NEWS FLASH: Three Canadians Make History in F4 U.S. at Brainerd
NEWS FLASH: Three Canadians Make History in F4 U.S. at Brainerd
The finish for the opening round of the Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda at Brainerd International Raceway was a history making moment for series as three Canadians topped the podium for the first time in championship history.
Nico Christodoulou drove from flag to flag for his first victory of the season for Velocity Racing Development in the No. 22 Ligier JS F4. Mac Clark started and finished second for Gonella Racing while Louka St-Jean slipped into third for his first podium of the season for one of the newest teams in the paddock iCar Racing.
A start-light malfunction sent the drivers from their standard F1-style standing-start into a single-file rolling start. On the opening lap, Seth Foley, Arturo "Artie" Flores and Emily Linscott got together on the exit of Turn 4 sending all three cars spinning to bring out the first Full Course Yellow. All three drivers were forced to retire from extensive damage.
On the restart, Jason Alder and Bijoy Garg locked wheels, spinning the No. 6 JHDD/CSU/One Cure machine into traffic. As cars scattered, St-Jean charged up the middle from ninth to third in the No. 98 ICAR, making it stick before the yellow was shown after incidental contact sent the car of Jake Bonilla rolling. Bonilla was unscathed but the race would end under yellow for cleanup.
Series newcomer Bryson Morris finished fourth with JHDD rookie Matt Christensen rounding out the top five. Twelfth-place starter Gabriel Fonseca finished sixth, with Chloe Chambers finishing with her best standing of the season in seventh.
Joseph Daniele had the drive of the race, making up 15 positions with limited green flag laps to finish eighth.
Oscar Haffar and Lucas Mann rounded out the top 10.