Despite not exactly trailing the leader Viktor Vranckx in the FIA RX2e Championship standings, Patrick O’Donovan has been proving that his development has helped him to fight on equal terms with the Belgian, narrowly beating him at Spa-Francorchamps to secure two wins in a row in the 2022 season.
Isak Sjökvist prevailed in the Qualifying but it was impossible to pick a favorite out of the field as Patrick O’Donovan and Nils Andersson showed impressive performances too, which was giving a hard time to Viktor Vranckx. Showing that the fifth position in Qualifying was an accident, Vranckx went to win the first Progression race, while O’Donovan dominated the second one.
Semifinal 1 had Vranckx taking advantage of the inside and getting the lead, having a marginal gain that would keep Pablo Suárez away from him. Sjökvist tried an early Joker but was covered by Suárez, but with the Spanish driver not having the pace to attack the Belgian, Vranckx had a more comfortable run to the win.
Semifinal 2 had O’Donovan trying to run away from Andersson while Filip Thorén tried a different strategy but got stuck behind Raul Ferre. Andersson was falling more and more to a point where he would lose his second place when his Joker is done, and while Ferre looked good to attack O’Donovan, the British driver had it well covered, winning with authority while Ferre stole the second place from Andersson at the line.
The Final had only those who had the extra edge in the competition, as there wouldn’t enough grid slots for the talent presented, and O’Donovan would lead Vranckx on Lap 1 while Ferre and Sjökvist met the grass on Turn 1. Vranckx worked really well on the early Joker, enough to still have O’Donovan on his view and near on striking zone. To O’Donovan, all that was left was trying to resist until the Final Lap, and while Vranckx looked set for the win, O’Donovan made a desperately calculated Joker and was able to keep the Belgian behind him at the line.
Vranckx still has the points lead with 67 against 53 from Sjökvist, 52 from Andersson and 51 from O’Donovan. The season finale will be held at Barcelona, on 30 October, having these four candidates for the title.
PHOTO: Red Bull Content Pool
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