Race Report

FIA FORMULA 4
ITALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP, Rounds 19/20/21

Circuit: Mugello (ITA), Length 5.245 km, 21^st – 23^rd October 2022
www.mugellocircuit.it

JENZER MOTORSPORT 2022:
Oleksandr Partyshev (UKR), Ethan Ischer (CHE), Valentin Kluss (DEU), Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi (THA)

Good season finish in Mugello

The seventh and final racing event for the Italian FIA Formula 4 Championship took place on the demanding Mugello circuit near Florence. Again the grid was huge with 41 participants ready to race.

Qualifying

Friday, 21/10/22, 16.35 – 17.15, Weather: Overcast, 18°C

The rules allow for two qualifying sessions of 15 minutes, with a 10-minute break in between. The Qualifying 1 times determine the grid for Race 1 and the times from Qualifying 2 determine the grid for Race 2. The starting order for Race 3 is based on the 2^nd best lap time of each driver in either of the two qualifying sessions.

Due to the large number of participants, the short qualifying sessions proved to be very difficult. Just as our drivers were in their fastest run, there was a red flag stoppage. After that, it was very hard for them in the large field to position themselves well again to be able to improve their lap times.

FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship

Race One (30 minutes + 1 lap)

Saturday, 22/10/22, 12.20, Weather: Overcast, 18°C

Grey clouds went low over Mugello circuit and threathend to bring some rain just when the F4 drivers went to the grid on Saturday midday for the first race of the weekend. Despite a few drops of rain, it stayed dry and we went racing. When the lights went out, Valentin managed a good start and was ready to fight for positions. Despite a brief wide moment, the German driver kept pushing and held on to his 17^th place. Behind him, Oleksandr started very well and immediately gained five positions, conquering 20^th place. Nandhavud was climbing his way up the order but then some cars just in front of him were in trouble. Nandhavud tried to avoid contact, but there was no room for him and was forced to go off into the grave trap as well. With that his race came to an early end. A safety car had to be deployed to clean the track from several cars wich finally stuck in the gravel. From 33^rd place on the grid, Ethan didn’t make a good start and had to push hard to improve his position. When the safety car had to be deployed, the Swiss driver was already up in 28^th position. At the restart and with 7 minutes to go, our drivers were ready to fight again to snatch some final positions before the checkered flag came out. Valentin crossed the line in 16^th place, with Oleksandr right behind in 17^th place (8 positions gained for him!). Ethan saw the finish line in a well recovered 25^th place.

FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship

Race Two (30 minutes + 1 lap)

Sunday, 23/10/22, 09.55, Weather: Overcast, 18°C

On Sunday morning, the penultimate race of the season got underway just as the lower clouds were lifting. Our drivers started well. Valentin managed to gain a few positons and was up in 22^nd place, with Oleksandr behind him in 23^rd place. Ethan and Nandhavud were moving forward as well and were now in 28^th and 29^th position. Ethan was then battling with Sperandio and unfortunately the two touched. Ethan then jumped over the kerbs, which resulted in a broken suspension. Ethan made it slowly back to the pits, but there was no choice but to retire from the race. Nandhavud went up to 27^th position, but with his tyres derading he found it hard to keep the position. Nandhavud finally crossed the line in 32^nd place. After a Safety car phase, Oleksandr was able to improve several positions and was already up in 16^th position. Then he went wide and fell back to see the finish line in 22^nd position. Valentin kept his drive steady and was able to handle the degradation of his tyres. He saw the checkered flag in 20^th position.

FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship

Race Three (28 minutes + 1 lap)

Sunday, 23/10/22, 16.55, Weather: Overcast, 21°C

The last race of the season got underway on Sunday late afternoon, with an extra formation lap as Weug placed herself in the wrong grid slot. When the lights went out at the start, disaster struck for Camara and Sztuka who ended up in the gravel trap and the safety car had to be deployed already in the opening lap. Valentin managed a brilliant start and conquered the 15^th place already. Oleksandr moved to 24^th place, with Nandhavud in 27^th followed by Ethan in 28^th. When the race got underway again, our drivers were ready to battle. Keeping it clean and showing nice moves, they were moving up the order. Valentin made an amazing move on Weug to snatch the 13^th place. Oleksandr muscled his way up to 18^th place. Nandhavud was in 21^st place and Ethan in 23^rd, both enjoying some nice fights. Another safety car had to be deployed and we went underway for the final 5 minutes of the season. Valentin crossed the line in a fantastic 12^th place! Unfortunately, Oleksandr spun in the final corners and got stuck in the gravel without finishing the race. Nandhavud took a very good 20^th position, with Ethan not far behind in a nice 24^th place.

Thus ended the 2022 FIA F4 Italian Championship. The champion was Kimi Antonelli from Italy.

Oleksandr Partyshev (UKR)

Ethan Ischer (CHE)

Valentin Kluss (DEU)

Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi (THA)

© Photo Pellegrini

Championship Final Standings

FIA F4 Italian Championship 2022 after 21 races:
1^st Kimi Antonelli (I), 362 points; 2^nd Alexander Dunne (IRL), 259 points; 3^rd Rafael Camara (BRA), 239 points; 4^th Charlie Wurz (A), 200 points; 5^th James Wharton (AUS), 166 points; 6^th Kacper Sztuka (POL), 162 points; 21^st Valentin Kluss (D), 4 points

Rookie-Standings:
1^st Kimi Antonelli (I), 386 points; 2^nd Rafael Camara (BRA), 289 points; 3^rd Charlie Wurz (AUT), 265 points; 11^th Valentin Kluss (D), 39 points; 26^th Ethan Ischer (CH), 4 points; 27^th Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi (THA), 2 points

2022 FIA F4 ITALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP – AGENDA

More info:

• www.acisportitalia.it/F4/
• www.italiaracing.net