Untouchable Slater doubles up in Italian F4 race two at Misano

Photo: ACI Sport

Prema’s Freddie Slater continued his domination of round one of the Italian Formula 4 seasson at Misano with a second straight lights-to-flag victory.

This time he had to cope with three safety car periods but was still able to control the race, rebuilding his lead on each restart. His team-mate Alex Powell again had to accept second, unable to challenge Slater but clear of any threat from behind. US Racing’s Akshay Bohra finished third, just holding off a charging drive from Jenzer Motorsport’s Reno Francot at the line.

Slater made another perfect getaway off the line to cover any challenge from Powell, who in turn closed the door on Bohra.

Prema’s Kean Nakamura Berta was the big loser on lap one, dropping to seventh from the second row on the grid and forced to defend from PHM Racing’s Davide Larini.

Larini made a dive to the inside of Nakamura, with the two colliding and the former’s car landing on top of the latter’s. With both stranded on the exit of turn two, the safety car was deployed.

When racing resumed, Francot passed Van Amersfoort Racing’s Hiyu Yamakoshi for fourth and then the safety car was out again following an incident for VAR’s Alvise Rodella.

Slater again made a break when green flags flew at the end of lap six, building a lead of almost a second on the next lap.

Prema’s Rashid Al Dhaheri and Jenzer’s Ethan Ischer closed onto the tail of Yamakoshi, who locked up more than once under braking as he fought to defend fifth.

Slater had a consolidated lead and set a new fastest lap on the ninth tour, as he and Powell gapped Bohra who was now coming under pressure from Francot. A disastrous race for VAR then got even worse as Gustav Jonsson and Andrija Kostic pulled off track and the safety car was needed once again.

Slater backed up the field before timing his return to racing speed perfectly out of the final corner when the restart occurred with seven minutes remaining of the half-hour race.

Ischer renewed his attack on Al Dhaheri as Prema’s Dion Gowda and R-ace GP’s Luka Sammalisto sat right behind awaiting any opening. Further back, a collision with Enea Frey pitched Kamal Mrad into the barriers but racing was able to continue with double waved yellows at turn four.

Slater was untroubled thereon, and finished the 18-lap encounter 1.437 seconds ahead of Powell.

Francot made a late challenge for the final podium position but had to give best to Bohra by just 0.158s.

Prema’s Tomass Stolcermanis showed strong race pace after a disappointing qualifying left him on the grid’s eighth row, finishing ninth.

Race results (18 laps)