Finns Dominate on Sunday at Navarra

The final day of competition got off to a very early start for Race 2, with quite different temperatures to what everyone had become used to. The starting grid of the 18 minute + 1 lap race was based on the results of Race 1 so Richard Verschoor started from pole ahead of Alexander Vartanyan and Jarno Opmeer. Vartanyan made a poor start, dropping out of the top 3, and had to start a fightback almost immediately.

Meanwhile Tuomas Tujula was 2nd but had jumped the start and so had to serve a drive through penalty. When he rejoined he was last. Elsewhere Rasmus Markkanen suffered contact and spun at the end of the first lap. As the race went on, Juho Valtanen got into a fight with Tuomas Haapalainen before he managed to overtake his Finnish teammate, towing Juuso Puhakka from MP Motorsport along with him for 7th.

There was action everywhere and up front MP Motorsport driver Opmeer overtook Verschoor in a high-speed move and launched a fight between them. Verschoor tried to reclaim the lead from his teammate, but both cars ran wide and Roope Markkanen used the moment to steal the lead of this eventful race. At the chequered flag, Markkanen claimed his first ever win in a single-seater category, while Verschoor took second and Opmeer ended third.

“It’s awesome! The race was very good, and it’s my first win ever in an F4 Championship. It is a crazy feeling” – Roope Markkanen

Race 3 came at the end of the afternoon, with Vartanyan sitting in pole position. Unfortunately, given it was his first ever pole, the Russian stalled on the grid, as did his teammate Nikita Volegov. Verschoor took the lead of the pack, but suffered a puncture which led to his retirement, heanding the lead to Tujula, with Opmeer behind him, having to fight to defend his place from Xavi Lloveras. But at the end of the main straight, the Spaniard tried a move on Opmeer, which led to the Dutchman dropping to 4th, and forced Lloveras to retire. Finally Tujula was crowned Race 3 winner, from Roope Markkanen and Juuso Puhakka.

The next round of the Spanish F4 Championship will take place at the Circuito de Motorland on 25th/26th June.