Svendsen-Cook wins Race 2 in MRF Challenge

British driver Rupert Svendsen-Cook managed to win Race 2 of the MRF Challenge 2013 at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) here Sunday even after accidentally hitting the pit lane limiter in the final corner on the last lap.

Sam Dejonghe took his first podium of the season as he fended off a charging Tio Ellinas to finish second. Tio Ellinas with his double podium finish has taken the championship lead.

Sean Walkinshaw started on pole for the reverse-grid Race 2 along with Svendsen-Cook on the front row. Walkinshaw got bogged down at the start allowing a stream of cars past him as Svendsen-Cook went into the lead. Dejonghe moved into second place with Yudai Jinkawa following him in third.

Behind them Race 1 winner Arthur Pic was in fourth place with Ellinas in fifth. Pic tried to go around the outside of Jinkawa on lap 2 but ran wide, allowing Ellinas to get past as well.

Ellinas then pulled off a great overtaking move at Turn 6 to get past Jinkawa and move into 3rd place. Svendsen-Cook comfortably led with Dejonghe unable match his pace due to a throttle problem.

Svendsen-Cook came into the final corner on the final lap and accidently hit the pit lane speed limiter, which resulted in him coasting across the finish line.

Ellinas meanwhile closed in on Dejonghe on the last lap but was unable to get past as they crossed the finish side-by-side. Vikash Anand finished in a creditable 11th position while the other two Indians were unlucky with Ashwin Sundar and Parth Ghorpade both retiring.

MRF Challenge 2013 Calendar:

Round 1: Oct 25-27, 2013, New Delhi, Buddh International Circuit (Formula One Support Race).

Round 2: Nov 28-30, 2013, Bahrain, Bahrain International Circuit (World Endurance Championship Support Race).

Round 3: Dec 19-21, 2013, Bahrain, Bahrain International Circuit (Gulf Racing Festival).

Round 4: Feb 14-16, 2014, Chennai, Madras Motor Race Trust.