Ho wins, Nael rises from 30th to 18th in Spanish F4 race two

Photo: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya

Campos Racing’s Christian Ho won the penultimate race of the Spanish Formula 4 season at Barcelona.

Ho made a strong start from pole, and Enzo Deligny resisted an attack from Valerio Rinicella into turn one. A few corners later they were reducing their speed as the safety car was summoned due to an incident at turn two that had eliminated Rodin Carlin’s Alex Ninovic as well as Monlau Motorsport’s Fernando Barrichello, Lin Hodenius and Ricardo Gracia who had spun after starting sixth.

Racing did not resume until lap five of 14, and Rinicella got fiesty at turn one again but stayed in third place as Pedro Clerot passed Matteo De Palo for fifth.

On lap eight De Palo profited from an error by Clerot to get close to him early in the lap and he then dived down his inside at turn 10. However he went too deep and Clerot slipped straight back past.

Chasing them was Carlin’s Noah Lisle, but he then crashed out at turn one on lap 10. Drivex School’s Maxi Restrepo got spun around at turn 10, and when trying to get his car facing the right way again he instead spun it into the gravel. Marshals helped get him back onto the track, but the safety car was called out on lap 11 while that and the recovery of Lisle’s car occurred.

The restart took place on the penultimate lap and Ho pulled away to win while Clerot passed Campos’s Noah Stromsted for fourth at turn two. He almost hit Rinicella as he attempted a move at turn five, then had to switch focus to defending for the remaining lap-and-a-half.

Newly crowned champion Theophile Nael started 30th and gained five spots before the first safety car period, and was in 21st when it made its second appearance. The Sainteloc Racing driver managed to get up to 18th after the last restart.

Race results (14 laps)