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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Ethan Ischer (CH)


Hwarang Kim (KOR)


Ariel Elkin (ISR)


Griffin Peebles (AUS)

© Photo Pellegrini


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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:

 


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