Tarun emerges victorious in MRF Dubai Challenge

The 18-year-old Indian Tarun Reddy won his first race of the MRF Challenge 2015 after beating Tatiana Calderon in the second race of Round Three at the Dubai Autodrome here on Friday.

The race was red-flagged on the third lap when Guiliano Alesi crashed. The final result was based on the combined times of the race before the red flag and the last five laps of the race.

Calderon crossed the finish line in first place after overtaking Tarun, but the Indian driver was adjudged the winner as he was faster by 0.260 secs in the combined time.

Russian driver Nikita Troitckii got his second podium of the day with a third place finish.

Earlier in the day, Alessio Picariello continued his great form by winning race one after a three way battle with Pietro Fittipaldi and Troitckii, who finished second and third respectively.

In the first race, Picariello kept his lead into the first corner while Troitckii held on to the second with Fittipaldi jumping a slow starting Sean Walkinshaw into third. Female driver Calderon, who had a bad qualifying session, made up for it with a great start. She finished fourth in the race.

Race Two started with Max Fewtrell on reverse grid pole, alongside Tarun. The Indian got the jump on him and moved into first place in the first corner. He was followed by Fewtrell, Troitckii, and Calderon. Alesi crashed at the end of lap one which brought out the safety car.

In a dramatic turn of events, Picariello suffered a steering problem and was forced to pit ending his dream run. Calderon led from the restart and overtook the Indian on the penultimate lap to take the chequered flag first, however Tarun was adjudged the winner of the race by the tiniest of margins.