Jules Caranta wins French F4’s sodden first ever race in Germany

Photo: French F4

Jules Caranta claimed victory in French Formula 4’s first ever race in Germany at the Nurburgring.

The win moved the Frenchman into the points lead, with former leader Taito Kato finishing ninth.

Caranta was quickest in the red-flagged free practice session on Friday, setting a 2m25.418s to lead Chester Kieffer by 0.17 seconds. Dylan Estre was a further 0.661s behind in third, with Yani Stevenheydens a massive 1.645s back in fourth.

The pace was lowered in qualifying, and Augustin Bernier came to the fore by setting a 2m01.956s. That put him on race one pole by 0.19s over Frank Porte Ruiz, with Stevenheydens and Caranta 0.216s and 0.222s off his pace respectively. Arthur Dorison was fifth, 0.451s behind, and Kato qualified sixth.

Early morning rain meant the track was wet when it came to racing on Saturday, and it led to dramatic moments on all 10 laps of the race.

Bernier made a very slow start and immediately lost places, and at turn one there wa a spinner while Leonardo Megna went off. Arthur Dorison got spun around a few corners later, and the lap ended with Stevenheydens in front, Kato in second, Porte Ruiz in third and Caranta in fourth.

With drivers approaching turn one at even higher speeds on lap two, the wet conditions led to even more of them going off and Kieffer took third place from Porte Ruiz before the latter went off. Caranta tried attacking Kato, then on lap three Stenehydens went off at turn one and dropped to fifth.

The lead went to Caranta, and Kieffer disputed second with Rayan Caretti before cutting the final chicane and deciding to drive into the pits rather than head down the pit straight and allow Caretti past to avoid a penalty.

Lap four featured Jules Roussel going off while running in fourth, and Edouard Borgna spinning at the last corner. Caranta pulled away from Caretti, with a gap of five seconds emerging, while Stevenheyens got back into third but then flew off at turn one and rejoined in seventh. Dorison tried passing him later in the lap but went off.

Much of the field were still attempting wheel-to-wheel battles, often resulting in offs and positions lost rather than gained. In the last few laps, areas of the track dried up and this helped Gabriel Doyle-Parfait close in on Porte Ruiz for third.

Dorison had another off on the final lap, eventually finishing 18th, Jason Leung had a spin and Bernier ended his race in 11th.

Race results (10 laps)