Ukyo Sasahara takes second Shanghai victory with Jack Doohan in third

Ukyo Sasahara has won the second race of the F3 Asian Championship weekend in Shanghai, followed by Daniel Cao and Australian Jack Doohan.

Sasahara led from the front for a perfect lights-to-flag victory, while the real battle of the race was for fourth place. Kiwi Brendon Leitch dropped two positions at the start after qualifying in fourth, which unleashed Eshan Pieris up into fifth.

Leitch was eventually able to catch the Sri Lankan on the inside of Turn 8, and Australian Jackson Walls quickly followed, making a late dive into Turn 6.

Yu Kanamaru was next, who was determinedly keeping pace with Doohan and resolutely kept Leitch at bay for the remainder of the race.

Sasahara said, “I got a good start and the car was really easy to drive today.”

“I tried to manage the gap and maintain it for the whole race. [On team mate title rival] Jack was really quick today. It’s really tough to be team mates and it’s really hard. Every round we have to get good points all the time, so it’s really tough.”

Jack Doohan reflected on his third place finish:

“I’m definitely not 100% comfortable with everything.”

“Sometimes it’s like that. We just have to get to the bottom of it – whether it’s me, or the car, or a combination of both things. We need to find more pace and get in front of Ukyo in the next four races and hopefully get back on top of the championship.”

Brendon Leitch finished P5, with Australian Jackson Walls in P6. Fellow Australian Tommy Smith finished P10.