It was a bittersweet end to the season for Reema Juffali, as time penalties and track conditions hindered her progress in the GB3 Championship finale at Donington Park.
Reema and the Douglas Motorsport team headed into the final round of the 2021 season aiming to end the Saudi driver’s rookie GB3 campaign on a high.
Reema instantly impressed in the Saturday morning qualifying session, placing inside the top 10 and briefly topping the timings in the opening stages of the session.
However, an unfortunately timed red flag prevented Reema from improving upon her best lap as the times continued to come in, confining her to P20 on the grid.
A frantic first lap in race one initially proved beneficial for both Reema and teammate Tommy Smith, as the duo rose to the cusp of the top 10.
Sadly, their progress would come to an abrupt end after both were involved in an incident in the final sector, forcing both to retire prematurely.
Sunday brought rain and more uncertainty for race two of the weekend, with Reema making good headway in the early stages before dropping back to P18 in the tricky conditions.
The reverse grid start for race three offered an opportunity to end the season on a high, as Reema lined up on the front row in P2 alongside her teammate in P3.
After a nerve-wracking first lap, Reema found her rhythm as she fought with the more experienced drivers and defended her position strongly.
However, mid way through the race Reema slid wide and lost a few positions finishing the race in P10. A 10-second time penalty for exceeding track limits then dropped her down P19 at the end of the race.
Reema Juffali:
“I felt so much happier in the dry on this track. The start was tricky on the hill and that resulted in wheelspin but, following that, I had a good rhythm and some good wheel-to-wheel action. Everything I've learned this season has 100% made me a better driver; competitive racing, weather changes, and even the mishaps. These UK tracks push you hard. It’s been a great experience.”
Wayne Douglas, Team Principal, Douglas Motorsport:
“This has been very much a learning season for our drivers and Reema has shown glimpses of what she can really do with a fourth-place earlier this year and another fighting performance here at Donington. It has been a pleasure working with the drivers and we look forward to next season and what the future holds for us as a team.”
