Paul Ricard hosts the fifth round of the Italian F4 Championship
After an exciting race weekend at Mugello, the Italian F4 Championship circus moves to France for the fifth round of the season, which will be held this weekend (July 20-21) at the historic Paul Ricard circuit. No rest for the competitors, as the action resumes immediately after the thrilling challenges on the Tuscan track.
Mugello saw the dominance of British driver Freddie Slater from Prema Racing, who claimed all three victories of the weekend, bringing his season total to ten wins. Slater showcased impressive consistency, perfectly managing tyre wear on a notoriously challenging track. With this result, Slater solidifies his position at the top of the drivers' standings with 240 points, 79 points ahead of his closest rival, Hiyu Yamakoshi from Van Amersfoort Racing. For the British driver, repeating the exceptional feat achieved at Misano, Vallelunga, and Mugello would also be an opportunity to equal the record of wins in the Italian F4 Championship, currently held by Andrea Kimi Antonelli with 13 victories in 2022.
Eyes are also on Australian Jack Beeton from US Racing, who had his best weekend so far, with two P2 finishes in Race 1 and Race 3, along with a solid performance in Race 2. Despite still chasing his first win, Beeton has shown that his Team is making significant progress and hopes to carry this momentum to Paul Ricard.
Mugello also seemed to be a turning point for Swedish driver Gustav Jonsson from Van Amersfoort Racing, who has demonstrated being in exceptional form, showcasing he has the pace to compete with the best. Jonsson now aims high, arriving in France determined to further improve his performances and consistently reach the podium. The same can be said for Emirati driver Rashid Al Dhaheri from Prema Racing, who showcased his skills in Tuscany.
Hiyu Yamakoshi, however, remains a threat, as Slater's main antagonist this season. He is the only driver who has managed to take the top step of the podium away from Slater so far. Coming off a fruitful weekend where he consistently scored points, like in previous rounds, Yamakoshi consolidates himself as the second main reference in the Italian Championship with 166 points.
Akshay Bohra, alongside Beeton, was another driver who didn't miss the podium appointment at Mugello Circuit, celebrating with champagne twice out of three races. The Indian driver from US Racing seems to have regained the positive momentum from the early part of the season, with thrilling on-track performances that have allowed him to move up to third in the drivers' standings, overtaking Alex Powell.
Prema Racing's junior Mercedes driver Alex Powell reclaimed the top spot in the Rookie standings over the weekend, leading with 217 points, ahead of his teammate, Latvian Tomass Stolcermanis, with 206 points. Third in the Rookie class is another Prema driver, Alpine Academy Japanese driver Kean Nakamura Berta, with 154 points.
Looking ahead to Paul Ricard
With the Championship still open and 9 races left over 3 events, the Paul Ricard round represents another crucial step towards the title. Slater will certainly be the man to beat, but there are many competitors who won't make his life easy. Managing the high-performance Pirelli tyres will once again be crucial on a circuit known for its technical challenges and high summer temperatures.
All eyes are now on Paul Ricard, where the drivers of the Italian F4 Championship are preparing to put on a show in a weekend that promises excitement and surprises.
The Schedule
The exciting new chapter of the season kicks off with a first 40-minute free practice session on Friday, July 19, from 8:05 to 8:45, followed by a second session from 13:13 to 13:53. Saturday, July 20, will see the qualifying sessions, with the first session starting at 10:45 and the second from 11:10 to 11:25. Race 1 is set to start on Saturday evening at 16:35 for 30 minutes + 1 lap. Race 2 and Race 3, also 30 minutes + 1 lap, will take place on Sunday, July 21, at 11:10 and 17:25, respectively.
The three races of the weekend will be broadcast live on the Italian F4 Championship's YouTube and Facebook channels, on ACI Sport TV (Sky channel 228, Tivù Sat channel 52, and streaming on www.acisport.it), as well as through the extensive network of international television channels broadcasting the Italian F4 Championship 2024, including the DAZN platform.