Grand double for teenager Amendola

Amendola won the day’s first and third races to take his tally of victories to five from 12 starts. The 18-year-old Hijjawi, in just his first full season in single-seaters, took the honours in Race-2 to provide a twist to the championship stakes. 

With three more races to be run on Sunday in the final round of India’s only FIA-approved international championship, Amendola leads the table with 209 points. He is followed by Australian Dylan Young (175), who had two podiums on Saturday, Great Britain’s Joshua Mason (160) and Hijjawi (130).

The Belgian youngster won both his races on Saturday from lights to flag, starting from pole. In the day’s first race, Amendola was off to a flier and after a couple of laps, had none in his rear-view mirrors. “It was a bit boring as there was nobody in front of me and none behind me, but the competition will get tougher with reverse grids,” said Amendola. 

It was much the same in Race-3, which he won with over 10 seconds to spare. He was followed home by Young and Mason in Race-1, and Young and British teenager Louis Foster in Race-3. For Hijjawi, it was a red-letter day as the Jordanian, having just graduated from karting, scored a 

significant success. 

“It’s a great feeling to get my first-ever win in a single-seater. It was a tough race, but I managed to stay in front,” said an emotional Hijjawi, who shrugged off the challenge from Mason. Denmark’s Valdemar Eriksen completed the podium.

Results:  MRF Challenge (all 15 laps unless mentioned): Race 1: 1. Michelangelo Amendola (Belgium) 22:58.236; 2. Dylan Young (Australia) 23:05.941; 3. Joshua Mason (GBR) 23:06.414. 

Race-2: 1. Manaf Hijjawi (Jordan) 23:13.797; 2. Mason 23:14.474; 3. Valdemar Eriksen (Denmark) 23:17.576. 

Race-3: 1. Amendola 22:57.347; 2. Young 23:07.540; 3. Louis Foster (GBR) 23:07.958.