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| In race one Spenle Evan leads a group out of the Chicane onto the start finish straight. |
Formula 4 is the modern stepping stone between Karting and Formula Three. It is the route that most aspiring Formula One drivers take nowadays. The French F4 Championship is held over seven meetings at classic circuits such as Spa-Franchorchamps, Hungaroring, Pau, Paul Ricard, Nogaro, Ledenon and Magny-Cours. There are three races at each meeting. As well as French drivers the series attracts pilots from USA, Japan, South Africa, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden. French F4 is a one make series using Mygale M14 chassis and 2 litre Renault engines. In effect, it is a continuation under a different name, of Formule Campus Renault. A prize of Euro 100,000 awaits the winner of the series that is open to drivers of 14 years up to 23 years old.
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| Victor Bernier had a good weekend with two fourth places. |
I attended the first two races on the Saturday at the September Magny-Cours meeting. Pictures of both races and many of the competitors are below. Perhaps we will see them in F1 one day. Pierre Gasly was one of the past graduates from this series.
Race One
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| Ugo Gazil hits the kerb before the chicane inducing a spin as Jules Metetal leads this group onto the start finish straight. |
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| The winner, Reshad De Gerus, bumping over the kerbs at the chicane on the way to victory. However, he eventually finished runner up in the championship. |
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| The second placed, Hadrian David, doing likewise. |
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| The American racer, Nicky Hays, on his way to third. He also finished third in the championship. |
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| The French National Anthem is played as from left to right, Hadrien David, Reshad De Gerus, Nicky Hays and Junior winner Victor Bernier reflect on their respective races. Notice they had no pretty grid girls accompany them on the podium! |
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| Nicky Hays chased by Victor Bernier and Gillian Henrion in their battle for third place. |
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| Swedish driver Simon Ohlin who finished 14th out of the 21 starters. |
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| Danish driver Mikkel Grundtvig leading Japanese driver Ren Sato. |
Race Two
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| First lap into the Adelaide hairpin and Even Spenle leads. |
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| By Chateau d'Eau his lead has grown. |
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| Meanwhile the winner of the first race is in the midfield. |
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| Towards the end of the race (38) Simon Ohlin and (35) American driver Bryson Lew clash and Ohlin gets beached in the gravel. |
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| French driver Evan Spenle took his first win of the year at Magny Cours. |
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| Japanses driver, Kakunoshin Ota, on his way to second place. |
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| Hadrien David on his way to third and his second podium of the weekend. This was to help him win the Championship this year. |
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| Belgian driver Stein Van Der Henst came eighth. |
John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost. However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.
John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page.
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| Close racing between Simon Ohlin and Pierre Francois Duriani |
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| These four took the first four positions in the Championship in the order they are standing here with the winner on the left. Hadrian David, Rashad De Gerus, Nicky Hays and Victor Bernier. |
