Race Report
FIA FORMULA 4
ITALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP, Rounds 16/17/18
Circuit: Vallelunga (I), Length 4.085 km, 14th/15th/16th September 2018
www.vallelunga.it
JENZER MOTORSPORT 2018:
Giorgio Carrara (ARG), Gregoire Saucy (CH), Nazim Azman (MAL), Oliver Rasmussen (DK) & Federico Malvestiti (I)
Podium for Malvestiti in Vallelunga
The sixth of seven meetings in the Italian FIA Formula 4 Championship took place, after a seven week summer break, at the technical Vallelunga circuit, where sunshine and hot temperatures accompanied the program. You can follow the races live on sporttube tv.
Qualifying
Saturday, 15/09/18, 10.40 – 11.20, Weather: Sunny, 23°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 | Olli Caldwell (GB) | Prema | 1:32.904 |
| 2nd | Enzo Fittipaldi (BRA) | Prema | 1:33.014 |
| 3rd | Petr Ptacek (CZE) | Bhaitech | 1:33.148 |
| 7th | Gregoire Saucy (CH) | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:33.333 |
| 8th | Federico Malvestiti (I) | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:33.408 |
| 12th | Giorgio Carrara (ARG) | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:33.577 |
| 15th | Oliver Rasmussen (DK) | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:33.677 |
| 17th | Nazim Azman (MAL) | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:33.955 |
| Results Qualifying 2 & Grid for Race Two | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Olli Caldwell (GB) | Prma | 1:32.521 |
| 2nd | Petr Ptacek (CZE) | Bhaitech | 1:32.681 |
| 3rd | Enzo Fittipaldi (BRA) | Prema | 1:32.683 |
| 8th | Gregoire Saucy (CH) | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:32.984 |
| 10th | Federico Malvestiti (I) | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:33.146 |
| 12th | Nazim Azman (MAL) | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:33.265 |
| 13th | Giorgio Carrara (ARG) | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:33.318 |
| 15th | Oliver Rasmussen (DK) | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:33.392 |
| Grid for Race Three | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Olli Caldwell (GB) | Prema | 1:32.562 |
| 2nd | Petr Ptacek (CZE) | Bhaitech | 1:32.734 |
| 3rd | Enzo Fittipaldi (BRA) | Prema | 1:32.748 |
| 8th | Gregoire Saucy (CH) | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:33.031 |
| 10th | Federico Malvestiti (I) | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:33.183 |
| 12th | Nazim Azman (MAL) | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:33.342 |
| 13th | Giorgio Carrara (ARG) | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:33.372 |
| 15th | Oliver Rasmussen (DK) | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:33.730 |
FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship
Race One (28 minutes + 1 lap)
Saturday, 15/09/18, 16.05, Weather: Cloudy, 27°C
Gregoire and Federico immediately made up places and were 5th and 6th when an accident occurred that mixed up the field. Gregoire was pushed into a spin but luckily was able to avoid contact and slotted back into the field in 18th place, while Nazim had moved up to 10th, Giorgio was 12th and Oliver 13th. There was a short safety car period and at the restart Federico managed to overtake Alatalo to grab 3rd place, then Federico followed Petecof closely and held on at the front. After a strong race, he earned a well-deserved 3rd place on the podium. Behind them, Giorgio set a fast pace and pulled off some great overtaking manoeuvres, which enabled him to catch up with Nazim, who was running in 7th place. Giorgio managed to pass Nazim to finish in a very good 7th place by the end. Nazim fought with Fittipaldi after that, overtook and was overtaken in his turn, and finally had to let Fittipaldi go. With 9th place in the bag that was another top ten finish for Nazim. Gregoire, meanwhile, had worked his way back up to 13th place in a superb catch-up race. Oliver, who had made it to 11th place, dropped back a few places after the safety car restart, and crossed the finish line right behind Gregoire in 14th place.
| Race One Results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Olli Caldwell (GB) | Prema | 30:02.096 | |
| 2nd | Gianluca Petecof (BRA) | Prema | Gap | 3.640 |
| 3rd | Federico Malvestiti (I) | Jenzer Motorsport | Gap | 5.153 |
| 7th | Giorgio Carrara (ARG) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| 9th | Nazim Azman (MAL) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| 13th | Gregoire Saucy (CH) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| 14th | Oliver Rasmussen (DK) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| Fastest lap: Olli Caldwell (GB) in 1:33.084 | ||||
FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship
Race Two (28 minutes + 1 lap)
Sunday, 16/09/18, 09.45, Weather: Cloudy, 23°C
The start went well and Gregoire improved his position immediately to claim 7th, with Federico 10th, Nazim 11th and Giorgio 12th. Oliver ran a bit wide and was caught on a kerb, and spun, but was fortunate to be able to rejoin the race and continue to the flag, crossing the finish line in 19th place. Gregoire drove a very good race and soon managed to overtake Laganella, from where he was able to bring it home safely in an excellent 6th place. Federico was in an ongoing battle for 9th and finally made it stick in his favour. Giorgio improved from 13th to 10th to secure another point for himself. Nazim drove a clean race and reached the finish in 12th place.
| Race Two Results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Olli Caldwell (GB) | Prema | 29:37.861 | |
| 2nd | Enzo Fittipaldi (BRA) | Prema | Gap | 3.251 |
| 3rd | Petr Ptacek (CZE) | Bhaitech | Gap | 4.411 |
| 6th | Gregoire Saucy (CH) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| 9th | Federico Malvestiti (I) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| 10th | Giorgio Carrara (ARG) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| 12th | Nazim Azman (MAL) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| 19th | Oliver Rasmussen (DK) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| Fastest lap: Enzo Fittipaldi (BRA) in 1:32.995 | ||||
FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship
Race Three (28 minutes + 1 lap)
Sunday, 16/09/2018, 14.50, Weather: Sunny, 27°C
The third race of the weekend took place in the afternoon heat. Everyone got away cleanly and our cars formed an almost unbroken line, battling each other for position. Federico drove a very determined race and managed to improve from his starting position to claim an excellent 7th place. Behind him came Gregoire in another strong race, this time in 8th place. Nazim drove very well and finished in the top ten for the second time this weekend for what was overall his best weekend so far this season! Giorgio held 10th place for many laps until he had an off track moment which cost him his momentum and a few places and meant he finished the race in 13th place. Oliver achieved his best result this weekend and finished 14th.
The next race, which is the last one of the 2018 Italian F4 Championship, takes place on the weekend of 28th October at Mugello (I).
| Race Three Results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Olli Caldwell (GB) | Prema | 29:38.974 | |
| 2nd | Petr Ptacek (CZE) | Bhaitech | Gap | 0.747 |
| 3rd | Leonardo Lorandi (I) | Bhaitech | Gap | 9.402 |
| 7th | Federico Malvestiti (I) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| 8th | Gregoire Saucy (CH) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| 9th | Nazim Azman (MAL) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| 13th | Giorgio Carrara (ARG) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| 14th | Oliver Rasmussen (DK) | Jenzer Motorsport | ||
| Fastest lap: Petr Ptacek (CZE) in 1:33.083 | ||||
Championship Standings
FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship 2017 after 18 races:
1st Leonardo Lorandi (I), 266 points; 2nd Enzo Fittipaldi (BRA), 257 points; 3rd Olli Caldwell (GB), 228 points; 4th Petr Ptacek (CZE), 162 points; 5th Federico Malvestiti (I), 159 points; 6th Gianluca Petecof (BRA), 128 points; 8th Giorgio Carrara (ARG), 87 points; 11th Gregoire Saucy (CH), 55 points; 16th Nazim Azman (MAL), 17 points; 21st Oliver Rasmussen (DK), 4 points
Rookie-Classification:
1st Petr Ptacek (CZE), 350 points; 2nd Gianluca Petecof (BRA), 268 points; 3rd Umberto Laganella (I), 168 points; 9th Oliver Rasmussen (DK), 87 points
Giorgio Carrara (ARG)
Gregoire Saucy (CH)
Nazim Azman (MAL)
Oliver Rasmussen (DK)
Federico Malvestiti (I)
© Photo Pellegrini
2018 FIA FORMULA 4 ITALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP - CALENDAR
| 21st/22th April | Adria (I) | |
| 11th/13th May | Paul Ricard (F) | |
| 1st/3rd June | Monza (I) | |
| 15th/17th June | Misano (I) | |
| 7th/29th July | Imola (I) | |
| 14th/16th September | Vallelunga (I) | |
| 26th/28th October | Mugello (I) |
More info:
