F4 France at Misano: Giltaire wins by a whisker against Peugeot in C3

The fifth meeting of the 4 French F2023 Championship did not lack interest. The expected mano a mano between Enzo Peugeot and Evan Giltaire, who are both aiming for the title, took place, as did the one between Romain Andriolo and the Canadian Kevin Koster for provisional third place.

The Japanese Hiyu Yamakoshi is the big loser of this stage in Misano (Italy), which allowed drivers like Edgar Pierre and the American Garrett Berry to confirm their rise to power.

A thrilling end to Race 3

Thanks to its double pole position obtained on Friday during the qualifying session, Peugeot was once again placed inside the starting grid for Race 3 and did not fail to maintain its position when the lights went out. Giltaire, Andriolo and the Romanian Andrei Duna immediately took over the lead, leaving Foster to worry Pierre for 5th place.

A collision in the heart of the peloton led to the retirement of the German Max Reis and the exit of the safety car. During the neutralization, Yamakoshi was surprised during a slowdown and could not avoid the car by the Italian Leonardo Megna. Both drivers retired instantly, forcing the safety car to quickly return to the track. Garrett Berry just had time to pass Louis Schlesser to move into 7th position.

The race ended up getting back on track for some wild final minutes! Three duos would battle it out with great intensity: Peugeot / Giltaire for victory, Andriolo / Foster for the podium and Pierre / Berry for 5th place.

Giltaire had to wait until the start of the last lap to find the opening on Peugeot, which was trying to replicate a few turns further from the outside in order to regain the advantage. But in his maneuver, Enzo exceeded the limits of the track and saw himself demoted to 2nd place.

Winner, Giltaire took the opportunity to maintain the lead in the French Championship, but only seven points separate the two French hopefuls before the last two events.

Behind, Andriolo retained his 3rd place despite Foster's attacks and scored a third consecutive podium at Misano. For less than eight hundredths, Pierre did not give in to Berry and took his third 4th place in the meeting.

Often fast throughout the event, Louis Schlesser finished in 7th position, leaving the last places in the top-10 to Karel Schulz, Enzo Richer and the Spaniard Pol Lopez.

See you from September 22 to 24 in Lédenon (Gard) for the rest of the 4 French F2023 Championship.

> Ranking of Race 3

1. Evan Giltaire (France) with 11 rounds

2. Enzo Peugeot (France) at -0.308

3. Romain Andriolo (France) at 0.759

4. Kevin Foster (Canada) at 1.154

5. Edgar Pierre (France) at 1.911

6. Garrett Berry (United States) at 1.987

7. Louis Schlesser (France) at 3.467

8. Karel Schulz (France) at 4.180

9. Enzo Richer (France) at 4.403

10. Pol Lopez (Spain) at 4.658

11. Adrien Closmenil (France) at 5.684

12. Tom Kalender (Germany) at 8.291

13. Frank Porte Ruiz (Andorra) at 12.484

14. Jason Leung (Canada) at 12.505

15. Paul Alberto (France) at 12.665

16. Yaroslav Veselaho (Ukraine) at 13.264

17. Luca Savu (Romania) at 13.549

18. Joao Paulo Diaz Balesteiro (Colombia) at 14.393

19. Yani Stevenheydens (Belgium) at 19.272

20. Gabriel Doyle-Parfait (Great Britain), retirement in the 11th round

21. Andrei Duna (Romania), retirement in the 9th lap

22. Leonardo Megna (Italy), retirement in the 4th lap

23. Hiyu Yamakoshi (Japan), retirement in the 4th lap

24. Max Reis (Germany), retirement in the 2nd lap

25. Edouard Borgna (France), non-starter

Pole position: Peugeot in 1’37”469

MT: Peugeot in 1:38.386 (avg. 154,6 km/h)