Rehm bounces back with victory as Bohra crowned Euro 4 champion

Photo: ACI Sport

US Racing had plenty to celebrate in the final Euro 4 race at Monza, as Maxim Rehm took victory and Akshay Bohra was crowned champion.

The title hopes of Bohra and Van Amersfoort Racing’s Hiyu Yamakoshi were boosted ahead of race three of the weekend as erstwhile points leader Freddie Slater was one of three drivers to get post-race penalties from race two.

Slater dropped from fourth to ninth the results, putting Bohra eight points ahead after being two behind. Yamakoshi was brought back into contention, but could only take the title on victory countback if he won and his rivals non-scored.

Bohra started seventh, Slater ninth and Yamakoshi down in 14th.

Race two winner Kean Nakamura Berta had pole, and lost the lead to Prema team-mate Alex Powell at Parabolica on lap one. Slater cut the della Roggia chicane, stopped at the exit then got going again but had to head to the pits and retire.

His title hopes were done, and Yamakoshi made contact with US’s Jack Beeton at Ascari that sent him down the order and all but crowned Bohra.

Powell, Nakamura and PHM Racing’s Davide Larini went three-wide at the start of lap two, and Larini took the lead on the outside as Powell slipped to third. Real Racing Team’s Luca Viisoreanu did a good job to hold fourth, and Yamakoshi had another off.

Nakamura reclaimed the lead on lap three before turn one, where Powell lost his front wing and so had to pit for a replacement. PHM’s Maximilian Popov drove over the wing, and Viisoreau moved up to third.

Larini was next to lead, slipstreaming past Nakamura on lap four, then the safety car disrupted their fight. On the restart Nakamura immediately reclaimed first place, and behind the top three the US trio of Beeton, Bohra and Rehm were fighting hard.

Rehm managed to escape the battle and pass Viisoreanu on lap seven, and Larini led again on lap eight. Next time by Rehm pulled off a three-wide move to go from third to first, but Nakamura got back ahead at della Roggia.

The safety car returned on lap 10 as ART Grand Prix’s Bianca Bustamante crashed out, and there was time for only one more lap of racing after. Rehm swept past Nakamura on the restart, Larini passed him on the outside of turn one and US’s Gianmarco Pradel also almost got by at della Roggia as the top four broke clear.

Beeton cut della Roggia and finished in sixth behind champion Bohra, and just beating Jenzer Motorport’s Enea Frey in a photo finish. Viisoreanu was demoted to 11th before the safety car period, and finished outside of the points.

Race result (14 laps)