In a thrilling display of skill and determination, Joshua Duerksen emerged victorious at the Melbourne Sprint Race, held at the iconic Albert Park. The AIX Racing driver captivated fans with a commanding performance, navigating two Safety Car restarts to secure his place at the top of the podium.
A Dominant Start
Duerksen’s journey to victory began with a brilliant start from second on the grid. As the lights went out, he swiftly overtook pole-sitter Leonardo Fornaroli of Invicta Racing, while Luke Browning of Hitech TGR maintained his third position. However, the race saw early drama as Dino Beganovic, another Hitech TGR driver, dropped from fourth to sixth, overtaken by Richard Verschoor and Roman Stanek.
Virtual Safety Car and Safety Car Deployments
The race took a cautious turn on Lap 3 when the Virtual Safety Car was deployed following Victor Martins’ unfortunate collision with the barrier at Turn 5. Martins, driving for ART Grand Prix, suffered a damaged suspension and was forced to retire. Racing resumed on Lap 4, but Fornaroli struggled to maintain his pace, coming under pressure from Browning.
Another intense battle unfolded between Beganovic and Stanek, with Beganovic making a daring move around the outside of Stanek at Turn 11 to climb to fifth. Meanwhile, Gabriele Mini of Campos Racing executed a precise dive down the inside of Josep María Martí at the same corner, securing eighth place.
The Safety Car made its second appearance on Lap 7 after Max Esterson of TRIDENT spun into the gravel at Turn 6. Racing resumed on Lap 11, and Duerksen showcased his exceptional pace, pulling over a second clear of Fornaroli by the end of the lap.
Final Stretch and Victory
As the race progressed, Duerksen continued to extend his lead, with Fornaroli fending off a determined DRS train that included Verschoor and Alexander Dunne. By the penultimate lap, the top 10 drivers were within six seconds of each other, adding to the excitement.
In a masterful display, Duerksen cruised to the chequered flag, clinching the first Sprint Race of the year. Fornaroli followed closely in second, while Browning completed the podium with a third-place finish. Verschoor ended the race in fourth, ahead of Stanek, with Sebastián Montoya and Mini of PREMA Racing rounding out the top six.
Josep María Martí of Campos Racing secured the final point, finishing eighth. The Melbourne Sprint Race was a testament to Duerksen’s prowess and a thrilling start to the racing season, leaving fans eagerly anticipating more action.
KEY QUOTE – Joshua Duerksen, AIX Racing
“Very happy with the result today, P1. Finished the season last year with a victory and starting
the season with a victory is always a great feeling. So, really happy, car was great, I was
struggling a bit at the beginning but then I could find myself and have good pace. So very
thankful to all the team, my sponsors, to God, and just enjoying this moment.”
THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Joshua Duerksen takes the early lead in the Drivers’ Championship, with 10 points gained from
his victory. Behind him is Leonardo Fornaroli on eight points, with Luke Browning third on six.
Rounding out the top five is Richard Verschoor in fourth and Roman Stanek.
With both drivers finishing in the top five, reigning Champions Invicta Racing take the early lead
in the Teams’ Standings on 12 points, ahead of AIX Racing who have 10 points. Hitech TGR and
PREMA Racing are tied on six points in third and fourth, while MP Motorsport round out the top five.
UP NEXT
Next on the agenda is the Melbourne Feature Race, with lights out set for 11:30 local time on Sunday.
