YOUNG RUSSIANS – AMONG THE BEST!
The final round of Formula 4 in the United Arab Emirates took place at the Yas Marina circuit, the winter championship in which young drivers prepare for the main season and stay in shape. The Arab Series traditionally attracts the most promising youngsters, and in 2023 several Russians competed against each other at once.
WHATON COLLISION – ROAD TO THE RUNWAY
The championship title in the final race was won by Australian James Wharton. He won races one and two and was 20 points ahead of Finn Tuukka Taponen going into the final start. At first, the two traditionally lunged forward, but in a bunch of 12 or 13 turns, the title contenders collided with each other and lost their point chances, automatically making Wharton the champion.
OUR: NOT IN AWARDS, BUT NEAR
The Russian pilots did not reach the prizes, but almost all were able to shine during the weekend. So, in the first race, Georgy Zhuravsky and Victoria Blokhina had the best results of the season – they finished in 19th and 22nd places.
At the same time, due to car problems on the warm-up lap, Blokhin had to start from the pit lane, and as a result, Victoria was ahead of half the field during the race. Alexander Bolduev is at the 26th line, and Alexander Abkhazava, who made up five positions in the early rounds, fell back to the finish line to 32nd.
Abkhazava kept fighting in the second moto and fell just outside the top ten, however due to a collision with Kai Darianani he retired. But Bolduev finished in tenth place, having won the first test score of the season. Blokhin also had a brilliant race: from 34th at the start, Victoria moved up to 22nd, repeating her best result of the season. Zhuravsky, following the results of the second race, is on the 25th line.
Finally, in the final race of the season, Abkhazava moved from 29th starting to 21st, Blokhin moved to 28th starting from 35th, Zhuravsky took the 30th line, and Bolduev qualified 32nd after a fine.
SMAL IS ABOVE OTHER COMPATRIANS
It should be noted that at the end of the season, Kirill Smal became the best of the Russians: in the first stage he scored 22 points, and in the final standings he ranked 16th. Abkhazava was 28th with two points, Bolduev rose to 29th. th position due to points scored in Abu Dhabi.
RESULTS AND PROTOCOLS
The final position of the F-4 UAE of the 2023 season (top 10):
1. James Wharton (Mumbai Falcons) – 232 points.2. Tuukka Taponen (Bombay Falcons) – 212.3. Hugo Ugochukwu (Prema) – 185.4. Valerio Rinicella (MP) – 171.5. Arvid Lindblad (High Tech GP) – 107.6. Brando Badoer (Pinnacle VAR) – 69.7. Keanu Al-Azhari (Yas Heat) – 63.8. Zachary David (Race GP) – 59.9. Noah Stroemsted (PHM) – 55.10. Valentin Kluss (PHM) – 50.
…sixteen. Kirill Small (MP) – 22.
…28. Alexander Abkhazava (Race GP) – 2.
…29. Alexander Bolduev (Xcel) – 1.
