Abbi Pulling reached another career landmark as she competed in the Formula Renault Eurocup races at the Emilia Romagna Imola Grand Prix over the weekend.
Gosberton teenager Pulling, who has been impressing on the British F4 scene with JHR Developments this season, enjoyed her first-ever outing in a F3 specification car at the San Marino-based track over the weekend.
She was competing for FA Racing by Manor at the Formula 1-supporting round at Imola and did herself proud throughout.
The South Holland speedster completed 19 laps in the solitary practice session on Saturday, with her best time of 1.45.628mins placing her 19th and last overall, but this was her maiden drive in the car.
She improved her best time in qualifying for race one, but remained at the back of the grid.
That first race was a learning curve for Pulling, but she managed to complete it in 15th position in a race that saw four retirements.
Pulling was 1.01.395mins behind winner Caio Collett (R-ace GP), with Alex Quinn and Lorenzo Colombo completing the podium.
Clearly improving with each lap, the Gosberton ace qualified 17th for race two – and was just 1.963secs off the pole sitter.
That’s a position she held to the chequered flag in the second race, this time reducing her deficit to winner Victor Martins (ART Grand Prix) to 42.537secs.
MP Motorsport duo Franco Colapinto and Hadrien David the others on the podium.
On her experience, Pulling said: “With free practice being the first time in a new car on a new track against drivers who had raced all season and who had already raced at Imola it was always a challenge, progression through the weekend being key.
“Free practice and quali were as expected, a steep learning curve particularly with the 30-minute plus a lap race at the end of the day.
“(I got) A good race start followed by a number of safety car laps and learning the car, which led to a P15 finish.
“The FA Racing team worked hard on the car set up for Sunday’s quali two and this proved pivotal, a massive reduction in lap times and much closer to the drivers ahead.
“A quick turnaround for race two saw another good start, understanding the early pace lost some ground but a good progression in lap times kept us much closer to the drivers ahead for a P16 finish.
“(It was) Amazing to be racing on a Grand Prix weekend, big thanks to everyone who had faith and especially Alice Powell, who made it all possible.”
