Feature Race 1: Pole position → P2

Feature Race 1 got under way at 6:00pm on Saturday 12 September, with an ambient temperature of 31°C and a track temperature of 48°C. Starting from pole position, Kato was challenged into Turn 1 by the car from P2 on the grid, which had made a strong start, and dropped one position. Later on the opening lap, a seven-car multi-car crash occurred between Turns 6 and 7. The safety car (SC) was deployed before the race was subsequently red-flagged.

After a stoppage of around 30 minutes, the race resumed with a rolling start. Kato held P2 and stayed around one second behind the leader as he waited for an opportunity. On Lap 10, a car behind spun on its own and crashed into the wall, bringing out the SC for a second time.

The race resumed on Lap 12, and Kato continued to remain around one second behind the leader while at times opening a gap of more than two seconds to the car in P3. However, an opportunity to retake the lead did not come, and he finished the 19-lap race in P2 to claim his fourth podium of the season.

©Dutch Photo Agency