Giltaire wins in French F4 at Magny-Cours as Balesteiro has big crash

Photo: KSP Reportages

Evan Giltaire won from pole position in the opening French Formula 4 race at Magny-Cours, although he did not lead throughout.

After the start was delayed by 17 minutes with what appeared to be an issue with the starting lights hanging over the pit straight, Giltaire was beaten to turn one by rival Enzo Peugeot.

At the turn five hairpin he went very deep and almost hit Peugeot, and lost two more places to Romain Andriolo and Pol Lopez as he exited the corner. He reclaimed third from Lopez before the end of the lap, as the top two broke away.

Giltaire managed to track them down within a lap, passing Andriolo at the turn five hairpin. Andriolo then almost went off at turn 12, but did not come under pressure from Lopez as the safety car was called out at the end of the lap.

Joao Paulo Diaz Balesteiro had ridden over the back of Luca Savu’s car, breaking Savu’s rear wing and sending Balesteiro flying backwards across a gravel trap at speed and then into the barriers. Both drivers emerged from their cars unscathed.

Max Reis also retired after heading to the pitlane at the end of lap four, meaning there was a bunch consisting of 23 cars when racing resumed on lap eight and with five minutes left on the race clock.

Giltaire sat in Peugeot’s slipstream and thought of going for the lead at several corners but could not find space to safely make a move. His opportunity came at turn five on the next lap, making a late decision to go for the inside and passing Peugeot who was also run off the track slightly at the exit of the hairpin.

Peugeot pressured Giltaire in return at several corners before Andriolo made a diving move at turn 14 to snatch second place. Andriolo kept Peugeot at bay through the final two laps, despite several lock-ups, and it allowed Giltaire to pull away and win by 3.079 seconds.

Lopez and Hiyu Yamakoshi were right behind Andriolo and Peugeot in the last laps but were not close enough to make any moves, while Kevin Foster was not too far behind in sixth. He now sits 29 points behind points leader Giltaire in the title battle.

Race result (11 laps)