The winner for the seventh time this season, Hadrien David will not have to wait for the last race on Sunday to be crowned the French F4 Champion. Mettetal won Race 2 while Bernier took the Junior title.
Hadrien David has experienced a particularly intense 24 hours with pole position, a brilliant victory in Race 1 with the fastest lap, a rousing seven-place climb with a podium in Race 2 and the assurance of winning the 2019 FIA-certified French F4 Championship. “After pole position on Friday, I absolutely wanted to win Race 1. Victor Bernier did not make it easy by exerting a lot of pressure behind me, which forced me to raise the pace even more. I also set another fastest lap in the race! Winning the French F4 Championship title was clearly my goal at the start of the season and I am very happy to win it. Race 2 was still pretty exciting and all I have to do is finish on Sunday in Race 3.”
For Reshad De Gerus, there was no miracle. In difficulty during the Qualifying session, he gave up his last hopes of the title when he retired after a collision in Race 1.
Deserved podium for Victor Bernier
In the wake of Hadrien David, Victor Bernier impressed the observers. More than ever, his frontrunning performances of the last races have been confirmed at Paul Ricard. “I really had very good pace. I think I have made further progress in managing my race starts. The track was still wet in places, so it was not easy to go off the line to try to overtake. But it is true that Hadrian did not make mistakes.”
Victor was himself under threat from Nicky Hays, very fast on the Formula 1 French Grand Prix circuit. “I had an excellent start to the race. I had the performance, I held the fastest lap for a while, then the balance of the car deteriorated a little and I preferred to secure the third step of the podium.”
Behind him, Ugo Gazil spared no effort to finish 4th and achieve one of his best performances of the season. The surprise came from Sami Meguetounif, entered in this meeting to prepare for his next season in the FFSA Academy Championship. He gained a place and took 5th in his first car race ahead of Jules Mettetal. Another newcomer, Esteban Masson showed great competitiveness and had just joined the top six before spinning. A clash eliminated Isack Hadjar and relegated Gillian Henrion to 12th position. Evan Spenle showed great determination to slip into 7th place ahead of Sweden’s Simon Ohlin, Enzo Valente and Russia’s Vladislav Lomko.
Jules Mettetal the 11th winner of the season!
As so often this season, Race 2 has resulted in a magnificent show, with constant overtaking. Jules Mettetal celebrated this time. “It all happened in the first few laps,” confirmed the 2019 Winfield Volant winner. “At first, I was able to overtake Ohlin, before winning my duel with Spenle. At the start of the fourth lap, I was able to take Valente under braking and I immediately had the opportunity to attempt a pass on Lomko. As he blocked me, I used the slipstream and I chose to pass him from the outside to the Signes curve.” After this superb manoeuvre, Mettetal easily pulled away and imposed by more than 6 seconds. He is the 11th winner of this exciting season!
Also driving an attacking race, Enzo Valente didn’t hide his satisfaction as he returned to the podium. While Hadrien David gained seven places to complete the podium, Victor Bernier won another Junior victory and secured the title, while setting the fastest lap. 5th ahead of Ohlin, Evan Spenle again scored important points in the championship. Starting 12th, Gillian Henrion climbed to 7th position.
For his second meeting of the season in F4, Lomko led the race, but lacked experience to take his place at the forefront against sharp competition. Sami Meguetounif, Nicky Hays and Isack Hadjar retired too soon.
Timetable Race 3: Sunday 13th October at 09:50
