Maya Weug took victory in the final lap of a rain-soaked F1 Academy Race 2 in Singapore.
The Dutch driver beat title rival Doriane Pin on the final lap around the streets of Marina Bay in Singapore, ensuring that the title fight will go down to the final race in Las Vegas.
McLaren’s rookie Ella Lloyd came home in third. The British driver held off threats from Chloe Chambers to secure a podium redemption from the opening race.
Championship protagonists Weug and Pin lined up alongside each other on the front row. Closely behind them was third in the championship, Chloe Chambers.
As the lights went out, Weug immediately defended her lead. But with a better start off the line, Mercedes-backed Pin got past into Turn 1, demoting her championship rival to second.
Chambers and Ella Lloyd’s battle from Saturday continued. The McLaren-backed driver made her way past the American at the start, promoting her to third place.
The battle between Lloyd, Chambers, and now Emma Felbermayr had allowed the leaders in the race to create a two-second gap to the rest of the field.
At the end of the first lap, Weug was just under a second behind Pin. Further back, on Lap 3, Lia Block, the victor in Race 1, locked up and was demoted to last after a promising start.
Red Bull’s Alisha Palmowksi continued where she left off, making her way from last on the grid to 12th.
However, in trying to get past Joanne Ciconte, she ran wide, losing several positions and dropping herself to 14th, unfortunately continuing to be a difficult weekend for the Briton.
The rain that had been threatening all weekend had reportedly arrived on Lap 5 of the race, as PREMA informed Pin that light drizzle was spotted between Turns 9 and 14.
On Lap 7, Campos advised its drivers that heavier showers were due within the next few minutes. Meanwhile, Palmowski managed to overtake the birthday girl, Tina Hausman, for 12th.
Elsewhere in the field, the battle between Lloyd and Chambers continued; the British driver had held off her American rival with great ease, but the menacing rain could spice things up.
On Lap 9 of the race, the rain finally came down, causing drivers to pit for Intermediate tyres. Palmowski was the first to pit, initially stopping in the wrong pit box. She came out of the pit lane in 17th, ahead of Block, who had also pitted.
As the rain continued to descend on the streets of Singapore, Nicole Havrda brought out the yellow flags after hitting the wall in the final sector.
This encouraged more drivers to pit for Intermediate tyres; however, the leaders opted to stay out on their slick rubber.
The Safety Car peeled into the pits with one lap remaining, leaving the drivers with a one-lap shootout. With half the grid on slicks and the others on wets, the end would surely be thrilling.
Chloe Chambers has managed to catch the pack as Pin led. As the field headed to the wet part of the track, Weug and Pin have yet another battle, Weug reclaiming the lead.
As the chequered flag waved, Weug claimed victory on the streets of Singapore, with Pin, who ultimately struggled once the rain came down, close behind. Lloyd came home in third.
Felbermayr missed out on the podium in fourth place, while Alba Larsen took fifth. Nina Gademan settled for sixth, leading Chloe Chong and Joanne Ciconte.
Chambers wound up in a disappointing 11th place, ending her championship chances with one round remaining.
READ MORE – Lia Block details her ‘full circle’ first F1 Academy victory
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