By Admin 
Japan’s Itsuki Sato of Ahmedabad Apex Racers finished on top of the podium yet again in the FIA-certified Formula 4 Indian championship, the third round of the Indian Racing Festival (IRF), at the Kari Motor Speedway on Sunday.
In Saturday’s opener, Sato had raced to a comfortable win, but, this time around, he had a fight on his hands. Shane Chandaria (Chennai Turbo Riders), who won the day’s opening race, and Frenchman Sachel Rotge (Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru) were locked in a keen tussle right in front for most part.
Sato tried hard to catch them up but lacked the pace. However, with a lap to go, he got the lucky break. Leaders Shane and Sachel in a bid to outwit the other got into contact in turn 10 and missed out a place on the podium. Sato grabbed the chance that came his way to take the chequered flag and, with it, completed a grand double.
Itsuki Sato in action.
| Photo Credit:
S. Siva Saravanan
“I did not expect to win as I lacked the pace. The other day, I felt good with the car but this time couldn’t do much but still got to climb on top of the podium,” said an elated Sato.
Ishaan Madesh (Kolkata Royal Tigers) took the top honour in the final race for the F4 India cars.
In the Indian Racing League (Driver B) race, Britain’s Raoul Hyman of Goa Aces JA Racing kept his cool right through to clinch a much-needed win for the team.
Later, a young Dhruvh Goswami (MSport, Bengaluru) and Mehul Agarwal (Dark Don Racing) shared a win each in the Formula LGB4 class of the JK Tyre National Racing Championship.
The results (provisional): IRL Driver B: Race 2: (25:00 & 1 lap): 1. Raoul Hyman (Goa Aces JA Racing, United Kingdom) 26:46.480; 2. Shahan Ali Mohsin (Speed Demons Delhi) 26:52.937; 3. Ruhaan Alva (Kichacha’s Kings Bengaluru) 26:57.632.
F4 India: Race 2: 1. Shane Chandaria (Chennai Turbo Riders, Kenya) 26:50.864; 2. Luviwe Sambudla (Goa Aces JA Racing, South Africa) 27:01.307; 3. Itsuki Sato (Ahmedabad Apex Racers, Japan) 27:03.824.
Race 3 (23 laps): 1. Sato 26:18.084; 2. Sambudla (Goa Aces JA Racing, South Africa); 3. Ishaan Madesh (Kolkata Royal Tigers) 26:17.408.
Race 4 (24 laps): 1. Ishaan Madesh 27:13.558; 2. Saishiva Sankaran (Speed Demons Delhi) 27:19.160; 3. Shane Chandaria 27:20.542.
JKNRC LGB Formula 4: Race 3 (15 laps): 1. Dhruvh Goswami (MSport, Bengaluru) 22:04.600; 2. T.S. Diljith (Dark Don Racing, Thrissur) 22:05.629; 3. Mehul Agarwal (Dark Don Racing, Kolkata) 22:06.172.
Race 4: 1. Mehul 29:46.499; 2. T.S. Diljith 29:50.824; 3. Dhruvh 29:50.966.