The red mist descended. It had been a costly mistake and he was not about to make another in race two. Seatter may have darted into the lead at the beginning but within three laps the Spaniard’s tyres were up to temperature, and his laptimes were starting to drop.
Third-placed Mayer meanwhile could do nothing to stop the leaders disappearing. Caught off-guard by an electric start from Saeed Bintouq, the Malaysian had dropped from second to fourth on the first tour.
Looking to secure his debut podium finish after a strong fourth-place the day before, Bintouq was using every trick in his playbook to keep Mayer behind. Not too far adrift, Haytham Sultan Al Ali – who’d been beaten to fourth by less than two-tenths – and Harsh Rajpal circulated menacingly close, ready to pick up the spoils should an opportunity arise.
Mayer though was equally keen to retake his place on the podium, and despite a good effort from local boy Bintouq, the Malaysian was right on the Yas Marina Circuit-run machine’s gearbox into turn ten, one well-timed dive all that was required to snatch back third. Fourth-place was still a good result for the ever-improving Bintouq. That final step of the podium is getting closer.
Up ahead though, the fight was on. With just one lap to go, and with seemingly no answer from Seatter, Canal had wiped out two-thirds of the deficit ahead, and the leader’s rear wing was getting closer. He might – if he really stamped on the brakes into turn 10 – be in with a shout of snatching victory on the run to the flag. Out of sight, spectators could only watch the monitors. Waiting.
Less than half a second. One more lap was all Canal had needed he was sure, and it was hard to argue with that. Seatter had once again cemented her stature as Championship favourite, but Canal had thrown down the gauntlet with gusto.
That first win would be his. And soon.
– Shots courtesy of GulfSport Racing
