With a field of 26 single-seaters ready to roar at Nevers Magny-Cours from August 23 to 25, the FIA-certified French F4 Championship continues to position itself as a major competition in Europe for training and detecting young drivers at the high level.
The title of French F4 Champion still promises to be highly coveted, particularly by three drivers who have been competing side by side since the start of the season and who remain separated by only a few points in the general classification after four of the seven events scheduled for 2024. Winner three times, the Belgian Yani Stevenheydens (Volant RACB 2022) leads the debates with 168 points ahead of Jules Caranta, also author of three victories and holder of a capital of 159 points. A small unit behind the Frenchman, the Japanese Taito Kato had to let go of his leadership during the previous event at the Nürburgring and will be keen to regain it.
Objectives to achieve
With 109 points, Chester Kieffer has lost contact with the leading trio, but his two successes acquired this season at Lédenon and Spa Francorchamps show that the Luxembourger has the potential to quickly catch up. For someone accustomed to places of honor like the Thai Rayan Caretti, the objective will be to climb on the first step of the podium for the first time and improve on his current 5th place in the French F4 Championship operated by the FFSA Academy. The Frenchman Augustin Bernier is in the same case. Boosted by a first top-3 at Spa Francorchamps and obtaining pole position at the Nürburgring, Volant Feed Racing 2023 intends to make it happen.
On a circuit which has already hosted the French Formula 18 Grand Prix 1 times, you will obviously have to watch the Andorran Frank Porte Ruiz, winner of a race at Lédenon and great host of the Nürburgring event in July with two podiums to his credit. The French Jules Roussel and Enzo Caldaras, as well as the Irish Alex O'Grady also tasted the honors of the podium and we feel that several academicians are close to doing the same: the Italian Leonardo Megna, 4th in Nogaro, the Briton Gabriel Doyle-Parfait, 4th at the Nürburgring, the Canadian Jason Leung, 6th at Nogaro, as well as the French Dylan Estre, 5th in Germany, and Arthur Dorison, increasingly impactful in qualifying.
Unhappy at home in July, the two German drivers supported by ADAC, Mathilda Paatz and Montego Maassen, have revenge to take. If the French Karel Schulz, Alexandre Munoz and Edouard Borgna have already opened their tally in terms of points, there are still a handful looking to do the same. In Nièvre, a 26th car will line up on the starting grid, it will be Lisa Billard, revealed in 2023 at the French Junior Karting Championship with the FFSA Academy and at the FIA Karting Academy Trophy.
F4 Nevers Magny-Cours program:
Friday August 23: Free practice (09:00 – 09:30) and qualifying practice (16:20 – 16:45)
Saturday August 24: Race 1 (09:55 – 10:25) and Race 2 (14:55 – 15:25)
Sunday August 25: Race 3 (08:25 – 08:55)
Ranking of the French F4 Championship (after 4 events)
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)
Romeo Elles (France)
Louis Schlesser (France)
Mathilda Paatz (Germany)
Paul Roques (France)
Arjun Chheda (India)
Debut at Magny-Cours: Lisa Billard (France)
Information & Tickets here
