Theo Pourchaire holds off Liam Lawson to win frantic FIA Formula 2 feature race in Bahrain

Théo Pourchaire won the first feature race of the 2022 FIA Formula 2 season after 31-lap barnstormer in Bahrain.

Theo Pourchaire celebrates his victory in Bahrain. (Formula Motorsport Limited)

Pourchaire held off a potential challenge from Kiwi Liam Lawson on faster tyres, and survived a collision with Jack Doohan for the lead of the race to take the victory.

"It is an amazing feeling to win the first Feature Race of the year in Bahrain," said the ART Grand Prix driver.

"It is a good start for the season."

"Yesterday in the Sprint Race I had an issue, unfortunately, but luckily it was only a maximum of 10 points that I missed out on."

"I am leading the Championship now with 25 points."

"I am so tired now, but a big thanks to ART, to the Sauber Academy and everyone else involved – let’s do that again!"

Theo Pourchaire on-track in Bahrain. (Formula Motorsport Limited)

Doohan started on pole with Pourchaire for company on the front row, but it was Jüri Vips who had the best start, rocketing between the leading pair for the race lead.

Ralph Boschung tucked in behind Vips and the new leaders tore off into the desert.

A gaggle of cars had all started on the alternate strategy with the red-walled soft tyre, and they all had the early advantage with extra grip and seemingly no increased wear.

Calan Williams, Marcus Armstrong, Olli Caldwell, and Ayumu Iwasa gained multiple positions at the start on the red tyre, with Iwasa tearing through the field from last on the grid.

The race was brought to a halt behind the safety car three laps in when Frederick Vesti was tagged and spun to a stop on track.

Doohan and Pourchaire make contact. (Kayo Sports)

The order was Vips, Boschung, Doohan, at the restart, with the new Alpine Academy driver challenging Boschung for the second podium position.

It was advantage Doohan when Boschung was one of the first to pit on the hard tyre, and a slow pitstop for Vips dropped him to 12th.

Doohan had the lead of the race and when it came to trade his soft tyre for a white-walled set of hard tyres, had a clean pit stop.

It ended in tears when Doohan exited the pits, clipping Pourchaire as he blended back onto the track and dislodging his front wing.

Iwasa, up from 21st and last, was in the provisional lead of the race until he finally pitted on lap 19 and Pourchaire went into the lead on track.

Tempers flared in a five-way battle for tenth as Roy Nissany defended aggressively both on and off the track, with the battle pack snowballing as the tense wheel-to-wheel action drew in the following cars.

Enzo Fittipaldi clipped the rear of Richard Verschoor, who spun to a stop on track, bringing out the safety car.

Calan Williams loses a tyre in the pit lane. (Kayo Sports)

Drivers dived into the pit lane, with two bizarre incidents ended the race for front-runners Dennis Hauger and Calan Williams.

Both drivers were released before their front left tyre was properly attached, with Hauger's tyre coming loose in the fast lane before Williams’ stranded Trident blocked the lane altogether.

When the race restarted, drivers had run out of time and the running was shortened by one lap, with Pourchaire, Lawson, and Vips holding station to complete the podium.

Marcus Armstrong finished fifth after passing Felipe Drugovich on the last lap, while Jack Doohan, despite his three pit stops, finished tenth after penalties were applied.

Calan Williams was classified in 18th despite retiring in the pit lane.

With the opening round of the championship wrapped up, Pourchaire leads the standings on 25 points, just one point clear of Liam Lawson on 24.

The FIA Formula 2 season resumes next week in Jeddah.