Italian F.4 Championship Rd.2 2023 | Misano

FIA GOLDEN RULES

I WANT TO BE SAFE I PROMISE TO:

BELT UP

all passengers are my responsibility

RESPECT THE HIGHWAY CODE rules are there to protect us all

OBEY THE SPEED LIMIT

my car is made of metal, pedestrians and children are not CHECK MY TYRES

both for wear and for correct inflation, including the spare

DRIVE SOBER

when I am drunk or on drugs, I am a danger on the road

PROTECT MY CHILDREN keep them safe in car seats

PAY ATTENTION

calling and texting make me dangerous

STOP WHEN I’M TIRED

getting there late is better than not at all

WEAR A HELMET

motorbikes and bicycles don’t protect my head

BE COURTEOUS AND CONSIDERATE respect other drivers

The FIA supports the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety

Racing in a competitive championship such as the Italian F4 Championship certified by FIA does not only mean increasing your driving skills: a competitive experience of this type serves above all to mature on a human and personal level. In the first race at Imola alone we saw a total of 23 nationalities on the track, synonymous with a multicoloured championship, capable of bringing together and mixing cultures that are as different as they are, at the same time, close to each other. It is no coincidence, therefore, that in the four races of the first event four different anthems were played for as many winners, demonstrating the extreme balance between all the young competitors of the Italian series, as well as the fact that different ways of understanding motorsport can lead to one and the same objective: victory. The challenges we have witnessed so far are just the premises of what awaits us in the next six rounds on the calendar, starting from Misano Adriatico. Will we see the same drivers again on the top step of the podium or will there be room for new faces? Of course, the last judge will be the track and we just have to get comfortable and find out!

Correre in un campionato competitivo come l’Italian F4 Championship certified by FIA non significa solo incrementare le proprie abilità alla guida: un’esperienza agonistica di questo tipo serve soprattutto a maturare a livello umano e personale. Solo nella prima gara di Imola abbiamo visto un totale di 23 nazionalità in pista, sinonimo di un campionato variopinto, capace di fare incrociare e mescolare culture tanto diverse quanto, allo stesso tempo, vicine tra loro. Non è un caso, poi, che nelle quattro gare del primo appuntamento siano stati suonati quattro differenti inni per altrettanti vincitori, a dimostrare l’estremo equilibrio tra tutti i giovani protagonisti della serie italiana, oltre al fatto che diversi modi d’intendere il motorsport possono condurre verso un unico e medesimo obiettivo: la vittoria. Le sfide a cui abbiamo assistito fino a ora sono solo delle premesse di quello che ci attenderà nei prossimi sei round in calendario, a partire da Misano Adriatico. Vedremo di nuovo gli stessi piloti sul gradino più alto del podio oppure ci sarà spazio per dei volti nuovi? Di certo, l’ultimo giudice sarà la pista e a noi non resta che metterci comodi e scoprirlo!

CONTENTS

2023 Italian F4 Championship certified by FIA Round 2

REPORT Rd.1 / Race 1 pages 2 - 3

REPORT Rd.1 / Race 2 pages 4 - 5

REPORT Rd.1 / Race 3 pages 6 - 7

GALLERY pages 8 - 9

REPORT Rd.1 / Race 4 - FINAL pages 10 - 11

STANDINGS, TRACK & NEXT EVENTS pages 12 - 13

NEWS & ENTRY LIST pages 14 - 15

TIMETABLE page 16

Informational advertising material. Based on an idea by Luca De Donno, created by Sorridi Editore.

Photo: ACISPORT

SZTUKA GETS THE BALL ROLLING

RD.1 / RACE 1

11. Elkin - 12. Hwarang - 13. Narac - 14. Peebles - 15. Wiebelhaus

16. Akhmedkhodjaev - 17. Quondamcarlo - 18. Liu - 19. Hausmann

20. Ischer - 21. Nobels - 22. Blokhina - 23. Wharton - 24. De Palo

US Racing

Everyone with TATUUS F4-T421 chassis, ABARTH engine, PIRELLI tires.

Best lap: Badoer Brando [ 1’44.521 ]

31 Akshay Bohra US Racing

The first race of the weekend, reserved for groups B and C decided on the basis of the general classification of Friday’s qualifying, saw the victory of the expert Kacper Sztuka (US Racing). The Pole made a perfect start from pole position and immediately began his breakaway, while Akshay Bohra (US Racing) took second place away from Nicola Lacorte (Prema Racing). During the 3rd lap, Brando Badoer (Van Amersfoort Racing) overtook Lacorte and began to press Bohra. Four laps later, the Italian successfully slipped past the Singaporean driver, with Lacorte taking the opportunity to jump into third place. Badoer set off in pursuit of Sztuka, but the US Racing driver did not make any mistakes and won the race with an advantage of 0.641 seconds over the Van Amersfoort Racing driver. The lowest step of the podium went to Lacorte, while Bohra finished in fourth place. Alfio Spina (BVM Racing) finished fifth, ahead of Zachary David (US Racing), who came sixth, and Rashid Al Dhaheri (Prema Racing), who came seventh.

La prima gara del weekend, riservata ai gruppi B e C decisi sulla base della classifica generale delle qualifiche di venerdì, vede la vittoria dell’esperto Kacper Sztuka (US Racing). Il polacco scatta perfettamente dalla pole position e inizia subito la propria fuga, mentre Akshay Bohra (US Racing) sottrae la seconda posizione a Nicola Lacorte (Prema Racing). Nel corso del 3° giro, Brando Badoer (Van Amersfoort Racing) sorpassa Lacorte e inizia a pressare Bohra. Quattro passaggi dopo, l’italiano infila con successo il pilota di Singapore, con Lacorte che ne approfitta per issarsi a sua volta al terzo posto. Badoer si lancia all’inseguimento di Sztuka, però il portacolori di US Racing non commette alcun errore e vince la corsa con un vantaggio di 0.641 secondi sul pilota di Van Amersfoort Racing. Il gradino più basso del podio va nelle mani di Lacorte, mentre Bohra conclude in quarta posizione. Alfio Spina (BVM Racing) chiude quinto, davanti a Zachary David (US Racing), sesto, e a Rashid Al Dhaheri (Prema Racing), settimo.

14 Rashid Al Dhaheri Prema Racing

48 James Egozi PHM Racing

62 Manuel Quondamcarlo AS Motorsport

21 Tina Hausmann AKM Motorsport

UGOCHUKWU WINS AHEAD OF LINDBLAD

RD.1 / RACE 2

22 Enzo Deligny AKM Motorsport

Everyone with TATUUS F4-T421 chassis, ABARTH engine, PIRELLI tires.

Best lap: Ugochukwu Ugo [ 1’44.280 ]

11. Nobels - 12. Ferreira - 13. Beeton - 14. Frassineti - 15. Blokhina

16. Quintarelli - 17. Larini - 18. Bhirombhakdi - 19. Bohra - 20. Hausmann

21. Quondamcarlo - 22. Akhmedkhodjaev - 23. Luchetti - NC. Sztuka NC. Pradel

Prema Racing one-two in the second race of the Italian F4 Championship certified by FIA, aimed at groups A and B. Ugo Ugochukwu (Prema Racing) started from pole position, but Kacper Sztuka (US Racing) raced ahead of everyone when the traffic lights went out and immediately took the lead. On lap 3, Ugochukwu regained the lead with a decisive overtaking of Sztuka, repeated a few moments later also by Arvid Lindblad (Prema Racing). After a neutral phase of the race imposed by the entry of the safety car due to an accident at the Tamburello corner, the race resumed with Ugochukwu in the lead, followed by Lindblad, Sztuka, Zachary David (US Racing), Ivan Domingues (Van Amersfoort Racing) and Alfio Spina (BVM Racing). At the end of the 25 minutes plus one lap, Ugochukwu crossed the finish line first, with Lindblad second and David on the bottom step of the podium. Fourth place for Domingues, while Spina engaged in a long duel with Tuukka Taponen (Prema Racing), the latter penalized in the postrace, finishing in fifth place. Sztuka withdrew due to a technical problem.

Doppietta Prema Racing nella seconda gara dell’Italian F4 Championship certified by FIA, rivolta ai gruppi A e B. Ugo Ugochukwu (Prema Racing) scatta dalla pole position, ma Kacper Sztuka (US Racing) brucia tutti allo spegnimento dei semafori e si porta subito in testa alla corsa. Al 3° giro, Ugochukwu riprende la leadership con un sorpasso deciso su Sztuka, replicato pochi istanti dopo anche da Arvid Lindblad (Prema Racing). Dopo una fase di neutralizzazione della gara imposto dall’ingresso della safety car per un incidente alla curva Tamburello, la manche riprende con Ugochukwu in testa, seguito da Lindblad, Sztuka, Zachary David (US Racing), Ivan Domingues (Van Amersfoort Racing) e Alfio Spina (BVM Racing). Al termine dei 25 minuti più un giro, Ugochukwu taglia per primo il traguardo finale, con Lindblad secondo e David sul gradino più basso del podio. Quarto posto per Domingues, mentre Spina ingaggia un lungo duello con Tuukka Taponen (Prema Racing), quest’ultimo penalizzato nel post-gara, e chiude quinto. Ritirato Sztuka per un problema tecnico.

7 Matheus Ferreira Van Amersfoort Racing

19 Jesse Carrasquedo BVM Racing

63 Guido Luchetti Airflow Racing

8 Tuukka Taponen Prema Racing

FIRST VICTORY FOR LACORTE

RD.1 / RACE 3

13 James Wharton Prema Racing

Everyone with TATUUS F4-T421 chassis, ABARTH engine, PIRELLI tires.

Best lap: Wharton James [ 1’44.658 ]

- 12. Hwarang - 13. Quintarelli - 14. Carrasquedo - 15. Narac 16. Peebles - 17. Larini - 18. Ischer - 19. Wiebelhaus - 20. Luchetti NC.

- NC. Elkin - NC. Ugochukwu - NC. Frassineti - NC. Ferreira

Sunday opened with a solid victory by Nicola Lacorte (Prema Racing) in race 3, with the drivers of group A and C as protagonists. A turn of events came a few moments after the traffic lights went out: poleman Ugo Ugochukwu (Prema Racing) remained stationary on his starting slot and an unfortunate Andrea Frassinetti (BVM Racing) hit the American’s single-seater. The race was temporarily suspended and, on the occasion of the new start, Lacorte had free rein from second position on the grid. The Italian did not waste the opportunity: in the first laps he gained a good margin over the couple Arvid Lindblad (Prema Racing) and Brando Badoer (Van Amersfoort Racing) and managed the race perfectly until the chequered flag. A few minutes from the end, Badoer tried to attack Lindblad, but raced wide and lost his position to the advantage of Ivan Domingues (Van Amersfoort Racing). Thus, the British and the Portuguese drivers completed the podium, with the Italian of Van Amersfoort Racing coming fourth and James Wharton (Prema Racing) coming fifth.

La giornata di domenica si apre con una solida vittoria da parte di Nicola Lacorte (Prema Racing) in gara 3, con protagonisti i piloti del gruppo A e C. Il colpo di scena arriva pochi istanti dopo lo spegnimento dei semafori: il poleman Ugo Ugochukwu (Prema Racing) rimane fermo sulla propria piazzola di partenza e uno sfortunato Andrea Frassinetti (BVM Racing) centra la monoposto dello statunitense. La corsa viene momentaneamente sospesa e, in occasione del nuovo start, Lacorte ha campo libero dalla seconda posizione sulla griglia. L’italiano non spreca l’occasione: nei primi giri guadagna un buon margine sulla coppia Arvid Lindblad (Prema Racing) e Brando Badoer (Van Amersfoort Racing) e amministra perfettamente la gara fino alla bandiera a scacchi. A pochi minuti dal termine, Badoer prova l’attacco su Lindblad, ma finisce largo e perde la propria posizione a vantaggio di Ivan Domingues (Van Amersfoort Racing). Così, il britannico e il portoghese completano il podio, con l’italiano di Van Amersfoort Racing quarto e James Wharton (Prema Racing) quinto.

10 Valentin Kluss PHM Racing

85 Matteo De Palo R-ace GP

45 Jack Beeton Van Amersfoort Racing

5 Davide Larini AKM Motorsport

BACK ON THE TRACK

A good start for the Italian F4 Championship certified by FIA 2023, with four sparkling races at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola. A unique spectacle to be relived through the best photos of the entire weekend.

“Buona la prima” per l’Italian F4 Championship certified by FIA 2023, con quattro gare scoppiettanti all’Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola. Uno spettacolo unico, da rivivere attraverso i migliori scatti dell’intero weekend.

LINDBLAD’S MASTERSTROKE

RD.1 / RACE 4 - FINAL

12 Gianmarco Pradel US Racing

Everyone with TATUUS F4-T421chassis, ABARTH engine, PIRELLI tires.

Best lap: Badoer Brando [ 1’45.208 ]

11. Egozi - 12. Wharton - 13. Elkin - 14. Ischer - 15. Quintarelli

16. Wiebelhaus - 17. Nobels - 18. Narac - 19. Blokhina - 20. Peebles

21. Quondamcarlo - 22. Akhmedkhodjaev - 23. Luchetti - 24. Domingues

25. Larini - 26. Beeton - 27. Badoer - 28. Taponen - 29. Bhirombhakdi

30. Al Dhaheri - 31. Hwarang - NC. Carrasquedo - NC. Ferreira NC. Sztuka - NC. Liu - NC. Hausmann

In the last race of the weekend, Arvid Lindblad (Prema Racing) achieved his first victory in the Italian F4 Championship certified by FIA. At the start, the Briton flew away from Nicola Lacorte (Prema Racing), who started from pole position, and took the lead, chased by Brando Badoer (Van Amersfoort Racing), Ivan Domingues (Van Amersfoort Racing), Alfio Spina (BVM Racing) and Ugo Ugochukwu (Prema Racing). Halfway through the race, the safety car intervened due to an accident at the rear and the group was recompacted. Lindblad kept a cool head and, at the restart, remained in front, but shortly after a second safety car entered the track to reshuffle the cards. With only one lap available, everything happened at the restart: Domingues hit Badoer and they slid back, while Ugochukwu collided with Spina, but without causing damage. Lindblad flew straight to victory, with Spina coming second and Ugochukwu coming third. Lacorte finished fourth, ahead of Zachary David (US Racing), who came fifth.

Nell’ultima gara del weekend, Arvid Lindblad segna la sua prima vittoria nell’Italian F4 Championship certified by FIA. Il britannico brucia al via Nicola Lacorte (Prema Racing), partito dalla pole position, e passa al comando, inseguito da Brando Badoer (Van Amersfoort Racing), Ivan Domingues (Van Amersfoort Racing), Alfio Spina (BVM Racing) e Ugo Ugochukwu (Prema Racing). A metà corsa, interviene la safety car per un incidente nelle retrovie e il gruppo viene ricompattato. Lindblad mantiene il sangue freddo e, alla ripartenza, rimane davanti, ma poco dopo entra in pista una seconda safety car a rimescolare le carte in tavola. Con un solo giro a disposizione, al restart succede di tutto: Domingues urta Badoer e scivolano indietro, mentre Ugochukwu tampona Spina, ma senza arrecare danni. Lindblad vola dritto verso il successo, con Spina secondo e Ugochukwu terzo. Lacorte giunge quarto sul traguardo, davanti a Zachary David (US Racing), quinto.

27 Ethan Ischer Jenzer Motorsport

16 Aurelia Nobels Prema Racing

78 Viktoria Blokhina PHM Racing 88 Griffin Peebles AKM Motorsport

11 Ismoilkhuja Akhmedkhodjaev Van Amersfoort Racing

CHAMPIONSHIP ROOKIES

With two second places and one victory, Lindblad is the leader of the 2023 season with 61 points. He is followed by Lacorte (52 points), Ugochukwu (40 points) and Spina (38 points).

Con due secondi posti e una vittoria, Lindblad è il primo capoclassifica della stagione 2023 con 61 punti. Seguono Lacorte (52 punti), Ugochukwu (40 punti) e Spina (38 punti).

1 61 p. Lindblad Arvid ®

2 52 p. Lacorte Nicola ®

3 40 p. Ugochukwu Ugo

4 38 p. Spina Alfio

5 33 p. David Zachary ®

Same score for Lacorte and Lindblad (68 points) in the rookies’ standings, both with two victories. Third place for David with 48 points.

Stesso punteggio per Lacorte e Lindblad (68 punti) nella classifica riservata ai rookie, entrambi con due vittorie all’attivo. Terzo posto per David a quota 48 punti.

1 68 p. Lacorte Nicola ®

2 68 p. Lindblad Arvid ®

3 48 p. David Zachary ®

4 31 p. Bohra Akshay ®

5 27 p. Al Dhaheri Rashid ®

Built in the early 1970s and completely modernized in 2006, the Misano World Circuit is one of the leading facilities on the Italian and European scene. The track, dedicated to the late Italian motorcyclist Marco Simoncelli, hosts the Motorcycle World Championship and various international car series every year.

Costruito all’inizio degli anni Settanta e completamente rimodernato nel 2006, il Misano World Circuit è uno degli impianti di punta del panorama italiano ed europeo. Il tracciato, dedicato al compianto motociclista italiano Marco Simoncelli, ospita ogni anno il Motomondiale e diverse serie automobilistiche di valore internazionale.

WOMEN’S TROPHY TEAMS

Two successes momentarily assign the lead to Nobels in the “ladies” rankings, with Blokhina in the role of first pursuer. Despite a first place, Hausmann is third in the rankings.

Due successi assegnano momentaneamente il comando a Nobels nella classifica delle “ladies”, con Blokhina nel ruolo di prima inseguitrice. Nonostante un primo posto, Hausmann è terza.

Big achievement by Prema Racing at Imola, capable of obtaining a haul of three victories and 147 total points. A victory for US Racing, second in the rankings and ahead of Van Amersfoort Racing, currently third.

Colpo grosso di Prema Racing a Imola, capace di ottenere un bottino di tre vittorie e 147 punti totali. Una vittoria per US Racing, seconda in graduatoria e davanti a Van Amersfoort Racing, terza.

1 147 p. Prema Racing

2 68 p. US Racing

3 57 p. Van Amersfoort Racing

4 39 p. BVM Racing

5 32 p. PHM Racing

MAKE WAY FOR THE LADIES

Three young women also stood out on the Imola starting grid of the Italian F4 Championship certified by FIA: the expert Victoria Blokhina and the debutants Aurelia Nobels and Tina Hausmann. Finalist of the 2021 edition of “Girls on Track - Rising Stars” promoted by the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, Blokhina participated in last year’s edition with PHM Racing and achieved three ninth places as a best result. Nobels is, instead, the winner of the “Girls on the Track - Rising Stars” 2022 and is an official member of the Ferrari Driver Academy. The Brazilian (also with a Belgian license) will make her debut with Prema Racing. A first appearance also for Hausmann, originally from Switzerland and with a wealth of experience in karting, aboard one of the single-seaters of AKM Motorsport.

Sulla griglia di partenza di Imola dell’Italian F4 Championship certified by FIA si sono distinte anche tre ragazze: l’esperta Victoria Blokhina e le debuttanti Aurelia Nobels e Tina Hausmann. Finalista dell’edizione 2021 di “Girls on Track - Rising Stars” promosso dalla FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, Blokhina ha partecipato all’edizione dello scorso anno con PHM Racing e ha centrato tre noni posti come miglior risultato. Nobels è, invece, la vincitrice della “Girls on Track – Rising Stars” 2022 ed è un membro ufficiale della Ferrari Driver Academy. La brasiliana (dotata anche della licenza belga) farà il suo esordio con Prema Racing. Prima apparizione anche per Hausmann, originaria della Svizzera e con un ricco bagaglio d’esperienza nel karting, a bordo di una delle monoposto di AKM Motorsport.

A QUICK START IN IMOLA

Mind-boggling numbers for the Italian F4 Championship certified by FIA at Imola. A total of 37 drivers were at the starting line for the first round of the season, calling into question the introduction of a fourth race valid as a “final” for the best drivers of the previous three qualifying heats. A calculation of the number of drivers verifies that it equals the figure for the first stage of 2021, hosted on that occasion on the French circuit of Le Castellet, although the format of the four races was not used at the time. A number of entries that is the result of the synergy between ACI Sport and WSK Promotion, as well as the trust placed by teams, drivers and insiders in what, over the years, has become one of the reference point championships for all young people from karting at their absolute debut in single-seaters.

Numeri da capogiro per l’Italian F4 Championship certified by FIA a Imola. Un totale di 37 piloti si sono presentati ai nastri di partenza del primo appuntamento stagionale, chiamando in causa l’introduzione di una quarta corsa valida come “finale” per i migliori piloti delle precedenti tre manche di qualificazione. Un totale di piloti verificati che eguaglia il dato della prima tappa del 2021, ospitata in quell’occasione sul circuito francese di Le Castellet, sebbene allora non venne utilizzato il format delle quattro gare. Un risultato di iscritti che è il frutto della sinergia tra ACI Sport e WSK Promotion, oltre che della fiducia riposta da team, piloti e addetti ai lavori in quello che, negli anni, è diventato uno dei campionati di riferimento per tutti quei giovani provenienti dal karting e all’esordio assoluto in monoposto.

ROUND 2

MAY 5-7, 2023

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MISANO WORLD CIRCUIT MARCO SIMONCELLI

/ CATEGORIA

certified

lap) Italian F4 Champ. certified by FIA (A-C) track - pista motorsport.tv

C.I. Gran Turismo Sprint GT3 track - pista 15:00

2 (50’ + 1 lap)

C.I. Gran Turismo Sprint GT Cup track - pista 16:20

4 (25’ + 1 lap) Italian F4 Champ. certified by FIA (FINAL) track - pista motorsport.tv

(*) to be confirmed / da confermare