11 February,2021 02:16 PM IST | Mumbai | Sundari Iyer
Mumbai Falcons driver Jehan Daruvala after his third round victory in the Formula 3 Asian Championship in Abu Dhabi last Sunday.
Falcons driver Jehan Daruvala, who won Race 3 of Round 3 of the Formula 3 Asian Championship held in Abu Dhabi recently, to secure a second place in the points table, now aims to win the drivers' championship.
After Daruvala's victory in Race 3 of Round 3, debutant team Mumbai Falcons too climbed to second place in the team standings. With two rounds and six races remaining in the championship, the Mumbai lad gears for Round 4 to be held this weekend at the Dubai Autodrome. In an interview, Daruvala, 22, talks to mid-day.com on his goals, the competition and his battle with COVID-19.
Excerpts:
Your three victories and two second-placed finishes for Mumbai Falcons helped you move to second position on the points table. Even the team climbed to the second place in the team standings. With two rounds and six races remaining in the Championship, what are your personal goals?
My personal goals for the coming rounds will be to keep trying to win races as that will give me the most chance to win the drivers' championship and to help the team as much as I can. A combined haul of points should help us rise in the team championship as well.
Who (team or individual) do you consider tough competition in Formula 3 Asian Championship and why?
There are many teams and drivers who are tough competition but for the moment, my two main competitors for the title are Guanyu Zhou (Abu Dhabi Racing by Prema) and Pierre-Louis Chovet (Pinnacle).
What do you think about the rule where every racer is allowed two sets of tyres per weekend? Is that an advantage or disadvantage?
It is quite hard having only two sets of tyres for the weekend, but it also makes it more interesting with regards to tyre strategy for the races. This way, when you start higher up the grid, you can use better tyres for those races.
Mumbai Falcons is a new team. How easy or difficult was it for you to adjust to a new set-up?
It was very easy for me to adjust with the team. They have been very professional and have welcomed me warmly and entirely into the Mumbai Falcon family, so it's been a real pleasure for me!
Your take on teammate Kush Maini...
Kush is a great teammate to work with and a really good driver. It's great to have an all-Indian line up and we are back driving together for the first time since our karting days back in India.
How have you coped with COVID-19?
I tested positive a few weeks before I was due to leave for this championship. I had symptoms for two days (back pain and mild fever) after which I felt completely normal and kept isolating for the requisite period of time. Fortunately, I didn't suffer any weakness and bounced back to normal routine soon after.
