Compétition

F4 Academy: Suspense expected at Magny-Cours

With a field of 26 single-seaters ready to roar at Magny-Cours from 23rd to 25th August, the FIA-certified French F4 Championship continues to position itself as a major competition in Europe for identifying and training young drivers for the top level. The French F4 Championship is still very much up for grabs, particularly for three […]

The French F4 Championship is still very much up for grabs, particularly for three drivers who have been neck and neck since the start of the season and who remain separated by just a few points in the overall standings after four of the seven events scheduled for 2024. Three-time winner Yani Stevenheydens (Volant RACB 2022) leads the way with 168 points ahead of Jules Caranta, who has also won three races and has 159 points to his name. Just one point behind the Frenchman, Japan’s Taito Kato had to relinquish his lead at the previous round at the Nürburgring and will be keen to regain it.

Targets to aim for

With 109 points, Chester Kieffer has lost touch with the leading trio, but his two wins this season at Lédenon and Spa Francorchamps show that the Luxembourger has the potential to make up ground very quickly. For Thailand’s Rayan Caretti, who is used to finishing in the top three, the aim will be to climb onto the top step of the podium for the first time and improve on his current 5th place in the French F4 Championship run by the FFSA Academy. Frenchman Augustin Bernier is in a similar situation. Boosted by his first top three finish at Spa Francorchamps and pole position at the Nürburgring, the 2023 Volant Feed Racing driver is aiming to go one better.

On a circuit which has already hosted the French Formula 1 Grand Prix on 18 occasions, Andorran driver Frank Porte Ruiz, who won a race at Lédenon and was the star of the Nürburgring race in July with two podium finishes, will obviously be keeping a close eye on his rivals. Frenchmen Jules Roussel and Enzo Caldaras, as well as Irishman Alex O’Grady, also tasted podium honours, and it seems that several academicians are close to doing the same: Italian Leonardo Megna, 4th at Nogaro, Briton Gabriel Doyle-Parfait, 4th at the Nürburgring, Canadian Jason Leung, 6th at Nogaro, as well as Frenchmen Dylan Estre, 5th in Germany, and Arthur Dorison, who was increasingly impressive in Qualifying.

The two German drivers supported by the ADAC, Mathilda Paatz and Montego Maassen, were unfortunate on home soil in July and have revenge on their minds. While France’s Karel Schulz, Alexandre Munoz and Edouard Borgna have already opened their points account, there are still a handful of others looking to do the same. In the Nièvre region, a 26th single-seater will line up on the starting grid: Lisa Billard, a revelation in 2023 in the French Junior Karting Championship with the FFSA Academy and in the FIA Karting Academy Trophy.

> F4 Magny-Cours 2024 programme

Friday 23 August: Free Practice (09:00 – 09:30) and Qualifying Practice (16:20 – 16:45)
Saturday 24 August: Race 1 (09:55 – 10:25) and Race 2 (14:55 – 15:25)
Sunday 25 August: Race 3 (08:25 – 08:55)

> Race duration: 20 minutes + 1 lap

> Mygale single-seater, Renault turbo engine, Pirelli tyres, 100% renewable Repsol fuel.

> French F4 Championship standings (after four rounds)
1 Yani Stevenheydens (Belgium) 168 points
2 Jules Caranta (France) 159 points
3 Taito Kato (Japan) 158 points
4 Chester Kieffer (Luxembourg) 109 points
5 Rayan Caretti (Thailand) 89 points
6 Frank Porte Ruiz (Andorra) 60 points
7 Augustin Bernier (France) 52 points
8 Jules Roussel (France) 45 points
9 Alex O’Grady (Ireland) 34 points
10 Leonardo Megna (Italy) 32 points
11 Jason Leung (Canada) 21 points
12 Dylan Estre (France) 20 points
13 Enzo Caldaras (France) 19 points
14 Gabriel Doyle-Parfait (Great Britain) 17 points
15 Arthur Dorison (France) 7 points
16 Montego Maassen (Germany) 4 points
16 Karel Schulz (France) 4 points
18 Alexandre Munoz (France) 2 points
19 Edouard Borgna (France) 1 point
Tom Le Brech (France)
Roméo Leurs (France)
Louis Schlesser (France)
Mathilda Paatz (Germany)
Paul Roques (France)
Arjun Chheda (India)
Magny-Cours debut: Lisa Billard (France)