Sebastian Wheldon wins Italian F4’s third heat race at Vallelunga

Photo: ACI Sport

Prema’s Sebastian Wheldon won the Italian Formula 4 heat race for groups A and C at Vallelunga.

The Andretti Global junior started fourth after US Racing’s Maxim Rehm had to begin his race from the pits after stalling on the formation lap, and he made up another spot at turn four as PHM Racing’s poleman David Cosma Cristofor fell down the order.

US’s Luka Sammalisto took the lead off the line, with R-ace GP’s Emanuele Olivieri moving into second before going around the outside of Sammalisto at turn four and grabbing the lead at turn five. Sammalisto reclaimed top spot before turn eight, and Van Amersfoort Racing’s Marcus Saeter also got past Olivieri.

But Olivieri moved back ahead of Saeter later on the lap, and Wheldon demoted Saeter before lap two began.

Wheldon safely cleared Olivieri, and at turn eight went around the outside of Sammalisto for the lead. Olivieri then drove into the back of Sammalisto, sending him outside of the top 20.

R-ace’s Alex Powell wriggled his way through the chaos into second, ahead of Saeter, Jenzer Motorsport’s Teo Schropp, VAR’s Maximilian Popov and Olivieri.

Wheldon was already 2.77 seconds clear at the front after lap three, but then the safety car came out after a huge crash between R-ace’s Guy Albag and Viola Formula Racing’s Emir Tanju exiting turn seven.

Popov passed Schropp before racing was neutralised, and on the lap eight restart overtook Saeter. Right behind him at turn seven, Olivieri went around the outside of Schropp for fifth but now had a 25s penalty for hitting Sammalisto.

He cleared Saeter on lap nine, set the fastest lap and tried to join the battle ahead. Popov was next to be dispatched, on lap 12, but he could make no further progress as Wheldon led Powell home. The penalty knocked Olivieri down to 21st, and put Popov on the podium.

Maffi Racing’s Kirill Kutskov put in a defensive drive to hold off VAR’s Alexander Ruta for what would become sixth, and there was all sorts of drama immediately behind them.

Dante Vinci held seventh for VAR early on, then it was R-ace’s Alexander Savinkov and Jenzer’s Bart Harrison who were behind Ruta for the safety car restart. Savinkov overtook Ruta, and on lap 11 Prema’s Sacha Bondarev moved ahead of Harrison and Vinci.

Ruta had an off at turn eight on lap 12 following contact but actually got back past Savinkov at turn 11. The R-ace driver then fell behind Bondarev and Vinci, who had contact with Harrison.

Vinci overtook Bondarev on the penultimate lap for ninth, and Harrison and Real Racing Team’s Luca Viisoreanu followed him through to claim the final points.

Race results (15 laps)