Le Castellet rings down the curtain on the French F4 Championship!
The last round of the French F4 Championship will take place between 13 – 15 October on the mythical Le Castellet Paul Ricard circuit. The title battle will be fought out between the current leader, Victor Martins, and Arthur Rougier in what promises to be a thrilling duel. In addition, their rivals are determined to show that they’re not there just to make up the numbers!
FFSA
This weekend the drivers in the French F4 Championship will take part in the last three races of the season on the Paul Ricard circuit. This track that has hosted many different types of motor sport and which, in 2018, will be the theatre of the French F1 Grand Prix, will be a real challenge for the youngsters. In 2016, some of them already raced on this layout in the opening round of the season, but this year their aims will be very different as making a mistake is out of the question given the small gaps in the overall classification.
Mathematically speaking before arriving at Le Castellet two drivers can still win the French F4 Championship title, Victor Martins who retook first place in Barcelona after losing it in Pau, and Arthur Rougier, who may have a slight advantage as he knows the circuit having raced there last year. Whatever the outcome, the final victory will be all the more meritorious if it is hotly disputed, and in the light of what’s happened during the season anything can happen. In addition, the other drivers cannot be underestimated either.
Florian Venturi will do everything to hang onto his third place in the overall classification, but he will come under intense pressure from his direct rivals Pierre-Alexandre Jean and Christian Muñoz who are only 13 and 15 points behind a place in the top 3 followed by Stuart White and Hugo Chevalier. They too could put the cat among the pigeons in the weekend’s three races.
The seventh and final round of the season promises to be full of surprises. Jean-Baptiste Mela will do everything he can to move up the time sheets after his victory in Barcelona and Marvin Klein will give 110% to catch his rivals and overtake Mela. Great things are also expected this weekend from Mexican driver Javier Gonzalez who has scored four podium finishes this season including a victory.
After his podium in Barcelona Ugo De Wilde, the youngest driver in this year’s field, will be determined to continue in the same vein to make an impression in the final event of the year. Thomas Drouet, who was unlucky in the second-last meeting, will try to stack the cards in his favour at Paul Ricard. Amaury Cordeel will take advantage of the meeting to continue learning the ropes.
Noah Watt and Pierre-Louis Chovet who are part of the field at Le Castellet will also use the event to gather more experience and show they have nothing to envy their more experienced opponents.
Timetable of the meeting – Paul Ricard
Friday 13th October 2017
17:20 Free practice
Saturday 14th October 2017
11:25 Qualifying and 16:35 Race 1
Sunday 15th October 2017
10:55 Race 2 and 17:20 Race 3
The French F4 field
N° 2: Hugo Chevailer
N°3: Stuart White
N°4: Jean-Baptiste Mela
N°5: Pierre-Alexandre Jean
N°6: Charles Milesi
N°7: Thomas Drouet
N°8: Javier Gonzalez
N°9: Noah Watt
N°10: Pierre-Louis Chovet
N°11: Amaury Cordeel
N°13: Marvin Klein
N°27: Ugo de Wilde
N°29: Victor Martins
N°49: Florian Venturi
N°87: Arthur Rougier
N°92: Christian Muñoz
FFSA Academy general classification after the Barcelona meeting
1. Victor Martins: 252 points
2. Arthur Rougier: 247 points
3. Florian Venturi: 131 points
4. Charles Milesi: 118 points
5. Pierre-Alexandre Jean: 116 points
6. Christian Muñoz: 115 points
7. Stuart White: 112 points
8. Hugo Chevalier: 111 points
9. Jean-Baptiste Mela: 93 points
10. Marvin Klein: 85 points
11. Javier Gonzalez: 72 points
12. Casper ROES Andersen: 58 points
13. Ugo de Wilde: 34 points
14. Thomas Drouet: 31 points
15. Aldo Festante: 11 points
16. Amaury Cordeel: 4 points