Race Report

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

Circuit: Monza (I), Length 5.793 km, 18^th/19^th/20^th October 2019
www.monzanet.it

JENZER MOTORSPORT 2019:
Jonny Edgar (GB), Emidio Pesce (I), Axel Gnos (CH)

Double pole-position for Edgar in Monza and 3^rd overall in the Rookie standings

The last of seven meetings in the Italian FIA Formula 4 Championship took place on the ultra-fast GP circuit at Monza (I). A great field of 30 drivers took part in the meeting. The 2019 champion had already been crowned at the penultimate race at Mugello with Dennis Hauger from Norway taking the prize, but the battle was still on for the other places. You can follow the races live on sporttube tv. (see official website)

Qualifying

Friday, 18/10/19, 17.15 – 17.55, Weather: Overcast, 16°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 second best lap time of each driver in either of the two qualifying sessions.

FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship

Race One (30 Minutes + 1 Lap)

Saturday, 19/10/19, 14.20, Weather: Rain, 16°C

As it was raining the race was started behind the Safety Car. The track was pretty wet, and the conditions were very difficult. There have been very few races in the rain this season and the young drivers were having a hard time. There were a number of incidents when cars went off the track, and soon the Safety Car had to be deployed again. Jonny made contact with Stanek and slid off into the gravel trap. He was able to continue, but not before the entire field had gone past. Later, while attempting to overtake, he went off track again and this time unfortunately he ended up stuck in the gravel. Axel started in midfield and complained about the visibility. He found it difficult to fight for places in these conditions, but always managed to keep the car on track and safely reached the finish line in 19^th place. Emidio made up a few places right after the start, but then it was too difficult for him to make up any more places. He also kept the car on the track and brought it home undamaged, crossing the finish line in 21^st place.

FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship

Race Two (30 Minutes + 1 Lap)

Sunday, 20/10/19, 10.20, Weather: Rain, 15°C

On Sunday morning the track was wet and conditions were once again very difficult. The rain kept falling, and the track never dried out. Jonny didn’t make a good start, and took a few laps to find his rhythm. He had fallen back to 8^th place and then held it until the end, making him the third placed rookie. Axel was pushed off the track in the first chicane by another competitor and ended up stuck in the gravel trap with a broken car. Unfortunately that meant his race was over! Emidio moved up to 23^rd place, then had an off track moment and lost several places again. He reached the finish line in 27^th place.

FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship

Race Three (28 Minutes + 1 Lap)

Sunday, 20/10/2019, 16.30, Weather: Rain, 17°C

Just before the grid for the last race of the season, there was another heavy downpour. Although the rain had almost stopped, the track was completely soaked again and there was a lot of spray when driving. The first lap was run behind the Safety Car, and then it peeled off. Jonny was ready. He accelerated perfectly and got ahead of Hauger through the chicane. The next two laps Jonny drove very hard and he and Hauger were able to break away from the rest of the field, but then Belov had an accident and the Safety Car was deployed. Jonny managed the restart well and was in the lead when there was a collision in the chicane involving four cars, and the Safety Car had to re-emerge. At the third restart Jonny lost some momentum and Hauger got past Jonny was battling with three other drivers, and when one of them hit him it ended in a spin for Jonny. He was able to continue but of course he had lost places. He finished the race in 9^th place. Axel and Emidio managed to avoid all the accidents and to keep up well at the restarts. Despite very difficult conditions, they managed to improve and at the end Axel finished 13^th directly ahead of Emidio, who was 14^th. All of our drivers brought their cars home in one piece which meant a good end to the season. Jonny was third placed rookie again in this race, securing third place in the rookies’ final ranking behind Paul Aron and Roman Stanek.

With this the 2019 FIA F4 Italian Championship came to a close. However, we are already making plans and looking forward to next year!

Champion Finals Standings

FIA F4 Italian Championship 2019 after 21 races:
1^st Dennis Hauger (NOR), 369 points; 2^nd Gianluca Petecof (BRA), 233 points; 3^rd Paul Aron (EST), 226 points; 4^th Michael Belov (RUS), 179 points; 5^th Roman Stanek (CZE), 144 points; 6^th Ido Cohen (ISR),132 points; 10^th Jonny Edgar (GB), 97 points; 13^th Giorgio Carrara (ARG), 37 points; 21^st Axel Gnos (CH), 4 points

Rookie-Wertung:
1^st Paul Aron (EST), 348 points; 2^nd Roman Stanek (CZE), 261 points; 3^rd Jonny Edgar (GB), 254 points; 4^th Joshua Durksen (PRY), 252 points; 5^th Daniel Vebster (S), 159 points; 6^th Roee Meyuhas (ISR), 142 points; 8^th Axel Gnos (CH), 104 points; 14^th Emidio Pesce (I), 36 points

Jonny Edgar (GB)

Axel Gnos (CH)

Emidio Pesce (I)

© Photo Pellegrini

2019 FIA FORMULA 4 ITALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP - CALENDAR

More info:

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