LONDON/OHIO: British-Pakistani racer Enaam Ahmed made his means into one other high 10 this previous weekend within the IndyNXT by Firestone race, battling in opposition to high drivers and a treacherously moist observe within the course of.
The seventh spherical of the 2023 season befell from the Mid-Ohio Sports activities Automotive Course, and the observe, which has so many elevation modifications that it resembles a curler coaster, was lined with many American followers tenting of their tents and trailers, cheering on the motion.
Ahmed began the Mid-Ohio Grand Prix in eleventh and instantly started preventing to the entrance of the sector. Earlier than the primary lap was even accomplished, the Pakistani Panther had moved into the highest 10 and was in search of extra.
The observe had acquired heavy rain simply hours earlier than the race started and was not but dry when Ahmed fought for place at 180 miles per hour. To make issues much more tough for him, a lightweight mist fell in the course of the race, making the observe floor nonetheless slicker.
Nevertheless, 23-year-old Ahmed was not daunted by the problem and continued to assault for a place at each alternative.
At one level, he was practically pushed into the moist grass by Rasmus Lindh, and well backed out of the encounter.
If he had a lot as touched the moist grass lining the observe, his purpose-built race automobile would have turn out to be caught, and his race would have been over instantly.
Ahmed regrouped and was capable of go Lindh a number of laps later, utilizing his unmatched tempo on a restart to achieve one other place.
Observe situations worsened close to the top of the race, and a number of different drivers slid off into the grass although they have been all essentially the most gifted racers in America.
Ahmed was very happy to take the positions given up by those that crashed, taking care to maintain his Cape Motorsports automobile on the racing floor.
As a British System F3 champion, Ahmed has discovered rather a lot about tips on how to race in cool and wet situations, and it confirmed this weekend.
“I capitalised on the primary laps of the restarts,” mentioned Ahmed, describing his technique.
“Each time there was a restart, I used to be overtaking. So, that was good. It was very, very slick on the market.
“The group is making good enhancements on the automobile; it is simply that we get there too late on the weekend. However that is simply due to our lack of expertise. The Cape Motorsport guys, it is their first 12 months doing IndyNXT, and we’re in opposition to groups which have been doing this for 10-20 years.
“It is solely a matter of time earlier than we get it proper, and as soon as we’re on the entrance I do know we are able to win.”
This weekend was the third time Ahmed scored a end within the high eight, although he is only a rookie.
Half of the 2023 season is left for him to indicate what he is able to.