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Race Report

FIA FORMULA 4
ITALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP, Rounds 04/05/06

Circuit: Paul Ricard (F), Length 5,842 km, 12th/13th May 2018
www.circuitpaulricard.com

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

Carrara with Podium at Paul Ricard

The second of seven meetings in the Italian FIA Formula 4 Championship took us to the famed French GP circuit at Paul Ricard. A huge field of 33 drivers entered the competition. You can follow the races live on sporttube tv.

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Qualifying

Saturday, 12/05/18, 09.00 – 09.40, Weather: Cloudy, 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 2nd best lap time of each driver in either qualifying session.

When the huge field set off for the qualifying session on Saturday morning the air was still fresh and the lap times were incredibly close.

Results Qualifying 1 & Grid for Race One
1st Frederik Vesti (DK) Van Amersfoort 2:05.914
2nd Gianluca Petecof (BRA) Prema 2:06.000
3rd Olli Caldwell (GB) Prema 2:06.083
7th Gregoire Saucy (CH) Jenzer Motorsport 2:06.479
10th Javier Gonzalez (MEX) Jenzer Motorsport 2:06.569
11th Federico Malvestiti (I) Jenzer Motorsport 2:06.618
12th Giorgio Carrara (ARG) Jenzer Motorsport 2:06.623
18th Oliver Rasmussen (DK) Jenzer Motorsport 2:07.307
20th Nazim Azman (MAL) Jenzer Motorsport 2:07.425

Results Qualifying 2 & Grid for Race Two
1st Olli Caldwell (GB) Prema 2:05.055
2nd Frederik Vesti (DK) Van Amersfoort 2:05.137
3rd Leonardo Lorandi (I) Bhaitech 2:05.245
4th Giorgio Carrara (ARG) Jenzer Motorsport 2:05.265
7th Gregoire Saucy (CH) Jenzer Motorsport 2:05.369
13th Javier Gonzalez (MEX) Jenzer Motorsport 2:05.847
14th Federico Malvestiti (I) Jenzer Motorsport 2:05.887
16th Oliver Rasmussen (DK) Jenzer Motorsport 2:06.046
20th Nazim Azman (MAL) Jenzer Motorsport 2:06.252

 

Grid for Race Three
1st Enzo Fittipaldi (BRA) Prema 2:04.935
2nd Frederik Vesti (DK) Van Amersfoort 2:05.137
3rd Ptacek Petr (CZE) Bhaitech 2:05.055
6th Giorgio Carrara (ARG) Jenzer Motorsport 2:05.265
12th Federico Malvestiti (I) Jenzer Motorsport 2:05.887
13th Gregoire Saucy (CH) Jenzer Motorsport 2:05.369
14th Javier Gonzalez (MEX) Jenzer Motorsport 2:05.847
16th Oliver Rasmussen (DK) Jenzer Motorsport 2:06.046
18th Nazim Azman (MAL) Jenzer Motorsport 2:06.252

 

FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship

Race One (28 minutes + 1 lap)

Saturday, 12/05/18, 14.50, Weather: Sunny, 20°C

The start of the race saw the massive field get away without a major incident, although there were some exciting moments here and there. Federico moved up to 6th place, Javier was 9th, and Giorgio was 11th. Oliver had improved to 14th, and Nazim was already 17th. There were attacks and overtaking manoeuvres, and our drivers were at the heart of all the battles. Gregoire and Rodriguez collided, and Gregoire was left with a damaged left side and tyre. He made it back into the pits, but unfortunately had to retire. Federico was now already in an excellent 5th place, and managed to hold onto this place all the way to the finish line. Javier and Giorgio fought long rounds with Rodriguez, Krutten and Petekof and in the end, Javier managed to save 7th place. Giorgio, who had already advanced to 8th place, finally saw the chequered flag in 9th place. Oliver and Nazim were also doing very well and had made it into the front half of the field. Oliver and Nazim finished a tough race in 14th and 15th places respectively.

Race One Results
1st Olli Caldwell (GB) Prema 31:35.873  
2nd Frederik Vesti (DK) Van Amersvoort Gap 4.835
3rd Toby Sowery (GB) KDC Gap 10.632
5th Federico Malvestiti (I) Jenzer Motorsport    
7th Javier Gonzalez (MEX) Jenzer Motorsport    
9th Giorgio Carrara (ARG) Jenzer Motorsport    
14th Oliver Rasmussen (DK) Jenzer Motorsport    
15th Nazim Azman (MAL) Jenzer Motorsport    
DNF: Gregoire Saucy (CH) Jenzer Motorsport    
Fastest lap: Frederik Vesti (DK) in 2:05.717

FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship

Race Two (28 minutes + 1 lap)

Sunday, 13/05/18, 09.50, Weather: Rain, 12°C

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It started to rain in the morning and the track was very wet. This was challenging for everyone, and many of them got their first experience of racing in the rain with the start taking place behind the safety car. Giorgio got away well and held 4th place, settling into a good rhythm and, in these difficult conditions, he persisted in his efforts to overtake Lorandi until he succeeded! Giorgio drove a very strong race and in the end earned an excellent 3rd place on the podium. Gregoire fought lap after lap in a group of three and succeeded in hanging onto 8th place all the way to the end. Javier was consistently 11th and stayed there in an incident free run to the finish. Oliver, in his first wet race ever was doing very well in 14th place, while Federico, who had the top ten in his sights, was hit hard and spun off the track. He was able to rejoin despite damage and managed to work his way up to 17th by the end. Nazim, who performed well in the slippery conditions, finished 18th immediately behind him. Then, just before the end of the race, a car stopped at a dangerous spot and the race was red-flagged to an early stop.

Race Two Results
1st Frederik Vesti (DK) Van Amersvoort 24:33.234  
2nd Enzo Fittipaldi (BRA) Prema Gap 1.132
3rd Giorgio Carrara (ARG) Jenzer Motorsport Gap 8.673
8th Gregoire Saucy (CH) Jenzer Motorsport    
11th Javier Gonzalez (MEX) Jenzer Motorsport    
14th Oliver Rasmussen (DK) Jenzer Motorsport    
17th Federico Malvestiti (I) Jenzer Motorsport    
18th Nazim Azman (MAL) Jenzer Motorsport    
Fastest lap: Enzo Fittipaldi (BRA) in 2:24.184

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FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship

Race Three (28 minutes + 1 lap)

Sunday, 13/05/2018, 15.40, Weather: Overcast, 10°C

The rain stopped after noon, and the third race of Formula 4 started according to plan. Everyone started on slicks, because with the wind the track dried out rapidly. Nevertheless, caution was needed, because in places it was still wet. Giorgio ran wide and lost several places, ending up with dirty tyres. He reached the finish in 9th place, just in front of Gregoire, who made a good recovery and thus got another point. Federico crossed the finish line in 14th, just ahead of Nazim, who had improved to 15th place; Oliver came home in 17th. Javier was hit by someone else at the start and damaged his front wing. In the pits the part was changed and he rejoined the pack. He then managed some very good lap times and drove through the field to reclaim 26th place.

The next race of the Italian F4 Championship takes place on the weekend of 3rd June 2018 at Monza (I).

Race Three Results
1st Frederik Vesti (DK) Van Amersvoort 31:14.236  
2nd Olli Caldwell (GB) Prema Gap 0.337
3rd Toby Sowery (GB) KDC Gap 0.450
9th Giorgio Carrara (ARG) Jenzer Motorsport    
10th Gregoire Saucy (CH) Jenzer Motorsport    
14th Federico Malvestiti (I) Jenzer Motorsport    
15th Nazim Azman (MAL) Jenzer Motorsport    
17th Oliver Rasmussen (DK) Jenzer Motorsport    
26th Javier Gonzalez (MEX) Jenzer Motorsport    
Fastest lap: Leonardo Lorandi (I) in 2:06.134

Championship Standings

FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship 2017 after 6 races:
1st Enzo Fittipaldi (BRA), 93 points; 2nd Leonardo Lorandi (I), 81 points; 3rd Federik Vesti (DK), 68 points; 4th Olli Caldwell (GB), 67 points; 5th Gianluca Petecof (BRA), 54 points; 6th Toby Sowery (GB), 54 points; 7th Federico Malvestiti (I), 33 points; 9th Giorgio Carrara (ARG), 29 points; 10th Javier Gonzalez (MEX), 26 points; 11th Gregoire Saucy (CH), 25 points

Rookie-Classification:
1st Gianluca Petecof (BRA), 135 points; 2nd Petr Ptacek (CZE), 100 points; 3rd Marzio Moretti (I), 54 points; 7th Oliver Rasmussen (DK), 40 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: