After a winter break that seemed like an eternity, Abbi was back in action for RODIN Motorsport - competing in the 2024 F1 Academy.
After a promising three-days of pre-season testing, the Alpine Academy racer hit the ground running with P2 in qualifying for the opening race of the championship around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on Friday.
Abbi’s second fastest time from Qualifying was also good enough for P2 on the grid for Race 2 - which would be held on Saturday.
After an aborted start to Race 1, Abbi made a solid getaway and held P2 throughout the opening stages.
As the race unfolded, Abbi began to reel in leader Doriane Pin - bringing the gap to under 1 second, with consecutive fastest laps.
Abbi got almost within striking distance of an attack, securing the extra point for fastest lap in the process - but ran out of laps , finishing P2 at the chequered flag just 0.8s off the win.
At the start of Race 2, Abbi attacked pole sitter Doriane Pin - before the race was under safety car conditions following an early crash.
The restart saw Abbi make a great launch, drawing alongside Doriane into Turn 1, but wasn’t able to find a way through around the outside.
Multiple safety cars through the race led to very few racing laps - ultimately ending in a one-lap shootout to the flag for the win and fastest lap.
Doriane defended well and maintained her advantage to the flag, meaning Abbi crossed the line just behind in second position.
However, a decision post-race regarding Doriane taking the chequered flag twice - meant that she would be given a 20 second time penalty for the infringement, relinquishing the win and moved down to P9.
This promoted Abbi to P1, in the final results - securing her first F1 Academy victory and the championship lead in the process!
Abbi Pulling:
"The weekend was a fantastic way to start the year! Coming away with P2 in qualifying and then a P2 and P1 in races was great.
Obviously the outcome of Race 2 is definitely not the way I want to be winning races - inheriting it from post-race penalties, but you have to take the points in these circumstances.
The pace throughout the races was great and I cannot thank RODIN Motorsport enough for all the work they have done over the winter! As well as the Alpine Academy for their support over the winter and all weekend!
Race 1 we were especially fast in the closing stages, but we just ran out of laps to challenge for the win.
Race 2 was kind of the opposite, as I challenged very hard at the beginning to grab the lead - which left me without the same tyre performance as in the first race, to get close enough in the last laps.
It is great to come out of the first round as championship leader! But it is important to not be complacent heading into Miami in 2 months time.
I am looking forward to continuing the battle and hopefully earning more great results for RODIN Motorsport and BWT Alpine F1 Team!"
The next round of F1 Academy will take place at Miami on the 3-5 May.
However, Abbi will return to the cockpit for the opening round of the British F4 Championship at Donington Park, on the 27-28 April with RODIN Motorsport.
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