India’s Jehan Daruvala eyes third straight podium at historic Imola

The Red Bull-backed racer has finished on the podium in each of the opening F2 two rounds in Bahrain and Jeddah

by Priya J

MUMBAI, April , 2022: Indian Formula 2 racer Jehan Daruvala heads to historic Imola this weekend eyeing his third podium finish from as many rounds at what will be a home event for his Italian team Prema.

The 4.9-kilometer long Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, named after the Ferrari founder and his son, is among motor-racing’s most iconic and challenging venues.   

It will feature on the Formula 2 calendar for the first time with the championship acting as a support series to this weekend’s Formula 1 race at the circuit.

Jehan said, “I’m really excited to race in Imola this weekend. The track oozes history and tradition and, at the same time, is a real drivers’ circuit that should be thrilling to race on. It’s a new track for us in Formula 2 and I have been hard at work on the simulator getting to grips with it. It would be amazing to carry the momentum from our podiums in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia into Imola, all the more so as it’s a home event for Prema. So, it’s going to be a full push this weekend.”

Jehan has prepared for the round with an intense three-day test session at Spain’s Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

The Red Bull-backed racer, who has scored three wins and nine podiums in Formula 2, opened this season with a second-place finish in Bahrain. He followed that up with a tenacious drive from 14th to third a week later in Jeddah.

This weekend marks the start of the championship’s European season and Jehan will be hunting for another rostrum result straight up.

Track action for the Imola round will begin with practice and qualifying on Friday. The first race of the weekend, the Sprint race, will take place on Saturday, with the main Feature race set to be held ahead of the Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday. 

Weekend Schedule:

Free practice: Friday, April 22nd at 1435 IST

Qualifying: Friday, April 22nd at 1925 IST**

Sprint race: Saturday, April 23rd at 2125 IST**

Feature race: Sunday, April 24th at 1350 IST

*Live exclusively on Star Sports Select 2 and Select 2 HD

**Delayed telecast

About Jehan Daruvala: Jehan Daruvala is a racing driver from Mumbai, India. He began karting at the age of 10 in 2009. Two years later, he was picked as one of the three winners of Force India’s ‘One From a Billion’ talent hunt. In 2013, he became the first Asian to win the British KF3 karting championship. A proven winner, Jehan has won in every category he has competed in. He is currently racing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, which is a feeder series to Formula 1 and takes place on the same weekends. Already a multiple winner in the category, Jehan’s goal for the 2022 season is to claim the title which would boost his chances of becoming only the third Indian on the Formula One grid.