Joshua Car takes first win of 2021 at Mid-Ohio

Joshua Car celebrates his first victory of 2021 at Mid-Ohio. (FR Americas)

Joshua Car has taken his first win of the 2021 Formula Regional Americas season in a lights-to-flag race at Mid-Ohio.

The 20 year-old put his Crosslink on pole for Race 1 of the FR Americas weekend in Lexington, and didn't look back as he staked his claim on the championship.

He held his lead at the start, emerging with clear air ahead of Ernie Francis Jr and Jacob Abel as the challengers jostled behind him into Turn 1.

Francis Jr spun-off five minutes into the twenty-five minute outing, promoting Abel to second with Jordan Missig up into third.

Championship leader Kyffin Simpson, who has won five of the six FR Americas races so far this year, soon followed Francis Jr, clipping the inside curb into Turn 1 and spinning off into the gravel.

Joshua Car on track at Mid-Ohio in the Formula Regional Americas Championship. (FR Americas/Crosslink Competition)

The Safety Car took control of the field as Simpson's car was recovered, but Car held firm at the restart.

Jacob Abel challenged him consistently from behind, keeping within a second of Car throughout the final fifteen minutes of the race, but he was unable to get close enough to mount an overtake.

Jacob Car celebrates on the podium with Jacob Abel and Jordan Missig. (FR Americas)

Car took the chequered flag ahead of Abel and Missig, and was ecstatic after his first win,

"Its brilliant, you know."

"We came here with one goal, to get pole and win the first race, and we executed it," said the Australian.

"It was a beautiful race for us, we got a great launch off the line and had a big gap before the safety car, but Jacob Abel was very fast and he was right on me through the stint towards the end and he was putting a lot of pressure."

"I just kept it cool, kept consistent and clean, and managed to hold on to the win."

"We had a very fast car, so thank you so much to the team. They do an amazing job."

Car was quick to thank his supporters back in Australia,

"Hello to everyone at home, thanks for watching and I hope I did you proud."