2016 MRF Challenge – Schumacher Tops Times Again

Schumacher Fastest on Opening Day at Buddh International Circuit

Mick Schumacher struck back in Free Practice 2 to go fastest ahead of Harrison Newey at Round 3 of the MRF Challenge 2016 at the Buddh International Circuit. He was faster than Newey and a returning Ralf Aron in Free Practice 2. In the opening practice session of the weekend Newey had beaten Schumacher and championship leader Joey Mawson. The MRF 1600 championship got underway as Ananth Shanmugam topped both practice sessions ahead of Anindith Reddy.

In the opening practice session of the weekend it was Felipe Drugovich who was the first to set a competitive time with 20 minutes remaining on the clock. He set a 1:54.345 to go top of the leader board. Newey then began a string of fastest laps which saw him going fastest with a 1:53.012. With 5 minutes to go, he again went fastest to finish with a 1:52.340. Schumacher gradually went faster as the session went on and put in a time of 1:52.630 to slot into 2^nd place ahead of Joey Mawson and Drugovich. Juri Vips and Pedro Cardoso rounded off the top 6.

Free practice 2 saw the top drivers wasting no time in getting up to speed and Mawson was one of the front runners to go fastest with a 1:53.883. Newey continued to show impressive pace and immediately went faster with a 1:52.993. Schumacher looked to be comfortable as he navigated India’s only F1 circuit for the first time and dipped into the 51s with a 1:51.732. While drivers went faster no one was able to beat his time. Newey went 2^nd fastest with a 1:52.111 but could never get close enough. Aron went 3^rd on his last flying lap ahead of Mawson and Drugovich.

The MRF 1600 took to track for the first time this year as Round 1 of the championship kicked off. It was a straight fight between Shanmugam and Reddy as they traded fastest laps. With few minutes left on the clock Reddy went fastest with a 2:07.427 only to be beaten by 0.069secs by Shanmugam who ended up on top in the opening session. Arya Singh, Chetan Korada and Anshul Shah rounded off the top 5.

In the second session it was Shanmugam again who topped the session and this ti27me by over half a second ahead of Reddy. The chasing pack was also closer this time as Nayan Chaterjee got more comfortable with the car to finish in 3^rd place, ahead of Arya Singh and Anshul Shah.

Qualifying and Races 1&2 will take place on Saturday, January 28, with Races 3&4 taking place on Sunday, January 29.