Cypriot driver Tio Ellinas registered his first win of the season in style as he finished 10 seconds ahead of championship leader Arthur Pic in Race 3, while Pic won Race 2 in the second round of MRF Challenge 2013 at Bahrain International Circuit here on Saturday.
Pole-sitter Ellinas, unlike in Race 1 in which he squandered his first position early, saw off the threat from Arthur Pic confidently after they jostled for first position over the first two laps.
As Tio raced ahead, Pic and Rupert Svendsen-Cook battled for the second position. But Svendsen-Cook, who won Race 1, lost contention and even gave away his third position to Sam Dejonghe in the last lap. Indian drivers Vikash Anand and Parth Ghorpade collided, forcing latter to retire. Raj Bharath was the fastest Indian with a 12th-place finish.
Earlier in Race 2, Pic pulled off an exceptional drive by in the reverse grid, overtaking four cars in the first corner of lap 1 to win the race.
Ellinas and Harry Tincknell finished in second and third positions respectively. Rupert Svendsen-Cook was able to claim only the fifth position in the race.
“I had a great battle with Arthur and all credit to him as the racing between us is always clean and fair.
“Once I got past him I was able to pull away and hold a considerable lead. In Race 2, my start was really good but got stuck as there were too many cars trying for the inside into the first corner.
“During the last lap, I was closing in on Pic but I had not any chance as it was too late,” said Ellinas.
The third round of MRF Challenge will be held at the same venue from December 19 to 21.