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F1 Academy Race 2 | Abu Dhabi GP 2024 | Ninth Straight Win For Abbi Pulling

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Abbi Pulling continued her dominance in Race 2 of the F1 Academy at the 2024 Abu Dhabi GP, securing her ninth consecutive victory.

The Alpine junior was followed by Chloe Chambers in P2, who delivered a solid performance, leading the race for a good part, and Hamda Al Qubaisi, who claimed a second podium finish on home soil.

The race concluded under a safety car after late drama between Lola Lovinfosse and Jessica Edgar brought the action to a halt just two laps from the finish.

Lights Out in Abu Dhabi Race 2

As the sun set over Yas Marina, the cooling track offered more grip for the drivers, setting the stage for an intense Race 2 of the weekend.

Pulling got off to a fantastic start, taking the racing line into Turn 1. Maya Weug also had a stellar launch, passing Bianca Bustamante and challenging Nerea Martí on the inside. Chambers and Al Qubaisi retained their second and third positions off the line.

Chaos struck early as Carrie Schreiner’s car briefly flew after contact with Lola Lovinfosse’s rear tire. Chambers capitalized on Turn 9 to snatch the race lead from Pulling, echoing her aggressive move from Race 1. Despite Pulling’s efforts, she struggled to keep up initially, falling half a second behind the Haas driver.

Meanwhile, Carrie Schreiner pitted early to assess damage, and Maya Weug went off at a corner, sparking a fierce battle with Bustamante, De Heus, and Amna Al Qubaisi.

Ten Laps to Go

Pulling repeatedly alerted the stewards about Chambers exceeding track limits, while Amna Al Qubaisi received a 10-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. Schreiner retired from the race shortly after due to damage sustained in her earlier incident.

Aurelia Nobels locked up, allowing Lia Block to overtake her for P11. At the front, two key battles emerged: Chambers versus Pulling for P1, and Al Qubaisi versus Pin for P3.

Block was later noted for a false start, and Pulling finally regained the lead on Lap 7 after Chambers made a small mistake.

The top four cars engaged in a thrilling battle, running close together and swapping positions as they fought for supremacy.

Five Laps to Go

With five laps remaining, Pulling extended her lead to 1.5 seconds, leaving Chambers to fend off Al Qubaisi and Pin for P2.

Behind them, Martí and Weug delivered a spectacular duel for P5, going side by side through multiple corners. Bustamante inched closer, looking for an opportunity to pass them both. A bold move saw Weug pull ahead, while Martí came under pressure from the McLaren driver.

Further back, Tina Hausmann overtook Amna Al Qubaisi and Lia Block in a thrilling fight for a top-ten position. On Lap 12, Martí and Bustamante went wheel-to-wheel again, with Martí successfully defending her spot against the Filipino driver.

Yellow Flag and Safety Car

Late drama struck when Lola Lovinfosse and Jessica Edgar collided at Turn 9, damaging both cars and bringing out a yellow flag. This incident spelled disaster for the Rodin Team in their constructor’s fight, as two of their three cars were out of the race.

Before the safety car period ended, Lia Block received a 5-second penalty for a false start. As a very joyful Terrie Crews waved the chequered flag, the race finished under the safety car, with Pulling securing her ninth consecutive victory.

F1 Academy Race 2 Abu Dhabi GP 2024 – It was another brilliant performance from the Alpine junior, securing yet another win in Abu Dhabi. Chambers claimed her second podium of the year, while Al Qubaisi delighted the home crowd once again with a well-deserved podium finish in P3. Wild Card entry Logan Hannah also impressed by securing the final points position in P10 after Amna Al Qubaisi and Lia Block’s penalties.

Featured Image Credit: Alpine F1 Team

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