Forgetting the complicated event at Magny-Cours, Dorian Boccolacci got back on track with podiums last weekend at Nogaro, the fifth of seven Championship events of French F4. More aggressive than ever, the young driver from Var achieved a consistently high level of performance to finish in the wheeltracks of the winner in race three while achieving the fastest lap. Second twice and fourth once, he closed the gap that separates him from second place in the Championship with a strengthened mind.
Quiet during practice, Dorian was in evidence from qualifying onwards, setting the second fastest time, just two tenths off pole, while his other opponents were behind. This session would predict the course of the meeting at sunny Nogaro. While Sorensen got away hopelessly in the lead of the first race on Saturday morning, Dorian managed his tyre wear comfortably for his second place despite a car that still needed perfecting, well ahead of the pack with the second fastest time of the race. Careful at the start of Race 2, where he started from the fifth row due to the reverse grid for the top 10 of the previous race, Dorian upped the pace at the halfway point and kept the pressure up until the finish line, and was rewarded with a good 4th place.
In the last race on Sunday morning Dorian showed his potential the best. His new strategy was bearing fruit and he was able to keep up with the leader for 14 laps. On the lookout for the slightest error from Sorensen, he seemed threatening on the last lap and ended up 5/10 only away, while the pack was over 14′ behind.
“I reached my goal at Nogaro,” explained the young French driver. “I was much more competitive than at Magny-Cours, which is very positive. In the first race, I finished second, but Sorensen was a long way ahead. We fixed some problems on my car and I was able to keep in touch in the third race. I was even faster than the winner, but I did not take any risks to attack. The fastest time in the final race of the weekend is a great satisfaction because it proves that my driving is now adapted to the F4 and Kumho tyres. The championship victory is no longer reasonably possible, but I will devote myself to conquering the second step of the podium in the next two events.“
Info Kartcom / © Photo KSP