Cota cruises to Spanish F4 win at Barcelona as Colnaghi clinches crown

Photo: Spanish F4

Mattia Colnaghi became Spanish Formula 4 champion in the final race of the season at Barcelona, which was won by Juan Cota.

MP Motorsport’s two title contenders Colnaghi and Keanu Al Azhari started fifth and sixth, with James Egozi (Campos Racing) on pole ahead of Cota (Drivex School), Ernesto Rivera (Campos) and Enzo Tarnvanichkul (Campos).

There were two formation laps, with Sainteloc Racing’s Lorenzo Castillo failing to make the start, and Cota leapt past Egozi off the line. There were near misses behind the, with drives fanning three or four-wide down the pit straight.

Al Azhari cut the first two corners and rejoined ahead of Colnaghi, went around the outside of Tarnvanichkul for fourth then dived down the inside of Rivera to end lap one in third. Colnaghi was seventh, as he lost out to Campos’s Nathan Tye.

The safety car was summoned due to three cars crashing out at turn one, but racing swiftly resumed on lap three. Cota weaved his way to turn one but came under no pressure, and after two laps he was alone up front.

Egozi looked similarly comfortable in second, while Tarnvanichkul pressured Rivera for fourth. He attacked him at turn one on lap four but went off, and although he rejoined ahead he let Rivera back past.

Al Azhari had no answer to the top two, and ended up leading an 11-car train. He frequently weaved down the pit straight in an attempt to break the tow, but had no luck.

Rivera went to attack him at turn one on lap seven but he closed the door, then the next lap he was under pressure throughout and had to get defensive into turn 10.

Colnaghi tried to reclaim his lost spot on turn 10, going to the outside of Tyre at turn one, but found no way through.

The Tarnvanichkul and Rivera battle heated up again in the race’s second half, with a repeat of the lap four move on lap 11. He again went off, rejoined ahead, and Rivera dived back past at turn four. The inside line at turn one was available on lap 12, and Tarnvanichkul got through under braking then found himself stuck behind Al Azhari for the remaining laps.

Colnaghi was a mute seventh, but on the last lap Rivera was handed a five-second track limits penalty and Tye copped 15s worth. That dropped them to 11th and 22nd respectively, lifting Colnaghi to fifth and securing him the title by 10 points.

Race results (16 laps)