The third race of the Italian F.4 Championship promoted by ACI Sport and WSK Promotion, with the group C and A on the track, starts with a big scare this morning. The poleman, Ugo Ugochukwu, PREMA Racing, suffered a clutch problem and stalled on the grid. The young American junior McLaren driver was then crashed into at the start by Andrea Frassineti, BVM Racing, in a terrible incident that sent the Italian’s car upside down into the first corner. Fortunately, the new generation Tatuus car, T421, fully compliant to the latest FIA safety rules did their part perfectly and both drivers stepped out of the car ok. After the red flag was displayed the race restarted, now in the reduced measure of 20 minutes + 1 lap. Nicola Lacorte, Prema Racing, inherited de facto the pole position with his P2 and the first block left empty by Ugochukwu.

Lacorte had a great start from the first row and managed to spent the whole race fully in control, from the starting line until the very first win for the driver from Tuscany. Not easy at it could seem, said the driver after the race, underlining in particular the pivotal role of the mental training that the Championship provide through the precious work of ACI Sport Federal School instructors. “The mental aspect is the most important for a racing driver. You may have as much technique as you want, but if you can’t mentally handle a race, you can’t win. It is extremely important to work on this aspect.”

Arvid Lindblad stepped on the podium in P2. The British junior Red Bull driver, driving for PREMA Racing, had to fight the whole race to keep is position from the assaults of Brando Badoer (Van Amersfoort Racing) behind him. Lindblad’s job was perfect until the start and got the best trajectories to defend his position to earn his second silver medal of the weekend.

 

In the late stages of the race, Ivan Domingues, Portoguese driver of Van Amersfoort Racing, obtained the P3 taking advantage of a mistake of his Italian teammate Brando Badoer, who hits the kerb and wheelies his car. This was the only flaw of the otherwise perfect race of Badoer, that managed to lose only one position and finished the race coming in fourth.

James Wharton, Australian Ferrari Driver Academy of PREMA Racing Team, set for a P5 after a long battle on the track, that saw him taking only calculated risks, of course with an eye on the long run of the season. Valentin Kluss, PHM Racing passed under the checkered flag behind him in P6, then in P7 the Roman driver Matteo de Palo, R-ace GP. De Palo also completed the Rookie podium coming in third dedicated class after Lacorte and Lindblad.

Eight on the finish line was the Thai driver of PHM Racing, Nandavhud Bhirombhakdi, followed by his American teammate James Egozi, then the US Racing Aussie, Jack Beeton, rounded the top 10.

The last race of the weekend is starting today at 18.00 and will last 25' + 1 lap. The final race will be broadcast live with English commentary on the Italian F.4 Championship Youtube and Facebook pages and on Motorsport TV (https://eu.motorsport.tv/); also aired with Italian commentary on ACI Sport TV (sky channel 228), on www.acisport.it and on the Facebook page @acisporttv.