Chennai: Harrison Newey, son of renowned F1 car designer Adrian, was crowned the champion of the MRF Challenge here on Sunday. In a dramatic finish, the 18-year-old Harrison and Australian Joey Mawson tied on 277 points, but the British driver was adjudged champion on the basis of his six wins. Mawson had three wins, including the one on Saturday.
Mick Schumacher of Germany finished third in the championship with 213 points. Harrison trailed Mawson by 27 points going into the fourth and concluding round of the MRF Challenge, but the British youngster won three of the four races this weekend to pip Mawson at the post.
Going into the fourth and last race of the weekend, Newey, who had won Race 3 in the morning session, trailed Mawson by 15 points. The Aussie looked certain to clinch the championship when he led until the 11th lap when he conceded track position to Newey and then to Schumacher, to eventually finish third.
Earlier, starting from pole on the reverse grid, Sandeep Kumar scored an emphatic win in the MRF Formula 1600 to make up for his fourth place finish in the first race on Saturday. He drove a near-flawless race to beat Raghul Rangasamy and former champion Karthik Tharani.
Results: MRF Challenge (F2000, Race 3, 15 laps): 1. Harrison Newey (Britian); 2. Juri Vips (Estonia); 3. Ralf Aron (Esonia); Race 4: 1. Newey; 2. Mick Schumacher (Germany); 3. Joey Mawson (Australia).
National Championship (MRF F1600, Race 2, 8 laps): 1. Sandeep Kumar (Chennai); 2. Raghul Rangasamy (Mahabalipuram); 3.Karthik Tharani (Chennai). Formula LGB 1300 (Race 2, 8 laps): 1. Arya Singh (DTS Racing); 2. Bhushan Thareja (Momentum Motor Sports); 3. Arun Showry (Momentum Motor Sports).
