David on High with Win in Germany
Sri Lankan hammers home in Hockenheim
Sri Lankan racing driver Yevan David took his fourth race win of the season after an exciting wet-weather affected race weekend in Hockenheim, consolidating his lead in the Euroformula Open standings at 18 points.
Practice on Friday saw the Sri Lankan set the pace in both sessions and for David this came after a busy break between the previous event in Spa, with the 17 year-old returning to Sri Lanka, meeting the Prime Minister and presenting at TEDx Colombo.
Saturday morning’s qualifying was more challenging, with no slipstream on his fastest lap meaning he was fourth fastest.
“We had a decent qualifying with P4, but we definitely could have had a bit more. Unfortunately, we missed the slipstream a little bit, but we knew from Friday that we had the pace for the race.”
Saturday afternoon’s first race of the weekend showcased pace, potential, grid and determination after David made a great start from fourth into second, but contact with a rival on the first lap meant a return to the Motopark pit for a new front wing and tyres; and this setback meant a tenth-placed finish.
“Unfortunately an incident at the start when I was in P2 meant we sustained front wing damage and I had to pit on the first lap. There was nothing much to be done after that and P10 was the best we could salvage. However, we had very good pace, very strong and very consistent.”
Sunday’s morning’s first race was rain affected, but David was able to make a sensational start from P10 on the grid into P5 after just a few corners, and P4 by the end of the first lap. Subsequent progress was far harder fought, but third and another podium was the result.
“That was a great race. We started 10th and finished third. Tricky conditions in the wet, but we made a good result and finished on the podium.”
Sunday afternoon’s final race of the Hockenheim visit was far more of a walk in the park. After starting in third on the grid, David made a stunning start and was straight into the lead and soon built a five-second buffer. A revisit of rain mid–race and a subsequent brief safety car period lessened the gap but didn’t change the result: The win was David’s fourth of the season and seventh appearance on the podium.
“It was a very interesting race especially with the rain coming in. I had a five second gap but unfortunately we had a safety car, but with five laps left I got a good restart and held it to the end so that's what's important.
“It's good to end the weekend like this; we just keep executing, and that's the main thing as it's a long season. it's a long season, this is the third race weekend and there are five more to go, so anything can happen!”
Euroformula Open action will resume in Budapest at the Hungaroring, venue of the Hungarian Grand Prix, on July 5-6.
Yevan David is supported in his 2025 Euroformula Open campaign by Merc Stop, Alcom, Dayholi and the Ceylon Motor Sports Club (CMSC). He is contesting his first full season in the ultra-competitive single-seater championship, where all drivers dice in identical Dallara 324 chassis powered by TOM’S engines.