This weekend on the Magny-Cours circuit in the Nièvre the 24 trainee drivers got back down to the nitty-gritty in the championship battle after the summer break. The fourth round took place in brilliant sunshine, and Lasse Sorensen from Denmark left the French track still in a dominant lead in the overall classification followed by Felix Hirsiger, winner of two of the weekend’s three races, who knocked Dorian Boccolacci back to third. They will all be in action again on the Paul Armagnac Nogaro circuit on 26-28 September in the GT Tour.
The 24 youngsters were champing at the bit to resume battle in the championship in the second part of the season, and Felix Hirsiger fired a warning shot across his rivals’ bows by setting the two fastest times in qualifying giving him pole for races 1 and 3. He was followed by the championship leader Lasse Sorensen and Frenchman Dorian Boccolacci.
The front-runners in the title chase headed the field in the first race on Saturday. Hirsiger took full advantage of his pole position and led the 14-lap race from start to finish. At the beginning of lap 2 Finn Simo Laaksonen and Reuben Kressner from Sweden collided and retired. Sorensen was still in hot pursuit of Hirsiger while Boccolacci in third was coming under increasing pressure from Australian Joseph Mawson and Valentin Hasse Clot from France. A bit further back Mexican Patricio O’Ward and David Droux from Switzerland were locked in battle until the latter had to fend off the attacks of Russian Denis Bulatov. After five laps Bryan Elpitiya went off and retired, which helped Ewan Julé close the gap to another Russian Vladimir Atoev, who was just behind his fellow-countryman, and the Frenchman took 10th place. In the meantime Hirsiger strolled home to victory still followed by Sorensen and Boccolacci. As the grid positions were reversed for race 2 Julé found himself on pole.
Later on in the day still in sunny conditions Julé took the lead in the second race. Despite his good start he was soon overtaken by Bulatov who went into first place. Boccolacci hit Atoev damaging the Russian’s car badly and then collided with O’Ward. The Frenchman retired almost immediately. The battles intensified and Hasse Clot snatched second place from Julé who had Mawson breathing down his neck as the Australian closed in on the Frenchman for third. Behind these four Paul Hökfelt Jr from Switzerland was installed in fifth spot keeping Hirsiger behind him in sixth. Bulatov took an unchallenged victory followed by Hasse Clot and Mawson who had got past Julé.
The final race was on Sunday and Hirsiger shot into the lead from his second pole position of the weekend followed by the rest of the field. On lap 2, Mawson took second from Sorensen. Elpitiya and Atoev retired after a collision, which also proved fatal to Boccolacci who dropped back to 12th. Valentin Moineault made a fighting comeback in the early laps and was now in eighth place. Hasse Clot in fourth was waiting to pounce on any mistakes by the leading trio. But there were no further changes until the chequered flag fell giving Hirsiger his second victory of the weekend followed by Mawson and Sorensen.
The whole Auto Sport Academy team would like to thank the trainee mechanics present alongside the trainee drivers throughout the championship as they did a remarkable high-quality job during the Magny-Cours weekend.
Overall it was a good weekend for Hirsiger in terms of points as he moved up into second place in the championship behind Lasse Sorensen. The latter still has a commanding lead with 195 points to Hirsiger’s 157 with Boccolacci in third with 143 and Mawson fourth with 136.
The end of the season promises a thrilling battle between these four drivers for the 2014 French F4 Championship title.
Overall general classification of the French F4 Championship after Magny-Cours (4/7)
1. L. SORENSEN, 195 pts / 2. F.HIRSIGER, 157 pts / 3. D. BOCCOLACCI, 143 pts / 4. J. MAWSON, 136 pts / 5. D. BULATOV, 106 pts / 6. P. HOKFELT JR, 67 pts / 7. A. RICHARD, 64 pts / 8. V. HASSE CLOT, 51 pts / 9. V. MOINEAULT, 50 pts / 10. E. JULE, 49 pts / etc…
Statistics
– 2 pole positions for Hirsiger (Races 1 and 3) and 1 for Ewan Julé (race 2)
– 2 victories for Hirsiger and 1 for Bulatov
– Fastest laps in the races for Sorensen, Mawson and Hasse Clot
– 28 laps in the lead for Hirsiger and 14 for Bulatov
Info Auto Sport Academy / © Photo KSP