F.4 – Joao Vieira greets the first season with the fastest lap at Imola
Standings in hand, love hasn’t blossomed between the Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit and Joao Vieira, who ended his first season in formula and in the Italian F.4 Championship powered by Abarth, at Imola. Scene of the seventh and final round of the F.4 Tricolored, Imola has left, in a certain sense, a bitter taste in mouth of the young Brazilian driver of Antonelli Motorsport, that had to say goodbye to the paddock with only a reward of 5 points, which don’t reflect the true potential.
Author of a season gone from strength to strength, Joao ended the championship scoring the fastest lap in race-2 and the second in race-3, behind only the much more experienced French Maisano, demonstrating that even here there were all the conditions to do well. However, the first venture into the world of formulas ends with a total reward of 93 points, seventh place in general standings, two podiums thanks to third place in the demanding Mugello Circuit and second place in the “Temple of Speed” of Monza and different placements in score-zone.
“Week-end that confirmed the leap seen in the last appointments. I’m very happy because he finally grasped the difficult track of Imola, scoring the fastest lap in race-2 and the second in race-3“, the Manager Giovanni Minardi says. “Unfortunately, he was marked by ups and down, together with misfortunes that have not allowed him to collect what he deserved. The potential would allow us to fight for victory in all three races, but a little bad luck and errors dictated by youth took us away the greatest satisfaction. It remains the awareness of having completed a season in crescendo. We got to fight with the best of the class and we are ready to challenge for the title of next season“, the manager of Minardi Management comments. “I conclude with congratulations to all staff of Marco Antonelli, who helped us to make great strides since first day of test“.
“On the hand of result, it wasn’t the weekend I would have expected. There remains the consolation for having scored the fastest lap in race-2 and the second in the last race. Anyway, I’m happy with my progress in this season. I really learned a lot, both on track and at technical level. I came to fight with the first drivers, winning two podiums and several placements“, Joao Vieira says. “Now, we will decide the next programs“.