Race Report

FORMULA 4
FIA F4 CEZ CHAMPIONSHIP, Rounds 07/08/09

Circuit: Most (CZ), Length 4,212 km, 4^th – 6^th August 2023
autodrom-most.cz

JENZER MOTORSPORT 2023:
Ethan Ischer (CH), Reno Francot (NL), Mathias Bjerre Jakobsen (DK), Max Karhan (CZ)

Ischer triple winner at Most

The fourth of six race events for the ACCR Czech Formula 4 Championship – which now has been certified by FIA and it’s name is from now on FIA F4 CEZ (Central European Zone) Championship, was held at very technical but fast Circuit at Most (CZ). Our drivers immediately liked this characterful track. At this race event, young Czech driver Max Karhan, who is coming directly from karting, joined our team, due to the fact that his own car was delivered very late.

Qualifying

Saturday, 05/08/23, 09.35 – 10.00, Weather: Overcast, 18°C

In this championship there are several practice sessions available on Friday, followed by the official part with one qualifying session of 25 minutes, followed by two or three races of 25 minutes each. Three race were planned here at Most. The grid for the first race will be drawn up in the order of the fastest qualifying time achieved by each driver in the qualifying.
The grid for the second race will be drawn up in the order of the race 1 result. The grid for the third race will be drawn up in the order of the second best qualifying time achieved by each driver in the qualifying.
The free practice on Friday as well as the qualifying session on Saturday morning took place on dry track, though mostly under a cloudy and sometimes very dark sky. For Max Karhan it was his first qualifying / racing event in a formula car ever!

FIA F4 CEZ Championship

Race One (25 minutes)

Saturday, 05/08/23, 15.30, Weather: Cloudy, 18°C

A few drops of rain fell just at the start of the first race, but in the end it didn't rain and everyone started on slick tires. Ethan got off to a good start, but Sauter shot into the start corner first from pole. Ethan followed closely on Sauter in 2^nd place. Reno managed to hold onto 3^rd place. Mathias, who started 4^th, was surprised by Mikes and found himself in 5^th place. Max had done well in his first start in a formula car and had even made up a place and was now 7^th. It was pretty tight at the front, with Ethan and Sauter taking turns setting the fastest lap time. Ethan put heavy pressure on Sauter and he managed to go inside at the start corner in a clean maneuver and take the lead. Ethan immediately opened up a small gap and Sauter now had to be wary of Reno, who had caught up. Reno actually managed to elegantly pass Sauter on the very next lap in the same place and in the same way as Ethan had done before. However, nothing could stop Ethan, he crossed the finish line as the winner with a lead of more than three seconds. Reno followed in a great second place. Immediately after the race, two drivers were each given a 10-second time penalty for jumping the start. This affected Sauter and Mikes. This meant that both fell behind Mathias Bjerre and so Mathias Bjerre finally took 3^rd place on the podium! Max also reached the finish line in his first race, but he had to give in to Rieger shortly before the end of the race, and with that finished in 8^th place.

FIA F4 CEZ Championship

Race Two (25 minutes)

Sunday, 06/08/23, 11.15, Weather: Rain, 17°C

It had rained during the night and although there was little rain by the start of the second race there was still plenty of spray and there was no question that rain tires had to be fitted. The start was given with the safety car as the leader. When the safety car came in after one lap, the race really got going. Ethan wanted to pull away immediately, but Reno attempted an attack in the first turn, which Ethan fended off well. There was a small contact and Reno lost momentum. Sauter advanced to 2^nd place. Ethan stayed in the lead, but at the end of the first lap, Reno managed to outpace Sauter and regained 2^nd place. Ethan, Reno, and Sauter were close, but Sauter now had to be wary of Rieger. Behind, Max had a hairy moment after the start when he spun 360 degrees but was then able to continue. Mathias Bjerre slipped into the gravel during the warm-up lap, luckily made it back into the pit lane and was able to drive off after two laps when his car was free of gravel and grass. At the front, Ethan and Reno fought an almost non-stop battle for the lead. Ethan at times managed to pull out a second, but Reno kept getting dangerously close. As Reno launched a new attack, the two vehicles touched and both went into the gravel trap. Both of them immediately managed to get back on track and continued the race. Ethan managed to take a small gap to the finish and celebrate his second win of the weekend. Reno finished right behind in an excellent 2^nd place after this tough fight. Max had caught up with Michl but and even found a way past him in these difficult conditions. Max finished in 6^th place and Mathias Bjerre finished 8^th.

FIA F4 CEZ Championship

Race Three (25 minutes)

Sunday, 06/08/23, 15.55, Weather: Cloudy, 17°C

The track was completely dry for the third race of the weekend. Ethan got off to a good start and took the lead. Behind them, Bjerre managed to outperform Reno and take second place. Max also got off to a good start. Ethan didn't miss a beat and immediately built up a good lead. Behind them, Bjerre managed to keep Reno behind him over long laps. But towards the end of the race he made the mistake Reno had been waiting for, widening, two tires in the gravel and losing momentum as a result. Reno didn't accept twice and was over. Michl had lost places further back and Max was now in front of him. In the end, Ethan brought home his third win of the weekend, clean and superior. Reno finished 2^nd and Bjerre 3^rd. Max reached the finish in 7^th place.

© Jenzer Motorsport

The fourth race event for Formula 4 ACCR will take place on the weekend of August 6, 2023 at Most (CK).

Championship Standings

FIA F4 CEZ Championship 2023 after 9 races:
1^st Reno Francot (NL), 170 points; 2^nd Ethan Ischer (CH), 158 points; 3^rd Michael Sauter (CH), 113 points, 4^th Mathias Bjerre Jakobsen (DK), 84 points; 5^th Oliver Michl (HUN), 76 points; 6^th Miroslav Mikes (CZ), 53 points; 12^th Max Karhan (CZ), 18 points

2023 FIA F4 CEZ CHAMPIONSHIP – AGENDA

More info:

• www.eset-v4.com
• www.accr-formula.com