David dominates with double-win in Portimao
Sri Lankan belies rookie status to take early lead in title fight
17-year-old Sri Lankan driver Yevan David made a spectacular start to his Euroformula Open campaign with two wins and a podium to place him atop the standings after the season-opening weekend at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal.
Motopark driver David departed Portimao with a ten-point lead in the drivers championship, with 65 points to his nearest rival’s 55 having finished third in Saturday’s first race of the weekend and then taking a double victory across Sunday’s two races.
Airline carriers rejoiced at the sight of David leaving the Portuguese circuit, complete with six trophies having also taken the Rookie win in all three races too.
Contesting his first full season in the ultra-competitive single-seater championship, David demonstrated racecraft, maturity and determination across the triple-header, where all drivers dice in identical Dallara 324 chassis powered by TOM’S engines.
"A double win then and a podium? I couldn't be happier,” said David. “We actually had a tricky start to the weekend, but we dug deep and the team didn’t leave any stone unturned. We worked hard, and we came back on Saturday with a podium finish. Then on Sunday it was a double win. All this was through hard work, so thank you so much to the team, to Sri Lanka and to everyone who has supported me so far.”
Saturday’s qualifying session had seen David take P2 on the grid for the first race with a minor technical issue denying him the pole position that his practice pace had promised. The first race was an eventful affair with David dicing for the lead, before trying his hand off road with even a little airtime across the first corners, before a strong fight back to take the third step of the podium at the chequered flag.
"It was a good race,” said David.”I messed up a bit at the start, but after that I was consistent. We didn't quite have the pace to fight for P1, but I made up some really good positions."
Sunday morning’s race two saw David start from P4 on the grid, which he quickly translated in second place in over the initial laps before setting about the task to take the lead. On the fifth lap, P1 was in the bag and from then on there was no doubt of glory.
"I took the lead and led to the end, it was a great feeling,” said David of his first win of 2025. “I've got to give this one to the team. They really worked on the car after Saturday's race and we really found something and put it all together."
Race three late on Sunday afternoon saw David line-up fifth on the grid with a great start to move to P3 and then P2. The lead, once more, took a lap more patience but once again the Sri Lankan was able to disappear into the distance. What was looking like plain sailing was interrupted however by a safety car, which bunched the field. The restart saw a brief loss of the lead, but David was back in his happy place before another appearance of SC on the graphics. With only a handful of laps left and a stricken car on track, Race Control stopped the race meaning an unusual but no less meritorious victory under Red Flag conditions.
“It was a tricky race with two safety cars this time,” said David. "I was really happy that I was able to build the gap before the safety car and then I just needed to stay focused. I knew it would be a short race once the race restarted, but I didn’t expect another safety car and then to finish under the red flag, but I’m happy with my performance and the result.”
David’s campaign continues at Spa-Francorchamps on May 16-18, where the young Sri Lankan will take on one of the most iconic and demanding tracks in global motorsport.
Yevan David is supported in his 2025 Euroformula Open campaign by Merc Stop, Alcom, Dayholi and the Ceylon Motor Sports Club (CMSC).