The Indian rookie, supported by JK Tyre, gets three podiums in Vallelunga
11th September, 2016, Vallelunga: After a two-month break 15-year-old Indian driver Kush Maini returned to the Italian F4 season and secured three podiums, a debut championship podium that he shared with Mick Schumacher in the final race at Vallelunga and two rookie podiums, a second place and a third place in race 3 and Race 2 Respectively.
Kush Maini celebrating his debut championship podium in Race 3 at Vallelunga
Kush started Race 3 in third position based on the first 10 Cars being reversed on the grid. At the start there was an accident involving 3 cars on the main straight which brought the safety car out. Kush maintained his third position and with two laps to go made a brilliant move on Sebastian Fernandez to move into second. The more experienced Mick Schumacher was making ground and on the last lap made a move on the inside of Maini, who finished 3rd and got his maiden podium of the main championship.
Kush showed very good pace throughout the weekend right from qualifying. Kush started Race 1 in 8th place but due to a spin fell back and was able to make some recovery before finishing in 26th position overall. Starting in 4th place, Race 2 fared better as he secured a top 10 overall finish in 8th place with a best lap of 1:35.253 and finished 3rd amongst the rookies to earn his first podium of the weekend.
There were signs that the JK Tyre supported driver had dusted off the cobwebs after a long break between race weekends with a best 11th place finish in free practice. Sharing the podium with Mick Schumacher, Kush was happy about the result, “Three podiums in one race weekend was great and I could have hoped for after the break and more. I’m also happy to get my debut championship podium after Race 1 didn’t go my way in terms of results. We’ve got to keep pushing for even better results next weekend as I am feeling more comfortable with the car and the team.”
The Italian F4 season returns to Imola for the second time on the weekend of 23-25 September, 2016.
