18-year-old Jehan Daruvala finishes on podium at F3 European C'ship

Monza [Italy], Apr 29 (ANI): Adding yet another milestone to his ever-growing roster of Indian firsts in the world of motorsport, 18-year-old Jehan Daruvala made India proud on Saturday when he emerged as the second fastest driver in the FIA Formula 3 European Championships here at Monza. Carlin racer Daruvala, who clocked his fastest lap of one minute and 44.140 seconds in his Volkswagen, finished 0.149 seconds quicker than his third-placed teammate Ferdinand Habsburg and 0.649 seconds behind teammate Lando Naris of Carlin, who was the fastest. With the feat, Daruvala became the second Indian driver after Narain Karthikeyan to make a podium finish in the F3 Championship. Earlier, Daruvala scripted history by becoming the first racer of the country to claim the pole position in the qualifying session for Round 2 of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship in Monza. He put in a near perfect lap of 1:44.105s, to claim his maiden pole position in F3 in only his second event. Last weekend, Daruvala showed his pace on a track that he certainly seems to love. He was sixth and third in the two practice sessions of the weekend. Daruvala's rookie year in F3 got off to a solid start in the previous weekend at Silverstone where the multiple Indian and Asian Karting Champion earned himself two rookie podiums. Daruvala continues to put India on the world motorsport map after he became the first Indian to win a Grand Prix. He achieved this feat winning the season finale of the Toyota Racing Season. Daruvala also remains the only Indian to have ever stood on the podium of any FIA World Championship when he finished second runner-up in the World Karting Championship. Formula 3 is considered as one of the most crucial steps en route Formula 1. Many drivers have moved from F3 to F1 directly, including Red Bull Racing's prodigy Max Verstappen and Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat.(ANI)