Formula Regional and Formula 4 Weekend recap
Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine
Hadrien David wins the first race in Monaco
The Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine fired up its engines in Monaco, where the first race took place during one of the most fascinating weekends of the season.
The young standard bearer for R-ace GP, Hadrien David, took an important victory after setting the fastest time in Group A yesterday which granted him the pole position in the first round.
The French driver was able to keep the lead from start to finish, leaving behind him the championship leader, Dino Beganovic, who reconfirmed his supremacy in the series when climbed on the second step of the podium. Also, Kas Haverkort did well as he drove a flawless race and took the third place, ahead of Gabriele Minì and Michael Belov.
After the first few laps, David and Beganovic slightly outdistanced the rest of the group. Then the red flag came out for a contact at the Grand Hotel Hairpin between Sami Meguetounif and Esteban Masson that blocked the passage of the other cars.
The race restarted behind the safety car, with less than five minutes to go and David still in front. Minì tried to attack Haverkort, while Belov was chased by Bortoleto.
Everything remained unchanged until the chequered flag waved. David took his first win of the season. For the fifth time out of five Beganovic finished on the podium and Haverkort got a good third place.
“It was a beautiful race” David said “Winning here in Monaco was a dream come true and at the same time it is a very important result for my season. Last year I came close to winning, but this time we did it. Hopefully we can be on the podium tomorrow and gain some more points.”
Dino Beganovic flies on the streets of Monaco and wins race 2 in Monaco
Third win of the season for Dino Beganovic, who had a perfect weekend in Montecarlo, winning also in Race 2 and consolidating his leadership in the standings of the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine.
Another outstanding result for Hadrien David who won a second place today, after his success on Saturday in Race 1. Third was Gabriele Minì, who returned to the podium after his victory in Imola.
With ten minutes to go, David managed to build up a slight advantage over Minì and set the fastest lap on a couple of occasions, significantly reducing the gap with Beganovic. Meanwhile, Haverkort pulled back into Minì’s slipstream, who managed to control the Dutchman by re-establishing the distance in the last two laps.
At the finish Beganovic was confirmed first, with David finishing with a gap of 2″106.
“Winning in Monaco is the fulfilment of a dream I have had since I was a child,” Beganovic said. “Today came another good result after yesterday’s second place, which brings important points for the championship. I am very happy; the team did an excellent job over the course of this weekend.”
The European series will be back on track next weekend (3-5 June) at Paul Ricard, where the fourth of the ten double rounds of the season will take place.
Formula 4 British Championship
Dunne recovers well to win Thruxton opener
Alex Dunne recovered from a disappointing start to re-pass Ugo Ugochukwu and win the opening ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA race of the weekend at Thruxton.
Although the Hitech GP racer started on pole position, it was fellow front-row starter Ugochukwu who made the better getaway, the Carlin racer taking the lead at Campbell.
The Irishman kept a watching brief, however, and a wide moment on the exit of Seagrave on lap four for Ugochukwu presented Dunne with a golden opportunity to make amends. He took it with both hands, and, although he was kept honest for the remaining 12 minutes, powered clear to a fourth victory of the season.
“I think that was a bit more of a tough race than I’ve had so far,” Dunne admitted in parc ferme. The pole grid spot is quite close to the lights, and with the Halo it’s actually quite tough to see the lights, so that’s why I got a pretty bad start.
“From then on, I was following Ugo. I’m not sure on what lap, but in turn four he hit a bump and made a mistake and drove off the track. I managed to get by, and from then on it was the same as I’ve done every other race, just to get my head down and focus on building a gap.”
Neate takes breakthrough win in reverse grid thriller
Aiden Neate surged from the fourth row of the grid to victory in a thrilling reverse grid ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA race at Thruxton.
Although pole-sitter Noah Lisle (JHR Developments) led for the majority of the 20-minute contest, he came under fire from the Phinsys by Argenti racer and his team-mate Daniel Guinchard in the closing laps.
“I’m over the moon to get the win,” beamed Neate. “It was a bit of a shaky start, in all honesty, I went down to eighth but managed to get back through and pick them off, one by one. We had a really good speed. We need to carry this on now after a difficult start to the year.”
“I’m pleased,” said a pragmatic Guinchard in defeat. “The win was on the table, but it’s onwards and upwards from here. The result also shows that the team have done a superb job, a first podium for me and a first win for Aiden, so it’s fantastic.”
Dunne makes it five with dominant drive in Thruxton finale
Hitech GP’s Alex Dunne cemented his lead in the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA with a controlled lights-to-flag victory in the final race of the weekend at Thruxton.
When the lights went out, Dunne came under immediate threat from a lightning fast Ugochukwu on the second row, and the pair made slight contact as Dunne defended the inside line into Allard, but both emerged unscathed.
That allowed Gray to challenge Dunne for the race lead on the outside into the Complex. The Irishman held firm, and with Gray veering off across the grass a few corners later at Noble, making it a two-horse race for the victory between Dunne and Ugochukwu.
The McLaren junior, Ugochukwu, kept Dunne honest however an opportunity to reel in the championship leader never materialized, and Dunne duly took the chequered flag 6.5 seconds clear to register a fifth win of the year.
“The car was incredible,” said an elated Dunne in parc ferme. “To be honest, I don’t even know what to say anymore. Every time we show up, the car is good. I’m doing a good job.
“The team are doing a mega job. They’re pushing me on and they’re working really hard. They’re doing their best for me, and the results are showing that.”
Ugochukwu will take some consolation from a seventh Rookie Cup victory of the season, and now sits as Dunne’s nearest challenger in the championship, 39 points the gap heading to Oulton Park.
ROKiT British F4 heads next to Oulton Park’s Island circuit for Rounds 10, 11 & 12 on the 11-12 June.
Formula 4 Spanish Championship
Timoteusz Kucharczyk gets his first win of the season in Jerez
The Polish driver remains intractable and achieves his fourth podium of the year
The young Tymoteusz Kucharczyk gets his first victory of the season in Jerez to become second of the championship’s overall standings.
Nikola Tsolov wins both races on Sunday and is the new Championship leader
The Bulgarian driver had no rival on Sunday in Jerez
Nikola Tsolov is the new leader of the Spanish Formula 4 Championship after completing an almost perfect weekend in Jerez, 3/3 fastest laps and 2/2 Poles as well as a second place on Saturday.
In two weeks, the action returns, this time in Valencian lands. On June 10, 11 and 12, the Ricardo Tormo circuit will host the third round of the Spanish Formula 4 Championship.
Formula 4 Japanese Championship
Syun Koide won Races 1&2 in Suzuka
Formula 4 Japanese Championship was heading into Suzuka for the second round of the 2022 season.
HFDP Racing Team driver, Syun Koide has now completed three consecutive wins in Japanese F4 after securing two dominant victories at Suzuka, closing the gap to championship leader Yusuke Mitsui.
Formula 4 Japanese Championship’s next round will be hosted around the Fuji Speedway on August 6-7.