Home Formula 4French F4 O’Ward secures maiden victory in reverse-grid race at Paul Ricard

O’Ward secures maiden victory in reverse-grid race at Paul Ricard

by Gruz David
Photo: Auto Sport Academy

Photo: Auto Sport Academy

Mexican Patricio O’Ward recorded his first French F4 victory in the second race of the Paul Ricard finale.

Although it was Max Defourny who started from pole, O’Ward took the lead on lap two and kept himself just ahead of the pack to maintain his position safe throughout the race.

Lasse Sorensen, following his victory in the morning race, started from tenth, and, as the race went on, the Dane picked up the pace and started to pass drivers one by one. He eventually ended up in second, having run out to time catch O’Ward at the end.

Defourny completed the podium, but since he is ineligible to score points, it was Vladimir Atoev in fourth who collected the fifteen points.

Fellow Russian Denis Bulatov finished fifth, followed by Paul Hokfelt?Jr and Valentin Moineault, who will start from pole tomorrow in the season finale.

The top ten was completed by Amaury Richard, Simo Laaksonen and Valentin Hasse-Clot.

The fight for the second place in the standings did not see any changes today. Felix Hirsiger was forced to abandon his race with a broken suspension on lap one, while his rival Dorian Boccolacci had to retire in the pits later on after losing pace and dropping out of the top ten.

Race results
Pos. Driver Time/Gap
1 Patricio O’Ward 15 laps in 22:07.246
2 Lasse Sorensen +1.524
3 Max Defourny +2.482
4 Vladimir Atoev +2.788
5 Denis Bulatov +4.243
6 Paul Hokfelt Jr. +6.891
7 Valentin Moineault +7.327
8 Amaury Richard +10.709
9 Simo Laaksonen +12.378
10 Erwan Jule ++13.820
11 Axel Matus +26.257
12 Joao Carvalho +31.617
13 Hugo Sugnot-Darniche +31.812
14 Tom Soubiron +34.777
15 Valentin Hasse-Clot +42.655
16 Harrison Newey +48.452
17 Anouck Abadie +1 lap
Not Classified
Dorian Boccolacci +5 laps
Reuben Kressner +14 laps
Gjergj Haxhiu +14 laps