Verschoor is First Ever Winner in Spanish F4

The first round of the F4 Spanish Championship was run on Saturday, which saw the first ever qualifying session. The eleven drivers were prompt to start the fifteen minute session with Roope Markkanen holding on top provisional pole for the first two laps before Alexander Vartanyan (Drivex) went faster. Behind them, Richard Verschoor was running strongly and preparing himself for a push for pole, ahead of Xavier Lloveras, Jarno Opmeer and Juuso Puhakka of MP Motorsport. The Red Bull Junior driver Verschoor ended the session with the fastest lap, being the first pole-sitter of the Spanish F4 Championship. Completing the top five were Russian Vartanyan, Roope Markkanen, Lloveras and Opmeer.

The afternoon started with an historic moment, with Race 1 being held under blazing sunshine. Verschoor made a decent start, keeping the lead, while Roope Markkanen, Double R’s crazy starter, shot into 2nd while Opmeer improved to 3rd. Vartanyan made a very bad start and found himself down in 6th after the first corner. Unfortunately Juho Valtanen got involved in a tangle with Rasmus Markkanen and was forced to retire in T6. The race was full of action, with Lloveras fighting to defend his position from Vartanyan who was making a strong recovery, but eventually the Russian got the upper hand and took 4th. Tuomas Tujula was the early pace setter, catching Nikita Volegov, but the Finn never got the chance to pass the Drivex driver. As the race went on, Opmeer tried a move on Roope Markkanen, allowing Vartanyan to catch both of them. The three drivers arrived on the main straight wheel to wheel and it was Vartanyan who made it stick, overtaking both cars on the inside for 2nd, Markkanen keeping 3rd. On the final lap of this dramatic race, Opmeer saw an opportunity to pass Roope Markkanen and the Dutchman was through on his second attempt which put him 3rd. Up ahead Verschoor claimed a lights to flag victory, with a gap of 4.1 seconds to his nearest rival.

The day ended with sceond qualifying, and this time it was Drivex’s Vartanyan who set the fastest time early in the session, and then contrinued to go ever faster to claim pole position for Race 3, his first ever pole position in an F4 championship. Verschoor was fighting with fellow Dutchman Opmeer, but Tujula got himself into the mix and set the third fastest lap, pushing Opmeer down to 5th, behind the surprise of the session, Nikita Volegov, who qualified 4th. Roope Markkanen couldn’t improve on 4th, ahead of Lloveras and Valtanen, followed by Rasmus Markkanen, Tuomas Haapalainen and the unfortunate Juuso Puhakka who was penalised for not respecting track limits.

Saturday’s action is now over, and tomorrow sees an early start with Race 2 kicking off at 08:30, followed by Race 3 at 15:55.