by Nick Maitland
It was a season start most drivers only dream of!
Barbadian Zane Maloney set an impressive example to follow for the rest of the 2024 FIA Formula 2 season with victory in this morning’s feature race to secure back-to-back sprint and feature race wins in the campaign’s opening round at the Bahrain International Circuit in Bahrain.
The 20-year-old made the surge from third on the grid to commence his second season in the division in enviable style. After going winless in his maiden campaign last season, Maloney grabbed his first and second professional victories since winning the feature race at the Monza Circuit in the final round of the 2022 Formula 3 season.
Now, he will have a just a week to rest, recuperative and refocus before the next round at the famous Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia, the widely acclaimed fastest street circuit in the world, from March 8 to 9.
“Of course, I’m so happy to get the Sprint Race and the Feature Race victory this weekend. The team Rodin did an unbelievable job and I just had to drive the car as quick as I can. Thank you everyone for the support of course I know Jeddah is going to be another story so we will push on in Jeddah,” an elated Maloney said after yesterday’s victory.
Spanish rookie Pepe Martí followed up his third-place in Friday’s sprint race to finish in a commendable second while fellow rookie, Estonian Paul Aron, battled bravely up the field to finish in the third and final podium spot after starting from twelfth on the grid. (NM)
