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Race Report

FIA FORMULA 4
ITALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP, Rounds 01/02/03

Circuit: Adria (I), Length 2,702 km, 21st/22nd April 2018
www.adriaraceway.com

JENZER MOTORSPORT 2018:
Giorgio Carrara (ARG), Gregoire Saucy (CH), Nazim Azman (MAL), Javier Gonzalez (MEX), Oliver Rasmussen (DK) & Federico Malvestiti (I)

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Malvestiti & Gonzalez start with a podium at Adria

The first of seven meetings in the Italian FIA Formula 4 Championship took place at the technical track at Adria (I) where summer sunshine was on the program. A massive field of 31 drivers from 17 different countries have signed up to race, and 21 of these drivers were racing in the Italian FIA Formula 4 Championship for the first time! You can follow the races live on sporttube tv.

Qualifying

Saturday, 21/04/18, 17.40 – 18.20, Weather: Sunny, 26°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 2nd best lap time of each driver in either qualifying session.

When the huge field set off for the first qualifying session of the season on Saturday evening it was as hot as summer out there. The lap times were incredibly close, with 26 drivers within 1 second of the best time at the end of the second session. Our boys performed to the best of their abilities and scored some very good positions.

Results Qualifying 1 & Grid for Race One
1st Enzo Fittipaldi (BRA) Prema 1:15.163
2nd Federico Malvestiti (I) Jenzer Motorsport 1:15.207
3rd Gianluca Petecof (BRA) Prema 1:15.381
5th Gregoire Saucy (CH) Jenzer Motorsport 1:15.428
8th Javier Gonzalez (MEX) Jenzer Motorsport 1:15.675
14th Oliver Rasmussen (DK) Jenzer Motorsport 1:15.962
18th Giorgio Carrara (ARG) Jenzer Motorsport 1:16.087
19th Nazim Azman (MAL) Jenzer Motorsport 1:16.165

Results Qualifying 2 & Grid for Race Two
1st Leonardo Lorandi (I) Bhaitech 1:15.016
2nd Enzo Fittipaldi (BRA) Prema 1:15.215
3rd Gregoire Saucy (CH) Jenzer Motorsport 1:15.233
5th Federico Malvestiti (I) Jenzer Motorsport 1:15.314
8th Javier Gonzalez (MEX) Jenzer Motorsport 1:15.503
14th Giorgio Carrara (ARG) Jenzer Motorsport 1:15.710
17th Nazim Azman (MAL) Jenzer Motorsport 1:15.768
24th Oliver Rasmussen (DK) Jenzer Motorsport 1:15.997

 

Grid for Race Three
1st Enzo Fittipaldi (BRA) Prema 1:15.208
2nd Gianluca Petecof (BRA) Prema 1:15.316
3rd Federico Malvestiti (I) Jenzer Motorsport 1:15.322
6th Gregoire Saucy (CH) Jenzer Motorsport 1:15.428
8th Javier Gonzalez (MEX) Jenzer Motorsport 1:15.604
13th Giorgio Carrara (ARG) Jenzer Motorsport 1:15.759
17th Nazim Azman (MAL) Jenzer Motorsport 1:15.902
24th Oliver Rasmussen (DK) Jenzer Motorsport 1:15.997

 

FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship

Race One (28 minutes + 1 lap)

Sunday, 22/04/18, 09.00, Weather: Sunny, 20°C

The sun was out again on Sunday morning for the start of the first race of the season. Federico made a good start and held onto his 2nd place, but Gregoire was pushed off and dropped back to 11th. Javier was 9th and Oliver, who got away well in his first ever race start in a single seater car, was 14th. Giorgio and Nazim were in 18th and 19th places respectively. Over several long, hard fought laps Federico did a good job of sticking to Fittipaldi’s tail and when, towards the end of the race the Safety Car had to be deployed, he managed the restart well too. On the penultimate lap of the race Lorandi, who was getting stronger, pushed his way past Federico, but Federico was still proud to celebrate his first podium in the category with 3th place. Javier was fighting hard as well, and towards the end of the race he reclaimed his original position and finished 8th to collect his first points. Gregoire had the top ten in sight but was unable to catch them until close to the end, crossing the finishing line in 12th place. Giorgio, who put in several courageous overtaking manoeuvres was making steady progress, and shortly before the end he managed to overtake Gregoire, snatching 11th place away from his team-mate. Nazim drove a good first race, managing to hold his position in the usual midfield battles, coming home safely in 17th place. Oliver was doing well until he made a short off-track excursion and lost several places, ending the race just behind Nazim in 18th place. That meant all our cars reached the finish undamaged in the first race of the new season.

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Race One Results
1st Enzo Fittipaldi (BRA) Prema 29:34.494  
2nd Leonardo Lorandi (I) Bhaitech Gap 1.825
3rd Federico Malvestiti (I) Jenzer Motorsport Gap 2.694
8th Javier Gonzalez (MEX) Jenzer Motorsport    
11th Giorgio Carrara (ARG) Jenzer Motorsport    
12th Gregoire Saucy (CH) Jenzer Motorsport    
17th Nazim Azman (MAL) Jenzer Motorsport    
18th Oliver Rasmussen (DK) Jenzer Motorsport    
Fastest lap: Enzo Fittipaldi (BRA) in 1:15.507

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FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship

Race Two (28 minutes + 1 lap)

Sunday, 22/04/18, 13.00, Weather: Sunny, 24°C

At the start of the second race Gregoire ran wide and was thus unable to make the best of his good starting position. He was running 6th, with Javier in 7th and Federico 8th. There was some tough fighting in the midfield and a few incidents as a result. Nazim was hit, and his suspension was damaged such that he had to pull in to the pits and retire from the race. Oliver also made contact with another car and had to abandon his car track-side with a punctured tyre, which was a shame. Giorgio made steady progress up the order after a short Safety Car phase in the early stages of the race. The front-runners were setting a furious pace and it took Gregoire several laps before he was able to find a way past Rodriguez. Now he was 5th, Javier 7th and Federico 8th. Javier’s tyres were starting to go off, which helped Federico to pass him. Giorgio, who had moved into the top ten, came flying up from behind, and he too managed to pass Javier. Gregoire finished the race in 5th position, Federico held on to 7th place, Giorgio claimed 9th and Javier managed to hang on to 10th place all the way to the chequered flag. Four out of our six cars claimed a place in the top ten.

Race Two Results
1st Leonardo Lorandi (I) Bhaitech 29:53.509  
2nd Gianluca Petecof (BRA) Prema Gap 1.484
3rd Enzo Fittipaldi (BRA) Prema Gap 1.949
5th Gregoire Saucy (CH) Jenzer Motorsport    
7th Federico Malvestiti (I) Jenzer Motorsport    
9th Giorgio Carrara (ARG) Jenzer Motorsport    
10th Javier Gonzalez (MEX) Jenzer Motorsport    
DNF: Oliver Rasmussen (DK) Jenzer Motorsport    
Fastest lap: Leonardo Lorandi (I) in 1:16.099

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FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship

Race Three (28 minutes + 1 lap)

Sunday, 22/04/2018, 17.00, Weather: Sunny, 26°C

Federico did not make the best of starts and came back at the end of lap 1 in 6th place, while Javier immediately improved to 7th, Gregoire was 9th and Giorgio 11th. Oliver was unfortunately hit by another car, causing a flat tyre; he was able to make it back to the pits, where he was fitted with another tyre, rejoining the race and finishing in 19th place. Nazim had a very good race, claiming his best result so far by finishing 13th. At the top there were numerous tough battles and some courageous moves. Federico lost several places after a collision, but still managed to finish the race in the top ten (he was 9th). Gregoire put in an attacking drive and managed to claim his best result of the weekend by finishing 5th. Giorgio also achieved his best result this weekend, starting from 13th place and working his way up to 6th. However, Javier, who made several resolute passing moves, worked his way up to the excellent 3rd place to proudly and well-deservedly climb on to the podium for the first time this weekend.

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The next race of the Italian F4 Championship takes place on the weekend of 13th May 2018 at Paul Ricard (F).

Race Three Results
1st Enzo Fittipaldi (BRA) Prema 29:32.127  
2nd Leonardo Lorandi (I) Bhaitech Gap 0.076
3rd Javier Gonzalez (MEX) Jenzer Motorsport Gap 0.753
5th Gregoire Saucy (CH) Jenzer Motorsport    
6th Giorgio Carrara (ARG) Jenzer Motorsport    
9th Federico Malvestiti (I) Jenzer Motorsport    
13th Nazim Azman (MAL) Jenzer Motorsport    
19th Oliver Rasmussen (DK) Jenzer Motorsport    
Fastest lap: Leonardo Lorandi (I) in 1:15.930

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Championship Standings

FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship 2017 after 3 races:
1st Enzo Fittipaldi (BRA), 65 points; 2nd Leonardo Lorandi (I), 61 points; 3rd Gianluca Petecof (BRA), 34 points; 4th Toby Sowery (GB), 24 points; 5th Federico Malvestiti (I), 23 points; 6th Olli Caldwell (GB), 22 points; 7th Javier Gonzalez (MEX), 20 points; 8th Gregoire Saucy (CH), 20 points; 10th Giorgio Carrara (ARG), 10 points

Rookie-Classification:
1st Gianluca Petecof (BRA), 75 points; 2nd Petr Ptacek (CZE), 42 points; 3rd Umberto Laganella (I), 33 points; 11th Oliver Rasmussen (DK), 12 points

 

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)  
27th/29th July Imola (I)  
14th/16th September Vallelunga (I)  
26th/28th October Mugello (I)  

 

More info: