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Chennai, Feb 9 (IANS) The MRF Challenge Formula 2000 season finale is poised for an exciting finish with American Conor Daly cruising to victory in the second race Saturday, taking his championship fight against England's Jordan King down to the wire. Daly, starting at the front in the reverse grid for the top six in the morning, pulled away from the field to complete a fine win here at the Madras Motor Sports Club track. Josh Hill, son of former Formula 1 World Champion Damon, claimed top honours in the morning and made his presence felt in his first appearance of the championship. However, he could not improve on his reverse grid position in Race 2, finishing sixth. Daly has spiced things up with the win and now holds a two-point lead over King (127 points) in the championship going into the double header Sunday. "I felt the car responded brilliantly and I was quite surprised at the pace it offered me. Even if there was a strong challenge I have would held onto my lead. The win has given me confidence ahead of the finale," said Daly. King, 18, took the last podium spot to go with his fourth place earlier in the day. Two Indians in the 16 car grid, Parthiva Sureshwaren and Parth Ghorpade, were again way behind the leaders. Sureshwaren managed eighth and 12th position while Ghorpade was 11th fastest after retiring in Race 1. In the concurrently held Round 1 of the National Championships, Ashwin Sundar won the opening race in the MRF Formula 1600 while his Chennai mate Vikash Anand took the top spot of the podium in the second. Arjun Balu and N. Leela Krishan shared wins in the battle of Indian Touring Cars (ITC) while S. Feroze Khan scored a double in the Indian Junior Touring Car class.
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