Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Australia

Jerez EF Open: Pulcini seals title with two races to spare

Campos Racing’s Leonardo Pulcini has sealed the 2016 EuroFormula Open title after winning the second race at Jerez.

Leonardo Pulcini, Campos Racing

Leonardo Pulcini, Campos Racing

FotoSpeedy

Colton Herta, Carlin Motorsport
Nikita Zlobin, Teo Martin Motorsport
Nikita Zlobin, Teo Martin Motorsport
Nikita Zlobin, Teo Martin Motorsport
Race winner Colton Herta, Carlin Motorsport
Tanart Sathienthirakul, RP Motorsport
Damiano Fioravanti, RP Motorsport
Ameya Vaidyanathan, Carlin Motorsport
Start action

The Italian has been the standout driver of the season, having finished off the podium only twice all year and taking his seventh win of the year in the second race at Jerez.

After taking into account dropped scores, Pulcini has a 72-point lead over Ferdinand Habsburg, and with only 54 on offer in the final round next weekend at Catalunya, he has been crowned champion.

Herta dominant in Race 1

At the start of Race 1, Carlin driver Colton Herta led cleanly from pole position, with RP's Damiano Fioravanti following the American in second place.

Behind, Harrison Scott lunged down the inside of Pulcini at turn 1, making the move stick to move up to third.

Despite falling behind, Pulcini never lost sight of the Teo Martin driver, repassing the Briton on lap eight after several failed attempts.

Pulcini continued his charge thereafter, reeling in Fioravanti and passing him with three laps remaining.

The Italian, however, had no answer to Herta, who went on to record his third victory of the season.

Fioravanti held on to the final spot of the podium, while Scott dropped away from the leading trio, finishing 15.965s behind winner Herta.

Scott led home a trail of cars including Campos driver Diego Menchaca, RP Motorsports' Tatiana Calderon and Habsburg, who fell from fourth to seventh at the start of the race.

BVM Racing’s Ye Hongli finished eighth, while Carlin duo of Keyvan Andres and Ameya Vaidyanathan completed the Top 10.

Pulcini takes title with Race 2 win

Pulcini was quick off the line in Race 2 and was able to pass polesitter Habsburg for the lead of the race.

The Italian then disappeared into the distance, taking the chequered flag by 2.816s to seal the title.

Behind, Scott and Herta engaged in a race-long battle for the final spot on the podium, with the Teo Martin driver coming on top in the duel.

Guest driver Vasily Romanov finished fifth, ahead of the second Campos car of Menchaca.

Calderon, who missed the previous round in Monza due to a clash with her GP3 commitments in Sepang, was classified seventh, with Hongli finishing eighth.

Vaidyanathan and Tanart Sathienthirakul completed the Top 10.

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Monza EF Open: Pulcini extends points lead with double win
Next article Barcelona EF Open: Herta and Habsburg share wins in season finale

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Australia