Abu Dhabi: Rounds five and six of the Formula Gulf championship, supported by Campos Racing and Gulf Oil, took place at Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi on Friday, January 22.
Fifteen-year-old Cato Poulsen, Denmark's youngest single-seater racer, took pole position 0.5s ahead of Saudi Arabia’s Mashuur Bal Hejaila.
Despite Poulsen being fastest in two of the three sectors of the 5.555km Formula One circuit, he lost out to Bal Hejaila at the start, but retook the lead by the end of lap 1. Bal Hejaila fought back and made a successful challenge for the lead on lap five, which he held for two laps before Poulsen made a pass stick on lap seven. The Dane withstood the pressure to take a well-earned victory in Race 1.
Bahraini 17-year-old Abdallah Beshara, who impressed ex-Formula Renault, British GT and Le Mans 24H Champion Tommy Erdos, came home an impressive third after a mistake by Saudi Arabian drive Omar Gazzaz saw him drop to fourth.
Saudi Arabia's Omar Gazzaz mentally preparing before heading to the grid
Race 2 proved to be a much closer fight as Beshara made a bold move into turn one from third on the grid to make a surprise pass on both Poulsen and Bal Hejaila. His lead was to be brief as the experienced Bal Hejaila calmly retook the lead moments later, with Poulsen slipping through as well.
Poulsen eventually found a way by his rival, rounding off his day with two emphatic wins ahead of Bal Hejaila. Gazzaz crossed the line third ahead of Beshara. Guilio Peroni was fifth.
Rounds seven and eight get underway on Friday, January 29 at Dubai Autodrome. The series will welcome Gulhuseyn Abdullayev who makes his debut.
The Formula Gulf champion wins a Formula 3 test with Campos Racing in Spain.
