Ugochukwu extends F4 UAE lead with foggy Kuwait win

Photo: F4 UAE

Prema’s Ugo Ugochukwu drove through the fog to win race one of the third Formula 4 United Arab Emirates round at Kuwait Motor Town.

The McLarnen junior started on pole and led lights-to-flag, although much of the race was spent behind the safety car.

The first neutralisation came on the opening lap as Pinnacle VAR driver Kai Daryanani spunin at turn two in the thick fog that had encompassed the Kuwait circuit. There was also drama for R-ace GP’s Alexander Abkhazava who stalled on the grid and avoided being hit by anyone.

Mumbai Falcons’ James Wharton tried passing Ugochukwu before the safety car came out, and applied pressure again when racing resumed on lap four.

There was several passes following the restart, with Arvid Lindblad overtaking Zachary David for fifth. Tuukka Taponen also got ahead of David, and then passed Lindblad down the inside of the final corner. David was also able to take the same line to go onto the pit straight alongside Lindblad, but the pair then collided.

Lindblad spun and got going again at the back of the field, while David stopped his car with damage at the next corner and it led to the safety car being summoned again.

Before the race was neutralised, MP Motorsport’s Valerio Rinicella was able to pass PHM Racing’s Noah Stromsted for third through the downhill turn 3/4/5 chicane. There was slight contact between the pair, but Rinicella then lined his car up well to go around the outside.

The next restart took place on lap eight of 11, but this time the field did not even finish the restart lap before the safety car was out again. This time it was caused by William Macintyre and Noah Lisle spinning, with Macintyre having passed Lisle for 12th under the previous restart and the latter wanting to regain the place.

Racing finally resumed again on the last lap, and Taponen went around the outside of Stromsted for fourth at turn one. Taponen then also cleared Rinicella at turn two, while Ugochukwu held off Wharton to win.

Taponen had to hold off Rinicella in a photo finish to secure third, after the latter also fell behind Stromsted but then got back ahead a few corners later.

Race results (11 laps)