FRENCH F4 CHAMPIONSHIP 2017 – Charles Milesi, Victor Martins and Florian Venturi on the podium!
The first race of the weekend for the drivers in the French F4 Championship took place today 30th September on the Barcelona circuit. Charles Milesi scored another victory after his win at Magny-Cours. Victor Martins and Florian Venturi joined him on the podium.
This morning the young drivers in the French F4 Championship raced on a dry track under cloudy skies in a temperature of around 20°C. Charles Milesi, Victor Martins and Florian Venturi hit the front in race 1 as soon as the lights went out. Overall, it was a closely-fought event with small gaps between the cars although there were few changes in the leading trio during the heat.
Milesi on pole managed to get back in the lead after losing it to Martins at the start. The latter was unable to hold on to first place after making a great getaway and driving a good race and he finished second. Venturi put on a solid performance and very soon consolidated his third place.
Javier Gonzalez fought his way up the time sheets gaining three places and saw the flag just shy of the podium. Hugo Chevalier who started sixth overtook Christian Muñoz and came home fifth with the Colombian driver next up. Ugo de Wilde clinched his biggest haul of points of the season with seventh spot and the Belgian will be well placed on the grid for the second heat. He was able to cope with the pressure put on him by Arthur Rougier and fended off the attacks of the young Frenchman.
Thus, Rougier finished eighth, which bodes well for this afternoon’s combat. Thomas Drouet and Jean-Baptiste Mela had good races and rounded out the top 10. With a reversed grid for heat 2 they will both be determined to show what they can do. The two drivers put on a good comeback for the large crowd which flocked to the Barcelona circuit. Pierre-Alexandre Jean fought for a long time to snatch a place in the top 10, but finally crossed the finishing line in 11th spot.
Stuart White moved up one position compared to his place on the grid and came home 12th. Marvin Klein who started 16th saw the flag in 13th position closely followed by Danish driver Noah Watt in 14th. Adam Eteki and Amaury Cordeel gathered experience seeing the flag in 15th and 16th spots respectively. And last but not least Pierre-Louis Chovet put on an encouraging performance and battled with Jean for a long time.