F.4 – Joao Vieira preparing the second round at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit of Imola

After the positive debut in the Italian F.4 Championship powered by Abarth, marked by the first points scored at the Adria International Raceway, for Joao Vieira it’s now time for the second round scheduled next weekend at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit.

Waiting for the first green lights of Imola, the 16-year-old Brazilian driver came back at the wheel of Tatuus F4 T014 of Antonelli Motorsport Team at Mugello, signing his debut on the Tuscan track that will host the third weekend of this new series, strongly supported by FIA. For Joao it was an opportunity to get acquainted with the demanding layout of the international track owned by Ferrari, characterized by important slope changes and very fast and blind corners, such ad the “two Angry” (in Italian, “Le due arrabbiate”).

A positive start, that saw Joao firmly occupying the top positions and scoring important time results, with steady improvements at each session. “It has been a very fruitful day and I was positively surprised by the fast adaptation of Joao to the track, considering that he had never seen the circuit before. With the used compounds he was the fastest and only a technical problem denied him the opportunity to sign the best performance with a new set”, the manager Giovanni Minardi comments.

In preparation of the second round, the 16 year-old driver native of Gurupi moved to the headquarters of the Mestrino based Bhai Tech Advanced Vehicle Science Centre for a session in the simulator. “I’ve had the opportunity to study the track and trajectories. In this way I will have the opportunity to work easily once on the circuit”, Joao Vieira comments. “With regard to the Mugello track, I liked it straight away. A very technical track with fast and difficult corners. The work with the team was focused on the weekend of race”, the Minardi Management’s driver continues. The head, however, is already in Imola. “After scoring points in Adria, the goal is the podium. On the simulator I started studying the track and the ‘Acque Minerali’ and ‘Rivazza’ are the two most demanding corners”, the Brazilian concludes.

The curtains on the weekend at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola will be risen on Friday 27th June with three free practice sessions, in preparation for Saturday’s qualifying (28th June, 11.10 am and 12.00 am), which will determine the starting grid of the two rounds of competition (28’ + 1 Lap), beginning on Saturday at 5.30 pm and Sunday at 4.50 pm. In between, starting at 10.50 am, the sprint race (18’ + 1 Lap).