Opmeer Takes Maiden Single Seater Win in Sochi

The first round of the season, which took place with the 2016 FORMULA 1 RUSSIAN GRAND PRIX this weekend on Sochi Autodrom, came to an end and it was not without a fantastic fight!

Dutch driver Jarno Opmeer was sitting in pole position as he signed the second best lap of the Friday qualifying session.

As the race started, Opmeer and Verschoor raced wheel-to-wheel through the first corner, but Opmeer finally had the upper hand on the fight and took the lead of the pack.

Behind them, Finns Roope Markkanen and Juho Valtanen had a contact, taking them both out of the race while Alex Korneev and Henri Kauppi took an impressive start, coming all the way up to P3, fighting for a podium step.

The fight was raging on the front as Richard Verschoor tried a move on Jarno Opmeer who defended his position and spun, touching hardly Verschoor in the process who broke his steering. Race 1 winner was therefore out of the race as he entered the pits with a damaged car and Alex Korneev took the lead of the race with Nikita Sitnikov right behind him.

At the same time Aleksander Maslennikov airboned, breaking down his Tatuus F4-2014 car, obliging the appearence of the safety car on track, allowing Jarno Opmeer to catch the leaders from his third position.

After the safety car came in, Vartanyan was again showing his amazing driving skills, going all his way up to P4, overtaking Finn Rasmus Markkanen on the lap 8.

Tuomas Haapalainen had a very bad start, dropping down to P16 on lap 1, but with a very good driving and some safe and clean overtaking, the Finn ended the weekend in P6.

Vladimir Tziortzis and Danny Kroes fought all along the 25 minutes + 1lap race, but the Dutch finally managed to pass the Russian and went up to P7, Tziortzis finished P10, scoring his first points in the F4 NEZ Championship certified by FIA.

By lap 8, Jarno Opmeer who overtook Nikita Sitnikov for P2, and his eyes in Korneev gearbox and finally overtook his Russian opponent to cruise to his maiden victory of the season.

“It was my first single-seater race weekend and I can’t express how happy I am. I had a lot of fun and eventually leaving Sochi Autodrom as the championship leader is giving me a new confidence. On top of this, winning In front of the Formula One paddock is an indescribable feeling”, commented Jarno Opmeer

“It is good to be back in the F4 NEZ Championship, I had a good time this weekend and I’m happy with the results. The new drivers are very good and I am looking forward to meet them again in the future”, Aleksey Korneev

“It could ve been better, but still it’s a good result. There are many other races coming and this first taste of the podium gives me even more energy for the coming race in Zandvoort”, commented Nikita Sitnikov.

The F4 NEZ Championship is now heading to Zandvoort, for the second round of the season which will take place on 14th and 15th of May.