Home Formula 4French F4 Sophomores Matus and Moineault claim Le Mans poles

Sophomores Matus and Moineault claim Le Mans poles

by Valentin Khorounzhiy
Photo: Auto Sport Academy

Valentin Moineault (Photo: Auto Sport Academy)

Mexican Axel Matus and Frenchman Valentin Moineault took pole positions for the Le Mans round of Auto Sport Academy’s F4 series.

In wet conditions, pre-season favorite Moineault led the qualifying session at the checkered flag and looked set to claim double pole.

But Matus, a fellow returnee from 2014, was among the few to improve as the session expired and secured race three pole by just 0.03s.

Moineault retained second and will start the weekend opener from first based on second-best times.

Alexey Korneev‘s best effort placed him third, a tenth off the leading duo. Ledenon race winner Sacha Fenestraz and fellow Frenchman Julien Darras rounded out the top five.

Korneev’s compatriots Nikita Troitskiy and Nerses Isaakyan were sixth and eighth respectively, split by Reuben Kressner. Championship leader Giuliano Alesi was only ninth after leading practice, with Yifei Ye in tenth.

Meanwhile, Moineault will be joined on front row by Korneev for race one, with Darras and Matus on row two.

Fenestraz, Isaakyan, Troitskiy, Kressner, Alesi and Ye make up the top ten.

Qualifying results
Race 1 Race 3
Pos. Driver Time Pos. Driver Time
1 Valentin Moineault 2:19.145 1 Axel Matus 1:59.892
2 Alexey Korneev 2:00.276 2 Valentin Moineault 1:59.922
3 Julien Darras 2:00.491 3 Alexey Korneev 2:00.004
4 Axel Matus 2:00.595 4 Sacha Fenestraz 2:00.268
5 Sacha Fenestraz 2:00.709 5 Julien Darras 2:00.444
6 Nerses Isaakyan 2:00.773 6 Nikita Troitskiy 2:00.507
7 Nikita Troitskiy 2:00.906 7 Reuben Kressner 2:00.758
8 Reuben Kressner 2:00.984 8 Nerses Isaakyan 2:00.766
9 Giuliano Alesi 2:00.990 9 Giuliano Alesi 2:00.908
10 Ye Yifei 2:01.035 10 Ye Yifei 2:00.992
11 Kami Laliberte 2:01.503 11 Kami Laliberte 2:01.480
12 Simo Laaksonen 2:01.548 12 Simo Laaksonen 2:01.526
13 Louis Gachot 2:02.528 13 Louis Gachot 2:02.163
14 Theophile Senegas 2:03.331 14 Theophile Senegas 2:02.958
15 Gabriel Aubry 2:03.457 15 Gabriel Aubry 2:03.204
16 Michael Benyahia 2:04.329 16 Michael Benyahia 2:03.399
17 Julien Andlauer 2:04.415 17 Julien Andlauer 2:03.569
18 Hugo Sugnot-Darniche 2:05.714 18 Hugo Sugnot-Darniche 2:05.693
19 Jose Sierra 2:19.145 19 Jose Sierra 2:15.143