Race Report

FIA FORMULA 4
ITALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP, Rounds 16/17/18

Circuit: Monza (I), Length 5.793 km, 26^th/27^th/28^th September 2014
www.monzanet.it

JENZER MOTORSPORT 2014:
Ali Al Khalifa (BRN), Alain Valente (CH), Lucas Mauron (CH) and Nico Rindlisbacher (CH)

Two podiums for Valente in Monza

The sixth and penultimate meeting of the Italian FIA Formula 4 Championship took place on the ultra-fast GP circuit at Monza. 20 drivers were present, and they were very keen to take up the latest challenge. The races can be followed live on sporttube tv.

Qualifying

Saturday, 27/09/14, 11.50 – 12.30, Weather: Sunny, 22°C

The rules of the championship allow for two qualifying sessions, each 15 minutes long, with a break of just ten minutes in between. Results from qualification 1 determine the grid for Race One, while results from qualification session 2 determine the grid for Race Three; the grid for Race Two is based on the results of Race One, with the first ten finishers starting in reverse order.

The sun was out and it was unseasonally warm. On this special circuit it was very important to be able to make use of slipstreaming and Alain managed two very good sessions, and claiming two 7^th places. Lucas also did very well, finishing the session in 9^th and 11^th. Nico managed 17^th and 16^th places, and Ali would start 18^th and 19^th.

FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship

Race One (28 minutes + 1 lap)

Saturday, 27/09/14, 17.35, Weather: Sunny, 24°C

After the start the first chicane proved problematic, and three cars ended up stuck there, meaning that the Safety Car had to be deployed immediately. It took four laps for the restart to be given. After that Alain was 6^th, Lucas 11^th, Ali 13^th and Nico 14^th. The race that followed was action-packed; Alain was locked in battle with Fontana, eventually being passed by him. Alain fought back, and they changed places before Lucas caught up with them, after making up places with each lap. Lucas used their slipstream to get closer, and now made up the laughing 3^rd member of the gaggle, managing to overtake both Alain and Fontana too come home in an excellent 6^th place, his best result of the season so far. Alain was also well placed in the top ten in 8^th. Nico and Ali meanwhile avoided all the accidents and both did come courageous overtaking, swapping positions several times, Nico finally finishing 12^th, just ahead of Ali.

FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship

Race Two (18 minutes + 1 lap)

Sunday, 28/09/14, 10.40, Weather: Sunny, 19°C

The start of the race was hectic and positions changed immediately. Alain was following Fontana at the front, but soon Fielding and Drudi came charging up. There was again a bit of a hairy situation at the chicane, and Alain was effectively catapulted into the escape road, from where he had to slot in behind Stroll. Fontana was awarded a Drive Through penalty, which moved Alain back up to 4^th, but then Vieira caught up with him and was able to get a tow, he and Alain fighting fiercely over 4^th place. They were side by side through the corners, and would come back immediately if overtaken. At the end Alain’s nose was just in front and because Fielding who finished 2^nd was racing in a different class, Alain claimed and excellent 3^rd place on the podium behind Drudi and Stroll. Lucas was 4^th just after the start and produced some good overtaking manoeuvres, but then made contact with another driver at the Parabolica, putting him out. A lap later things got even worse, and Lucas was sandwiched between two other cars at the chicane, which ended his race. Lucas was later awarded a Drive Through penalty to be taken in the third race for causing the first collision. Nico put in a strong drive and soon moved up to 11^th, then bravely gained a couple more places to cross the finish line inside the top ten in a well-earned 9^th place. Ali started well and was soon in 13^th and was on a very fast lap when he got hit in the chicane and spun! Luckily nothing else happened and he was able to rejoin immediately, eventually also achieving a good result when he brought it home in 11^th place.

FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship

Race Three (28 minutes + 1 lap))

Sunday, 28/09/14, 16.05, Weather: Sunny, 24°C

There was an accident involving Stroll and Fielding at the start, and the Safety Car had to be deployed. Two laps the cars had been cleared away and the race restarted. Alain managed to move up from 5^th to 4^th, but Nico didn’t get such a good restart and promptly lost two places, putting him 13th. Lucas, who had started from the back because of his penalty, had already climbed the order to 11^th, while Ali was in 16^th. Alain drove a flawless race and came home in another excellent 4^th place. Because Maisano was not in the same class, that meant Alain was again on the podium in 3^rd, this time behind Drudi and Vieira. Lucas drove well and was involved in several changes of position, but was able to hold 11^th until the end. Nico was taken by surprise at the restart, but after that drove very well and defended 14^th until the bitter end. Ali was fighting with Giudice for many laps and finally won that battle, crossing the finish line in 16^th place.

The next and last race event for Formula 4 takes place in two weeks, on the weekend of 12^th October at Imola (I).

Championship standings

FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship 2014 after 18 out of 21 races:
1^st Lance Stroll (CAN), 331 points; 2^nd Mattia Drudi (I), 193 points; 3^rd Andrea Russo (I), 180 points; 4^th Alain Valente (CH), 159 points; 5^th Leonardo Pulcini (I), 154 points; 6^th Takashi Kasai (JPN), 83 points; 11^th Lucas Mauron (CH), 32 points; 21^st Nico Rindlisbacher, 4 points

Italian F4 Trophy for drivers over 18 years:
1^st Brandon Maisono (F), 345 points; 2^nd Ali Al Khalifa (BRN), 209 points; 3^rd Keith Camilleri (M), 138 points; 4^th Sennan Fielding (GB), 38 points

2014 FIA FORMULA 4 ITALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP - AGENDA

For more information:

• www.acisportitalia.it/F4/home/ing/4882/Two-days-in-Adria-Raceway-for-F.4-teams/2014
• www.italiaracing.net