Race Report
FIA FORMULA 4
ITALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP, Rounds 13/14/15
Circuit: Paul Ricard (F), Length 5,822 km, 21st – 23rd July 2023
www.circuitpaulricard.com
JENZER MOTORSPORT 2023:
Ethan Ischer (CH), Ariel Elkin (ISR); Hwarang Kim KOR); Griffin Peebles (AUS)
Elkin in the Top Ten in Paul Ricard
The fifth of seven races of the Italian FIA F4 Championship took place on the fast GP circuit of Paul Ricard (F). A huge field of 37 cars were registered.
Qualifying
Saturday, 22/07/23, 10.20 – 11.00, Weather: Sunny, 33°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 2nd best lap time of each driver in either of the two qualifying sessions.
| Results Qualifying 1 & Grid for Race One | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Ugo Ugochukwu (USA) | Prema | 2.04.988 |
| 2nd | Kacper Sztuka (POL) | US | 2.05.100 |
| 3rd | James Wharton (AUS) | Prema | 2.05.155 |
| 17th | Ariel Elkin (ISR) | Jenzer Motorsport | 2.05.879 |
| 28th | Hwarang Kim (KOR) | Jenzer Motorsport | 2.06.585 |
| 29th | Ethan Ischer (CH) | Jenzer Motorsport | 2.06.641 |
| 31st | Griffin Peebles (AUS) | Jenzer Motorsport | 2.06.737 |
| Results Qualifying 2 & Grid for Race Two | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Kacper Sztuka (POL) | US | 2.04.702 |
| 2nd | James Wharton (AUS) | Prema | 2.04.708 |
| 3rd | Ugo Ugochukwu (USA) | Prema | 2.04.839 |
| 24th | Ariel Elkin (ISR) | Jenzer Motorsport | 2.05.964 |
| 26th | Ethan Ischer (CH) | Jenzer Motorsport | 2.06.330 |
| 29th | Griffin Peebles (AUS) | Jenzer Motorsport | 2.06.459 |
| 30th | Hwarang Kim (KOR) | Jenzer Motorsport | 2.06.493 |
| Grid for Race Three | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | James Wharton (AUS) | Prema | 2.04.795 |
| 2nd | Kacper Sztuka (POL) | US | 2.04.922 |
| 3rd | Tuukka Taponen (FIN) | Prema | 2.05.269 |
| 24th | Ethan Ischer (CH) | Jenzer Motorsport | 2.06.517 |
| 25th | Ariel Elkin (ISR) | Jenzer Motorsport | 2.06.036 |
| 28th | Hwarang Kim (KOR) | Jenzer Motorsport | 2.06.569 |
| 29th | Griffin Peebles (AUS) | Jenzer Motorsport | 2.06.582 |
FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship
Race One (30 minutes + 1 lap)
Saturday, 22/07/23, 16.50, Weather: Sunny, 35°C
The first race of the weekend started under a crystal blue sky and in sweltering heat. Ariel managed to hold onto 17th place for long laps and eventually moved up to 15th place. Ethan managed to fight his way up from 29th to 22nd place. In the end, however, he received a 5-second penalty for violating the track limits and was classified as 24th. Hwarang finished in 23rd place after a steady ride. Griffin, who had a contact quite early on and had to get a new front wing in the pitlane, finally reached the finish line in 33rd place.
| Race One Results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Kacper Sztuka (POL) | US | 33.40.943 | |
| 2nd | Ugo Ugochukwu (USA) | Prema | Gap | 0.868 |
| 3rd | James Wharton (AUS) | Prema | Gap | 4.320 |
| 15th | Ariel Elkin (ISR) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| 23rd | Hwarang Kim (KOR) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| 24th | Ethan Ischer (CH) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| 33rd | Griffin Peebles (AUS) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| Fastest lap: Kacper Sztuka (POL) in 2.05.447 | ||||
FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship
Race Two (30 minutes + 1 lap)
Sunday, 23/07/23, 10.10, Weather: Sunny, 29°C
Under the bright sun, but still at a cool 29 degrees, the second race was started on Sunday morning. There were several accidents and the safety car took over the field immediately. At the restart Ariel wanted to make up places but made contact and lost momentum and dropped back to 25th place. Ethan had started very well at the beginning of the race, and also managed the restart. He improved to 18th place. Hwarang had also advanced several places and was now in 21st place. Griffin, who had to start from the pit lane, had already made up positions and was 33rd. It's not easy to overtake on the very fluid corners of this circuit. But Ethan drove very good lap times and managed to work his way up to 16th place. Hwarang improved from 30th place to 21st place. Ariel found a good rhythm again in the second half of the race and made up places. In the end, he finished right behind Hwarang in 22nd place. Griffin managed to work his way up to 26th place.
| Race Two Results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Kacper Sztuka (POL) | US | 34.10.033 | |
| 2nd | Tuukka Taponen (FIN) | Prema | Gap | 1.156 |
| 3rd | Ugo Ugochukwu (USA) | Prema | Gap | 7.811 |
| 16th | Ethan Ischer (CH) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| 21st | Hwarang Kim (KOR) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| 22nd | Ariel Elkin (ISR) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| 26th | Griffin Peebles (AUS) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| Fastest lap: Ugo Ugochukwu (USA) in 2.05.447 | ||||
FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship
Race Three (30 minutes + 1 lap)
Sunday, 23/07/23, 17.30, Weather: Sunny, 31°C
The last race of the weekend started after a long wait in the persistent heat. Ariel had a great start and overtook several vehicles at the same time. Ethan also managed to make up places immediately. A little behind, Hwarang and Griffin also moved towards the front. Soon Ariel had moved up to 13th place, Ethan was 16th, Hwarang 19th and Griffin 20th. When one vehicle came to an unfortunate halt, the safety car had to take over the field. After the restart, the race to catch up continued. The last five laps were very active. Ariel passed Spina and then battled with Ferreira for 10th place. He managed to grab him is now up to 9th place as Al Dhaheri fell behind. Ariel brought home the excellent 9th place and deserved points after a very good race. Bhirombhakdi surprised Ethan after the restart, but Ethan also brought home his best result of the race with 14th place. Griffin managed to get past Hwarang and after a very spirited comeback, the two finished 17th and 18th respectively. In the end, a very good team performance was achieved.
Unfortunately also Ethan received a time penalty and fell back to 21st position. Ariel, Griffin and Hwarang on the other hand all moved 1 position forward in the results.
| Race Three Results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Kacper Sztuka (POL) | US | 32.45.171 | |
| 2nd | James Wharton (AUS) | Prema | Gap | 1.094 |
| 3rd | Tuukka Taponen (FIN) | Prema | Gap | 2.363 |
| 8th | Ariel Elkin (ISR) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| 16th | Griffin Peebles (AUS) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| 17th | Hwarang Kim (KOR) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| 21st | Ethan Ischer (CH) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| Fastest lap: Kacper Sztuka (POL) in 2.06.202 | ||||
Ethan Ischer (CH)
Hwarang Kim (KOR)
Ariel Elkin (ISR)
Griffin Peebles (AUS)
© Photo Pellegrini
Championship Standings
FIA F4 Italian Championship 2023 after 15 races:
1st Arvid Lindblad (SWE), 245.5 points; 2nd Ugo Ugochukwu (USA), 186 points; 3rd Kacper Sztuka (POL), 183 points; 4th James Wharton (AUS), 156 points; 5th Zachary David (PHL), 123 points; 6th Brando Badoer (ITA), 122 points; 21st Ariel Elkin, 6.5 points
Rookie-Standings
1st Arvid Lindblad (SWE), 292.5 points; 2nd Tuukka Taponen (FIN), 196.5 points; 3rd Zachary David (PHL), 177.5 points; 10th Ariel Elkin (ISR), 56 points
2023 Italian FIA Formula 4 Championship
| 21/22/23 April | Imola (I) | |
| 05/06/07 May | Misano (I) | |
| 26/27/28 May | Spa (B) | |
| 23/24/25 June | Monza (I) | |
| 21/22/23 July | Paul Ricard (F) | |
| 29/30 Sept – 01 Oct | Mugello (I) | |
| 13/14/15 October | Vallelunga (I) |
More info:
