Round 6 of the Gulf Radical Cup took place back at the Yas Marina Circuit.
With Alex Bukhantsov and Jacopo Mazza still pretty much neck and neck for the series lead, every step taken from this moment would be crucial to getting that title.
On the short North circuit loop, it would certainly make for some intensive racing, with lap times around the minute mark it would be a great work out for the GRC drivers!
It was Alex Bukhantsov taking pole, ahead of Timo Recker and Jacopo Mazza.
Sprint Race 1 would see Bukh convert that pole to a win ahead of Mazza in second, with Recker in third.
Sprint Race 2 again had Bukh on Pole with recker next to him. As the field got away Bukh was able to take the lead with Al Khazami making a great start making it up to second out of turn one. Recker was in third, with Mazza trying to go the long way around the outside of turn three, as a result the pair made contact spinning both cars out, and taking them out of the race. Safety car was deployed while the stricken SR3 XX of Recker was recovered, Mazza was able to limp back to the pits.
After 4 laps of safety car the field was racing again, Bukh resumed the lead with Al Khazami in second and Alim Geshev in third. Bukh was able to pull a comfortable 10 second gap by the end of the race over the Kuwaiti driver in second, with Geshev only 2 seconds behind. This was the first podium for Russian driver Geshev. Following the race, Recker was given a grid penalty for the the Enduro race, after having being deemed responsible for the collision between him and Mazza at turn 1.
The following day was Enduro race day, and started with the 15 minute qualifying session. It was a carbon copy of the previous day with Bukh on pole, with Recker in second and Mazza in third. However Recker would have to give that place back before the race even started with his penalty.
As the race started it was Recker who got a great start and took the lead from Bukh, with Mazza struggling, eventually pulling out on lap 3. As the pit stops came around the cars dived in and Bukh, who had no success penalty from the last race was able to jump into the lead, with Recker coming out behind him. Recker who appeared to have the pace this race was then left to hunt Bukh down and maybe take his first race win. As the two came onto turn 5, small contact was made and they both raced off side by side down the long back straight of Yas Marina Circuit. Recker was on the inside and late on the brakes, taking the lead.
Alex worked to stay in contention, but after a few laps it appeared he had a mechanical issue slowing him down, allowing Geshev to get past him and into second. As the chequered flag came out it was Recker across the line first with a 25 second lead over Geshev, and Buhk just hanging onto third! However it was not all done….
Geshev was given a 10 second penalty for undercutting his mandatory pit stop time, resulting in him being pushed to 4th and off the podium - gutted. Johnny Khazzoum was promoted to third. Recker was also back in the stewards room and was awarded a 20 second penalty for the contact with Bukh while racing for the lead. However he had built up a large enough lead for him to be able to hang onto his maiden victory.
With only a couple of days to gather the thoughts of Yas, as it was off the following weekend to Dubai for the final round of the Gulf Radical Cup.
