Specials Eight Days in Portugal | Page 154

FRIDAY PRE-FINALS Day managed to make a good start, but early on was engulfed by the pack and dropped down to sixth place. But he dug deep and made his way up towards the front, grabbing second place by mid-race distance. Thereafter he set about in pursuit of race leader, French champion Marcus Armand, and in doing so pulled a handy gap on the rest of the field. Armand crossed the finish line in first with Day second, ensuring that the Team UAE driver will start on the front row for the Final. Also impressing with his relentless progress was Theo Kekati, who got better and better with each race. Again he did not disappoint as he survived several battles in the action-packed group behind the leaders. He was up to sixth at one point but, with positions changing on every lap, he had to settle for eighth and with it securing a starting slot at the sharp end of proceedings for the final. Abdullah Al Rawahi, racing with Team UAE in Omani colours, drove a strong race to finish 10th in the DD2 Pre-Final and with it securing a place on the grid for the Final. In the DD2 Masters Class Kyle Blockley was the only one of the three Team UAE drivers who did enough to make it to the Final after finishing 13th in the Pre-Final. A mention must be made of Lucas Petersson who drove a storming race in the DD2 Pre-Final, making his way to 11th and chasing down a top ten finish at one point. But he was punted off with a few laps remaining, and in the end limped home down in 24th, the Dubai youngster delivered the drive of the day but sadly his efforts were not rewarded.