Third win as Hadrian David dominates season-opening FIA Formula 4 SEA Championship 08.04.2019: Frenchman Hadrian David proved to be unstoppable this weekend as he swept to a sensational third victory in this evening’s Race 4 of the FIA Formula 4 SEA Championship - fueled by Petron - yesterday.

Frenchman Hadrian David proved to be unstoppable this weekend as he swept to a sensational third victory in this evening’s Race 4 of the FIA Formula 4 SEA Championship - fueled by Petron - yesterday.
 


After bagging one race the day before and another earlier yesterday morning, David completed a stunning season-opening weekend when he dominated the last race at the Sepang International Circuit.



From pole, David charged into the first turn and led all the way to the end, finishing in a time of 20 minutes 32.616 seconds. For the record, the other winner this week was Sweden’s Emil Skaras, who won Race 2.
 


And yesterday, just two laps in, the race was red-flagged following a huge crash involving Dane Malthe Jakobsen whose car flipped after colliding with another driver. After the damaged car removed and debris cleared, the race resumed with David leading the pack and holding on to his lead to the chequered flag.
 


Irish driver Lucca Allen, who has been consistent this weekend, was just over a second behind the winner and earned another podium finish. Allen is the only driver to be on the podium in all four races, he finished second thrice and third once.
 


Finland's Emil Seppanen took his chances well to move up the field and finish Race 4 third in 20:34.316.
 


Meanwhile, in Race 3 earlier in the morning, David shot ahead in the fourth lap and held on for a comfortable win in a time of 20 minutes 09.336 seconds in the nine-lap race.
 


Jakobsen rolled in just over two seconds later while Allen made the podium for a third time in a row. Jakobsen had a time of 20:11.414 with Allen coming in third on 20:19.648.
 


Jokobsen led in the beginning with David, Malaysian Alister Yoong, Iraq’s Ali Akabi and Allen hot on his heels. As they jostled for better positions, Alister and Akabi were involved in a collision and dropped behind. David kept his head down and took on Jakobsen and before long was leading the charge. 
 


“I was happy to win two races. It was a nice battle with Jakobsen, I managed to overtake him outside on Turn 5 and it was really close. I managed to build a gap and was really happy with the result,” said David.
 


Just behind the leading trio, a huge battle involving five drivers was unfolding. In the end, Australia’s Josh Smith kept his head down took fourth, with Elias Seppanen, Muizz Musyaffa, Emil Skaras and Shrien Naidoo crossing the line within seconds of each other.
 


Round 2 of the FIA Formula 4 SEA Championship – fueled by Petron – is scheduled in two weeks here in Sepang from April 19-21 with another four races being contested.
 




TODAY’S RESULTS


Race 3 (9 laps)


1. Hadrian David (FRA)            20 minutes 09.336 seconds
2. Malthe Jakobsen (DNK)       20:11.414
3. Luca Allen (IRL)                      20:19.648
4. Josh Smith (AUS)                   20:25.767
5. Elias Seppanen (FIN)            20:26.076
6. Muizz Musyaffa (MAS)        20:26.479
7. Emil Skaras (SWE)                 20:27.122
8. Shrien Naidoo (ZAF)             20:33.512
9. Lyubov Ozeretkovskaya (KAZ) 20:51.735
10. Abdallah Beshara (BHR)    21:06.085
 



Race 4 (9 laps)

1. Hadrian David (FRA)            20:32.616
2. Luca Allen (IRL)                      20:33.706
3. Elias Seppanen (FIN)            20:34.316
4. Josh Smith (AUS)                   20:34.796
5. Shrien Naidoo (ZAF)             20:37.036
6. Emil Skaras (SWE)                 20:38.420
7. Ali Akabi (IRQ)                        20:40.557
8. Alister Yoong (MAS)             20:42.000
9. Muizz Musyaffa (MAS)        20:51.789
10. Lyubov Ozeretkovskaya (KAZ) 20:55.219
 


 
YESTERDAY’S RESULTS


Race 1 (9 laps)


1. Hadrian David (FRA)            20:11.816
2. Luca Allen (IRL)                      20:15.981
3. Malthe Jakobsen (DNK)       20:18.057
4. Elias Seppanen (FIN)            20:19.590
5. Alister Yoong (MAS)             20:24.237
6. Josh Smith (AUS)                   20:27.040
7. Sharien Naidoo (ZAF)           20:33.512
8. Emil Skaras (SWE)                 20:51.278
9. Ali Akabi (IRQ)                        20:56.221
10. Lyubov Ozeretkovskaya (KAZ) 20:58.076
 


Race 2 (7 laps)

1. Emil Skaras (SWE)                16:25.820
2. Luca Allen (IRL)                      16:26.315
3. Elias Seppanen (FIN)            16:29.551
4. Muizz Musyaffa (MAS)        16:30.021
5. Sharien Naidoo (ZAF)           16:31.296
6. Josh Smith (AUS)                   16:41.355
7. Hadrian David (FRA)             16:53.151        
8. Alister Yoong (MAS)             16:55.279
9. Ali Akabi (IRQ)                        16:55.731
10. Malthe Jakobsen (DNK)     17:00.191
 
 
 
RACE CALENDAR 2019


1    Apr 5-7    Malaysia    Sepang    1 to 4
2    Apr 19-21    Malaysia    Sepang    5 to 8
3    May 10-12    Thailand    Buriram    9 to 12
4    June 7-9    Thailand    Buriram    13 to 16
5    July 12-14    India    Madras    17 to 20
6    July 19-21    India    Madras    21 to 24
7    Aug 23-25    Malaysia    Sepang    25 to 28
8    Sept 27-29    Malaysia    Sepang    29 to 32
9    Nov 15-17    Philippines    Clark    33 to 36
10    Nov 22-24    Philippines    Clark    37 to 40
 
 
 

- Abdul Rahman, photo Thompson Aaron