Junior Formula Series
Souta Arao grabs second in French F4 at Spa
I think my pace was good right after the start, but the SC came out twice and it was a sprint race of 2 laps in total
Souta Arao qualified P2 and took second in Race 3 but felt he should have had more. Fellow 16-year-old Japanese Red Bull Junior Yuto Nomura came away from the French F4 round at Spa with similar thoughts. 5th fastest in Qualifying he took 6th in Race 3.
REPLAY - FFSA French F4 Spa 2022
Championnat de France F4 à Spa : Course 1
Championnat de France F4 à Spa : Course 2
Championnat de France F4 à Spa : Course 3
Arao had confidence and pace
“I enjoyed Spa. In Qualifying I had confidence, but I made a lot of mistakes. I lost time a lot. My mistake lost me pole position, but I was able to gain confidence in my speed. I need to more focus in Quali.”
“Race 1: I got good start. Right after the start, I almost made contact with another car and when I tried to avoid it, I got stuck on the banana kerb and dropped to P5.”
Souta Arao racing to the podium at French F4 - Spa 2022
© Dutch Photo Agency / Red Bull Content Pool
After that, I had engine trouble and stalled out on the straights, but I was happy that I managed to finish the race.
“Race 2: I knew my pace was good. I got a good start, but when I came to overtake from the outside at T7, I locked up a little and lost a position. But my pace was relatively good and I was able to catch up from P9 to P5.”
Souta Arao on the podium of French F4 in Spa - 2022
© Dutch Photo Agency / Red Bull Content Pool
“Race 3: I changed the setting drastically. My grid position was a little wet at the start, so I had a lot of wheel spin, but I kept my position.”
“I think my pace was good right after the start, but the SC came out twice and it was a sprint race of 2 laps in total. It was a race that left me with a lot of regrets.”
Souta Arao racing French F4 in Spa 2022
© Dutch Photo Agency / Red Bull Content Pool
Nomura had Qualifying pace and some frustration
“I enjoyed Spa! But I wasn't feeling very well at the practice run stage. However, I was able to improve with each run and was in the top 5 in Qualifying.”
Yuto Nomura is ready to race French F4 in Spa - 2022
© Dutch Photo Agency / Red Bull Content Pool
“Race 1 I started in 8th place with a penalty from the previous race. I was able to move up to 6th place at the start. However, in the restart after the Safety Car, I was late and was overtaken by two cars.”
“Although I was 8th place at the checkered flag, I finished 7th due to the penalty of the driver ahead.”
Yuto Nomura racing French F4 in Spa - 2022
© Dutch Photo Agency / Red Bull Content Pool
“Race 2 I started 6th on the reverse grid in the top 10 from Qualifying. The start wasn't bad, but the race pace was bad and I dropped some places. The result was 10th place, and it was a race with remaining challenges.”
“Race 3 I started in 6th place from the second best time in Qualifying.
I started well and moved up to 5th at the exit of the 1st corner, but I couldn't use the slipstream and was retaken in front of Eau Rouge.
After that, the Safety Car came out twice and I finished in 6th place without racing properly.”
“This race was defeated by the bad race pace. At Spa it is relatively easy to overtake, so I had a chance to win. But I couldn't do that, so I'll try to improve.”
Yuto Nomura - French F4 in Spa 2022
© Dutch Photo Agency / Red Bull Content Pool
RESULTS
Next Race Lédenon September 10/11
