FRENCH F4 CHAMPIONSHIP - PAUL RICARD HTTT - RACE 2

14/11 - Pierre Gasly by a thread

Pierre Gasly © DPPI

On the Paul Ricard circuit, Pierre Gasly turns his pole position into victory again but for this time at the last minute! This new success enables him to get the 3rd place of the final podium. Hence, he ends his season like a whirlwind. On the last podium of the year, he meets the F4 French Champion Matthieu Vaxivière and Aurélien Panis who gets on the 3rd step of the podium as last May in the streets of Pau.

Once again, the sun and the public accompany the ultimate race! Unfortunately, the Spaniard Victor Colomé is excluded from the meeting and Alexandre Mantovani, 2nd of the first race hold in the “Var”, is forced to abandon as from the first lap (broken transmission). As from now, 19 single-seaters are ready to dash in the race, once more, Pierre Gasly, the winner of yesterday’s race being in the leading position. Matthieu Vaxivière is standing by his side as yesterday, followed by Andréa Pizzitola and Alexandre Mantovani whereas this time Aurélien Panis and Sébastien Ogier exchange places on the third line.

The pole man Gasly totally bungles his start while Matthieu Vaxivière produces a perfect start and enters the first curve as a leader, closely followed by Andréa Pizzitola and Sébastien Ogier. Unfortunately this first curve proves fatal for Paul Petit and the Finnish Patrick Kujala. Pierre Gasly is now under attack from Pierre Sancinéna who has to contain Aurélien Panis. Though they started respectively from the 11th and 15th position in the grid, Jordan Perroy and the Andorran Alex Loan Ventura are now fighting for the 7th place watched by Cyril Raymond.

Decided to forget yesterday’s misadventure, Aurélien Panis quicky leaves behing Pierre Sancinéna and is now driving a strong race to rejoin Pierre Gasly. The latter leapfrogs his way past Sébastien Ogier who scarcely resists. Entering the straight lane by the pits, Pierre Sancinéna spins after Jordan Perroy slightly hits him. When getting back on the track, he cannot avoid Tristan Papavoine. The latter sadly had to put an end to his race while Pierre Sancinéna is stuck between the Belgian Kévin Balthazar and the Polish Tomasz Krzeminski almost at the bottom of the squad. To keep his 3rd position in the Championship, he must get points and above all, Pierre Gasly must not win the race! Unfortunately, he has to abandon at the following lap. However, for the moment Matthieu Vaxivière leads the race with a comfortable gap just when Andréa Pizzitola is losing pace and Pierre Gasly is dangerously heaving into view. The ex French go-kart team driver launches a successful attack just like Alex Loan Ventura on Jordan Perroy or Francisco-Javier Suárez on Cyril Raymond. The Spaniard keeps going and overtakes Parth Ghorpade while Aurélien Panis pass Sébastien Ogier.

Leading, Matthieu Vaxivière keeps his leadership benefiting from the fight going on between the trio Gasly/Pizzitola/Panis. Sébastien Ogier drives alone. A few cables length away from him, Alex Loan Ventura leads the dance before the condensed and fighting group composed of Perroy, Suarez and Ghorpade. The second mentioned takes advantage. As for Aurélien Panis, he finally succeeds in lunging past Andréa Pizzitola to gain the 3rd place. With the credit of the record time of the race, the son of the F1 ex-driver does not intend not to move on! Approaching Pierre Gasly, he launches an attack, in vain. However, Parth Ghorpade pounces Francisco-Javier Suarez and deprives him of 7th. Matthieu Vaxivière seems to be on the way to end his season with a victory but dramatic turn of events, Pierre Gasly crosses the finish straight 1st and gets his 4th victory of the season. Therefore, he owns the record this year which enables him to get the 3rd place of the final podium despite being equal at points 104 with Pierre Sancinéna. Andréa Pizzitola and Sébastien Ogier complete the top Five. The winner of the 2011 France-Alsace Rally is obviously more than comfortable at the wheel of the Formula Academy and one can imagine watching him again in this discipline.

To be noted the remarkable round of Loan Ventura, Ghorpade – who started on the 18th position on the grid!- and Suarez who is ahead of Cyril Raymond and Jordan Perroy in the Top Ten. To be stressed as well the good performance of Maël Le Gall who finishes 12th behind the Belgian Kévin Balthazar. Winner of the 2010 young go-kart challenge, finalist at the young rally challenge this year, he has more than one string to his bow and managed to play his game well among the experimented drivers of the F4 Championship. A young man to be followed... just as a fair number of the 2011 Academicians who should be watched in the upper level in the near future!

Pierre Gasly: “I had to win this race and Pierre Sancinéna could not finish in the Top Ten. He abandoned, I am not enjoying it but this is the race. I made a very bad start, I am not pleased with myself at all. I then started 4th and I already knew that the race would be hard. Slowly, I came back but Matthieu had already built up a gap. Nevertheless, I did not give up and at the end of the race, I caught up with him and could overtake him! I am happy to get the 3rd place of the Championship even though it was not the aim I had in mind at the beginning of the year!”

Matthieu Vaxivière: “As from the first lap, I told myself I had to build up a gap from the beginning and it is true that the fight has helped me. Then I kept the pace but in the last laps, I had a problem with my single-seater and Pierre overtook me. It is true though that winning the title yesterday lets me to take things less to heart and above all we remember the winner not especially the one who won the most races. Anyway, I mean to thank the mechanics and the whole team of Auto Sport Academy for this wonderful year as well as my sponsors and my family who have helped and supported me. ”

Aurélien Panis: “I am happy to finish with a podium, particularly after yesterday’s disillusion. At the start, I lost two places but I managed to climb up as my tyres were fresher than those of my competitors because of my withdrawal of yesterday. I would like to get the title next year but we shall see!”.

Sébastien Ogier: “It was a terrific week-end and I particularly enjoyed running this finale of the F4 French Championship. I am quite satisfied with the level I showed for a first experience in this discipline against young drivers who were well into their stride and more trained. I made progress all along the week-end and notably in the 2nd race when I was very close from the leaders. Many thanks to the French Motorsport Federation and Auto Sport Academy for inviting me. I hope to renew the experience next year.”