Race Report

FIA FORMULA 4
ITALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP, Rounds 16/17/18

Circuit: Imola (I), Length 4.909 km, 18^th – 22^nd November 2020
www.autodromoimola.com

JENZER MOTORSPORT 2020:
Jasin Ferati (CH), Filip Ugran (RO), Francesco Braschi (I), Santiago Ramos (MEX)

Points for Ugran and Ramos in cold Imola ( to the )

The sixth and therefore penultimate of seven meetings in the Italian FIA Formula 4 Championship took place on the characterful track at Imola (I). With 34 competitors present for the meeting, their expectations were as high as could be ahead of the start.

Free Practice

© Photo Pellegrini

Qualifying

Saturday, 21/11/2020, 10.45 – 11.25, Weather: Sunny, 9°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 2^nd best lap time of each driver in either of the two qualifying sessions.

© Photo Pellegrini

FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship

Race One (30 minutes + 1 lap)

Saturday, 21/11/2020, 15.05, Weather: Sunny, 10°C

On Saturday morning, the temperatures were very cold as the huge and very competitive 34 cars field met on track for what turned out to be two very smooth and hard fought qualifying sessions. In the afternoon, with the wind picking up, the first race of the weekend took place in Imola. Filip started the race in 18^th place and made a strong getaway to rise to 15^th position across the opening laps. Despite a wide moment, our Romanian driver kept his position. On lap 2, a collision involving Bortoleto, Ogaard and Gnos brought out a safety car. The recovery drive of Filip continued after the safety car phase, as he moved through the field to eventually cross the line in an overall positive and well fought 12 place. Francesco began from 20^th place and picked up one position at the start. Unfortunately, he was unable to reach the finishing line as a broken front left suspension forced him back in the pitlane, where he had to abandon the race. Santiago started from 21^st position with a solid start and in a fighting mode. He captured 18^th place in the opening laps and preserved his position at the restart. Santiago drove e brilliant race climbing up spot after spot through the field and crossing the line in 13^th position. Jasin was 23^rd on the grid and he was immediately able to take 20^th during the first stages of the race. He moved into 19^th spot on lap seven and fought hard with Salmenautio, who made contact with our Swiss driver. However, Jasin eventually muscled his way past Salmenautio and crossed the finish line in 18^th place.

© Photo Pellegrini

FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship

Race Two (30 minutes + 1 lap)

Sunday, 22/11/2020, 09.55, Weather: Sunny, 3°C

The second race of the weekend took place on Sunday morning. The very cold temperatures made this race even tougher with an accident already happening during the formation lap when Han ran into the gravel trap, which resulted in a second formation lap for the field. Four safety cars had to be deployed throughout the race which eventually ended behind the safety car. Santiago was 9^th on the grid, but didn’t get away well which dropped him back in 13^th place. Keeping himself out of any accidents, Santiago held on to his position during the restarts and managed to cross the line in 10^th spot. Filip started the race in 15^th position and was able to get past some incidents smoothly and to slot into 12^th place already on lap three. Going wide after the first restart backed him from 10^th position to 11^th, but the Romanian continued to improve positions. Despite a cut through the gravel bed after the second restart, Filip run a well fought race and finished in 8^th position. Jasin began the race in 22^nd place and enjoyed a strong start. On a very brilliant recovery mode, Jasin managed to climb up through the huge field lap by lap and cross the line in 13^th position. Unfortunately, Francesco was hit by Simonazzi, who was later penalized for his maneuver, but our Italian driver was forced to go back to the pits with a damaged car.
Two drivers were handed time penalties after the race, which moved all our drivers up by one place.

© Photo Pellegrini

FIA Formula 4 Italian Championship

Race Three (28 minutes + 1 lap)

Sunday, 22/11/2020, 15.20, Weather: Sunny, 8°C

The last race of the weekend took place on Sunday afternoon with again chilly temperatures. After the first lap, Filip came round in 12^th position. There was a safety car period, but Filip restarted well and drove a good race. At the end he was able to reach the 10^th position, taking the last available points. Santiago also got away well and fended off to hold his starting position. As he found his rhythm, he settled in 13^th place and that is where he crossed the finish line at the end of the race. Jasin had another great recovery race, as he began from 26^th and progressively gained positions to reach 21^st place at the end. Unfortunately, some engine issues probably caused by the demages from the accident in the previous race meant that Francesco had to abandon the race in the pitlane after only a few laps, even the team and the engine people did their best to solve the problem.

The seventh and last race meeting of the Italian Formula championship is scheduled for the weekend of 6^th December in Vallelunga (I).

© Photo Pellegrini

Championship Standings

FIA F4 Italian Championship 2020 after 18 races:
1^st Gabriele Mini (I), 276 points; 2^nd Francesco Pizzi (I), 191 points; 3^rd Dino Beganovic (SWE), 168 points; 4^th Jak Crawford (USA), 140 points; 5^th Andrea Rosso (I), 139 points; 6^th Gabriel Bortoleto (BRA), 133 points; 8^th Filip Ugran (ROU), 127 points; 15^th Santiago Ramos (MEX), 26 points; 17^th Piotr Wisnicki (PL), 12 points

Rookie-Standings:
1^st Gabriele Mini (I), 246 points; 2^nd Francesco Pizzi (I), 216 points; 3^rd Andrea Rosso (I), 163 points; 10^th Santiago Ramos (MEX), 29 points; 15^th Piotr Wisnicki (POL), 19 points; 20^th Jasin Ferati (CH), 6 points

2020 FIA FORMULA 4 ITALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP - CALENDAR

More info:

• www.acisportitalia.it/F4/
• www.italiaracing.net