India’s Jehan Daruvala eyeing Azerbaijan podium hat-trick

 by Priya Jadhav

Jehan finished third on this first visit to the venue in 2021

The 24-year-old came within half a second of victory in Baku last year

 

MUMBAI, April 27, 2023: India’s Jehan Daruvala will be eyeing his third consecutive Azerbaijan podium, as Formula 2 returns to action at the Baku city circuit after a month-long break.

 

The 24-year-old, who races for Dutch team MP Motorsport, finished third around the fearsomely fast, 6-km long street track on his first visit to the venue in 2021.

 

He followed that up with a second-place finish last year, crossing the line less than half a second behind the race winner. Now, batteries recharged, he is aiming to go one better to not only win but also make it three podiums from three races.

 

Jehan said, “Baku has been something of a happy hunting ground for me. With the exception of the narrow, tight section that runs through the old city, the layout is quite similar to Jeddah, which plays to the strengths of my driving style. I’ve got a bit of unfinished business as I very nearly won here last year and I’m feeling relaxed, recharged and confident heading into the weekend.”

 

The Baku street track, with its fast layout and unforgiving barriers, has served up plenty of thrills and spills over the years. Last year’s Formula 2 round was packed with incidents, with the Feature race even finishing behind the safety car.

  

The championship will once again act as a support series to the Formula One Grand Prix. Track action will kick-off on Friday, April 28th, with practice and qualifying. The shorter Sprint race will take place on Saturday with the main Feature race to be held on Sunday ahead of the Formula One race.

 

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 finished among the top-three I 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. He is eligible for a Formula 1 superlicence and also serves as Formula E reserve for Indian manufacturer Mahindra Racing.