lot closer, being just one thousandth of a second slower than Jehan. However, a safety car period soon ensued and Marcus took advantage of the excellent slipstream during the restart down the extremely long start/finish straight. Due to limited overtaking opportunities, the positions remained the same after that and Marcus won the race less than a second ahead of Jehan. Interestingly, another Formula 1 Team’s Academy racer, Richard Verschoor, finished third a further 1.1 seconds behind Jehan.

With the Race 2 grid based on the reverse of Race 1 finish, Jehan started fifth. However, Race 3 saw Jehan bagging another pole and breaking the circuit record as well with a lap time of just 1m16.800s under the earlier record of 1m17.062s. It was again a quite close battle, Marcus being just one thousandth of a second slower than Jehan. Finishing third, British racer Enaam Ahmed was also within just one-tenth of a second of Jehan, making this battle more exciting.

Sharing his feeling after the achievement, Jehan said, “It has been an excellent start to the season. I was quick straightaway and I am happy with the double pole." Speaking on the Marcus' overtake during slip stream, he added, "There was nothing I could do at the restart due to the slip-stream that Marcus had from my car and I had to settle for second."

Let's say all the best to Jehan as he is contesting another two races today.