F4 World Cup: Jules Roussel wins an epic race in Macau

With a remarkably quick start and a daring race, Jules Roussel emerged victorious this Sunday morning in the Macau Grand Prix. The first F4 World Cup winner at the Guia circuit, the Frenchman enjoyed a stellar weekend and achieved a superb feat in these challenging street conditions. Managing to overtake Italian Emanuele Olivieri in the first corner, thanks to a more convincing start than the pole-sitter, Roussel, who finished his French F4 season in third place, then had to contend with multiple restarts behind the safety car.

Indeed, following the initial accident caused by Zhang Shimo, Jules Roussel found himself in the role of the restarter, just ahead of Rayan Caretti, who had also made an excellent start behind Emanuele Olivieri. The two Frenchmen then engaged in a battle that lasted almost until the end of the race. Extending their lead over their pursuers, the third and fourth-placed drivers in the FFSA F4 championship were the main protagonists of the morning, constantly exchanging blows on the straights. Spotting an opening on the inside of the Lisboa corner, Rayan Caretti further intensified the duel, taking the lead with seven laps remaining.

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Roussel and Caretti raise the bar in Macau

Finally able to regain the lead before Mandarin Bend, with three laps to go, Jules Roussel managed to retake the lead and never relinquished it until the finish, which was completed under a yellow flag. Unfortunately for Rayan Caretti, who had enjoyed a very positive weekend in terms of pace – the Frenchman started the qualifying race in 15th place – a slight error from second position sent him into the barriers, forcing him to retire after a race he had otherwise managed with great skill.

Consequently, the podium, punctuated by an a cappella rendition of the Marseillaise sung by the French engineers present in Macau, was completed by Italian Emanuele Olivieri and Japanese Rintaro Sato, also a member of the FFSA Academy this year. Unfortunately for Alexandre Munoz, the reigning French champion and the author of a promising first part of the race, the Ariège native was unable to finish. Struggling this weekend at the Guia circuit, he had notably suffered a mechanical problem during the qualifying race, making things more difficult on Sunday.

F4 World Cup – Macau Grand Prix
The classification of the race