Indian Formula One hopeful Jehan Daruvala opened the FIA F3 season with a victory yesterday in the second race of the junior single-seater series' Spanish round. Daruvala, who hails from Mumbai's Dadar Parsi Colony, looked unflappable as he survived multiple safety car disruptions to lead from lights out to the chequered flag.

"Pretty happy... the team have been very strong right from the first practice," Daruvala told mid-day over the phone from Barcelona yesterday. "The car has been very competitive; clearly a positive start to the year." Daruvala had finished the opening round's first race on Saturday seventh after a clutch issue prevented him from making a clean getaway from fourth on the grid.