Amna Al Qubaisi Takes Second Win Of 2023
MP Motorsport’s Amna Al Qubaisi won her second race of the season to move into third place in the Driver’s Standings and give her team their second race win of the day.
Starting in P2, Al Qubaisi had an excellent launch off the line to overtake Campos Racing’s Nerea Martí and move into P1.
The leading pair of Al Qubaisi and Martí pushed out in front, creating a 1.2s gap between themselves and the PREMA Racing car of Marta García.
Meanwhile, Abbi Pulling, who had navigated her way up to P4 from P6, was under pressure from Léna Bühler, who was looking to bounce back after her heartbreak in Race 1.
A. Al Qubaisi continued her assured drive out front and set the fastest lap of the race as she sought to extend her lead on Lap 3. Teammate Hamda Al Qubaisi meanwhile was trying to make her way up the standings having fallen from fourth to sixth at the start.
The #4 MP Motorsport car attempted to make an overtake on Bühler on the straight as they headed into Lap 4, darting down the inside of the ART Grand Prix driver but she couldn’t make the move stick.
H. Al Qubaisi would go for the move again in the next lap in the same spot, but again the Swiss driver showed why she led Race 1 for so long, holding off the Emirati.
Home favourite Martí appeared to be managing an issue on her car in the later stages, which Series leader García took full advantage of moving up into P2. Just a lap later, Pulling, Buhler and H. Al Qubaisi all successfully managed to overtake the Campos racer, who was able to hold her spot in P6 for the remainder of the race.
In the meantime, with her nearest challenger falling down the order, A. Al Qubaisi was able to dash away from her rivals and secure a four second lead over García, as she took home her second win of the season. Pulling collected her second successive podium of the weekend, crossing the line P3.
Winners Quote:
“I feel quite amazing, I am quite happy with the pace and how we started – first place in the first corner to the end. The team is completely stoked after their second win of the day and it is so nice to see the smiles on their faces!”
As it stands
A. Al Qubaisi moves clear of Pulling to make third place her own, while out front García extends her lead over Hamda Al Qubaisi to 45 points. MP Motorsport have closed the gap to PREMA to just nine points at the top of the Teams’ Standings after their second win of the day.
What’s Next
At 11:06 tomorrow morning, the driver’s will be back out on track to conclude Round 3 of the F1 Academy season. Bühler will start on pole as she looks to secure a maiden win.