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Zane Maloney takes the lead heading into Turn One on the opening lap

AS IT HAPPENED

A fast start on the Option tyre from Sprint Race winner Maloney saw him take the lead from third place on the run down to Turn 1. Behind him, front-row starters Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar collided at the same corner.

The Campos Racing driver was left stranded in the middle of the road, giving Enzo Fittipaldi nowhere to go and the Van Amersfoort Racing driver collected Hadjar, with both out as a result.

A Safety Car intervention was needed with the marshals removing both cars as the Stewards handed Bortoleto a 10-second penalty for his part in the incident.

It was a flawless weekend for the Bajan driver

Back to green flag racing on Lap 5, Maloney extended his advantage to beyond a second over Zak O’Sullivan, with Martí now up to third after overtaking Dennis Hauger. Bortoleto’s difficult opening few laps were compounded by a tough restart as he lost out to Jak Crawford for fifth.

Martí and Crawford, like Maloney, had opted for the softs and were looking to make early inroads with the Campos driver overtaking O’Sullivan for second. Crawford later jumped ahead of Hauger for fourth.

Hauger’s struggles continued as on Lap 8, he lost a place to Bortoleto. A few laps later, Miyata overtook the MP Motorsport driver leaving him down in seventh. Back at the front, Crawford boxed from third, but a slow stop saw him lose drive in the pitlane, forcing him to retire.

ART Grand Prix’s Victor Martins became the first driver to make a mandatory pitstop on Lap 11, switching to the soft compound tyres and rejoining down the order in 19th.

His race didn’t last much longer, pulling over to the side of the track at Turn 8, requiring a second Safety Car on Lap 19.

Racing got back underway on Lap 22, with the PREMA Racing drivers now squabbling over eighth place as Andrea Kimi Antonelli got past Oliver Bearman, with Kush Maini following the Italian driver through a lap later.

Out at the front, Maloney had extended his lead over O’Sullivan to over a second and a half. The ART driver was now coming under pressure from Martí, with Paul Aron also in striking distance.

Invicta Racing pair Maini and Bortoleto were now on the march as they overtook Antonelli to go up to seventh and eighth respectively on Lap 25 of 32.

The duo quickly closed up to the back of their MP Motorsport counterparts Hauger and Franco Colapinto, who were fighting themselves.

Zane Maloney soaks in the moment on the podium

As the 27th tour of the track started, O’Sullivan was now struggling with his soft tyres as Martí eventually came past his fellow F2 rookie.

A lap later, Aron’s comeback through the field continued as he overtook O’Sullivan to take the final spot on the podium.

Hauger was also struggling with his tyres as Colapinto made his way past.

Bortoleto, having now overtaken Maini, got past the Norwegian at the exit of Turn 1.

A few corners later, Maini followed his teammate through, pushing Hauger down to eighth.

Back at the front, Maloney had extended his lead to over four and a half seconds to Martí and crossed the line to take his second win of the weekend, with Aron taking the chequered flag in third.

Bortoleto made the move past Colapinto on the final lap but lost out in a drag race to the line with O’Sullivan.

The ART driver finished fourth ahead of the Brazilian, while Colapinto ended up sixth ahead of Maini. Hauger, Miyata and Antonelli rounded out the points. (F2)

Officials of the French Embassy, the GOA and UNICEF share a moment at the signing ceremony

On the note of shared values, he highlighted that the Games that are being organised will be sustainable games.

“This will be reflected in all the buildings that have been constructed in France. The first building of the Olympic village has recently been inaugurated and is at the very frontline in the use of sustainable development and the fight against climate change,” he explained.

Godfrey Munroe said he is elated to work with the French Embassy and UNICEF Guyana to promote the values of the Olympics to the younger generation.

“The three values of olympism are excellence, respect and friendship and I think it’s a new platform to inspire a new generation of persons, whether they are competitive athletes or recreational students and even the public, about the Olympic movement and what it represents.

Nicolas Pronsaid that UNICEF is pleased to join in the collaboration as all efforts lead to increased advocacy for child rights in Guyana.

“I am particularly pleased that many of the planned events and Olympic values also align with UNICEF’s values of care, respect, integrity, trust, accountability and sustainability,” Pron said.

“As we advance our efforts to promote child rights in Guyana, Article 2, 19 and 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child speak to the rights of children and young people having equal opportunity despite gender or abilities, playing sports, and practicing sports in a healthy and safe environment. So, I am very happy to be part of this partnership to ensure that children and youths in Guyana learn their rights, even in the sports arena,” he said.

A media launch of the series of events is expected to be announced soon.

100 years after first hosting the modern Olympics, Paris will host the XXXIII Olympic Summer Games from July 26 to August 11, 2024, with the Paralympic games set for August 28 to September 8, 2024.

Click to view full scorecard

Lyon, 36, dismissed Rachin Ravindra, Tom Blundell and Glenn Phillips inside the first hour to set the tone as he claimed a 24^th Test five-wicket haul.

Daryl Mitchell and Scott Kuggeleijn offered some resistance with a 36-run partnership for the Black Caps’ seventh wicket, but all-rounder Cameron Green, whose 174 not out in the first innings was instrumental to Australia’s success, dismissed the latter for 26.

Mitchell batted on despite taking a blow to the helmet from a Green delivery and was the last man out for 38, while captain Tim Southee was Lyon’s sixth victim – and the off-spinner’s 10^th in the match.

The defeat leaves the Black Caps with only one win in 24 Tests against their nearest neighbours this century. The second match in the series starts in Christchurch on Friday.

Australia captain Pat Cummins praised Lyon and Player-of-the-Match Green for their performances.

“Cam was amazing, he was really the difference in the end,” he said. “I thought the way he went about it, with that intent, really put the pressure back on the bowlers on day one.

“There was as much bounce as I’ve seen in any wicket for a long time but thankfully it spun which, with Nathan in our side, is always a pretty good thing.”

New Zealand pace bowler Will O’Rourke is a doubt for the second Test after leaving the field with a tight hamstring on day three with Southee not ruling out an instant recall for veteran pace bowler Neil Wagner, who retired last week. (BBC)