2014 French F4 Championship Explained

The 2014 French F4 Championship season was the 22nd season of the series for 1600cc Formula Renault machinery, and the fourth season to run under the guise of the French F4 Championship. The series began on 26 April at Le Mans and ended on 26 October at Le Castellet, after seven rounds and twenty-one races.^[1]

The championship was won by Denmark's Lasse Sørensen, who won eight races – including two hat-tricks at Val de Vienne and Nogaro – and took a total of seventeen podium finishes. Sørensen – who also won the International series due to his performances – finished almost 150 points clear of his next closest rival, Dorian Boccolacci, a member of the Lotus F1 team's junior development setup. Boccolacci, who won two races at the series' event in support of the Pau Grand Prix, had trailed Felix Hirsiger by three points going into the final race at Le Castellet; however, Boccolacci finished third, whereas Hirsiger finished outside the points, in order to give Boccolacci the runner-up spot by twelve points. Boccolacci was also the winner of the junior championship held within the series, for the younger drivers in the series. Hirsiger was also a two-time winner, winning at Magny-Cours.

Six other drivers won races during the season; Australian Joseph Mawson won two races at the opening round at Le Mans, and added a third victory in the series' round at Circuito de Jerez, in support of the World Series by Renault. Mawson had been in contention for the runner-up placing in the championship, but missed the final round and ultimately finished fourth. Denis Bulatov won races at Pau and Magny-Cours, and was the only other driver to win multiple races. Bryan Elpitiya (Le Mans) and Gjergj Haxhiu (Jerez) each won a race, but finished outside the top ten in the final championship standings, while at the final round, Patricio O'Ward and Valentin Moineault each won races. Moineault's victory allowed him to claim sixth in the championship ahead of O'Ward, despite O'Ward missing the first two events of the season.

Driver lineup

	Driver	Rounds
1	Paul Hökfelt, Jr.^[2]	All
2	Amaury Richard^[3]	All
3	Reuben Kressner	All
4	David Droux	1–6
5	Bryan Elpitiya^[4]	All
6	Felix Hirsiger^[5]	All
7	Valentin Hasse-Clot	All
8	Tom Soubiron	1–5, 7
9	Dorian Boccolacci	All
10	Vladimir Atoev	All
11	Erwan Jule	All
12	Hugo Sugnot-Darniche	All
14	Simo Laaksonen	All
15	Denis Bulatov	All
16	Valentin Moineault	All
17	Gjergj Haxhiu	All
18	Niclas Nylund^[6]	1–6
19	Juan Manuel Jimenez	1–3
20	Axel Matus	All
21	Joey Mawson	1–6
22	Anouck Abadie	All
23	Lasse Sørensen	All
24	João Carvalho	All
25	Pato O'Ward^[7]	3–7
26	Max Defourny	4–5, 7
27	Harrison Newey	7

Notes

Race calendar and results

Round		Circuit	Date	Pole Position	Fastest Lap	Winning Driver
1	1	Bugatti Circuit, Le Mans	26 April	Joseph Mawson	Felix Hirsiger	Joseph Mawson	Dorian Boccolacci	Joseph Mawson
	R2				Joseph Mawson	Bryan Elpitiya	Bryan Elpitiya	Joseph Mawson
	R3		27 April	Felix Hirsiger	Denis Bulatov	Joseph Mawson	Felix Hirsiger	Joseph Mawson
2	R1	Circuit de Pau, Pau	10 May	nowrap	Dorian Boccolacci	nowrap	Dorian Boccolacci	nowrap	Dorian Boccolacci	nowrap	Dorian Boccolacci	nowrap	Lasse Sørensen
	R2				David Droux	Denis Bulatov	Denis Bulatov	Valentin Moineault
	R3		11 May	Dorian Boccolacci	Lasse Sørensen	Dorian Boccolacci	Dorian Boccolacci	Lasse Sørensen
3	R1	Circuit du Val de Vienne, Le Vigeant	5 July	Lasse Sørensen	Lasse Sørensen	Lasse Sørensen	Felix Hirsiger	Lasse Sørensen
	R2				Lasse Sørensen	Lasse Sørensen	Denis Bulatov	Lasse Sørensen
	R3		6 July	Lasse Sørensen	Lasse Sørensen	Lasse Sørensen	Dorian Boccolacci	Lasse Sørensen
4	R1	Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours	6 September	Felix Hirsiger	Lasse Sørensen	Felix Hirsiger	Felix Hirsiger	Lasse Sørensen
	R2				Joseph Mawson	Denis Bulatov	Denis Bulatov	nowrap	Valentin Hasse-Clot
	R3		7 September	Felix Hirsiger	nowrap	Valentin Hasse-Clot	Felix Hirsiger	Felix Hirsiger	Joseph Mawson
5	R1	Circuit Paul Armagnac, Nogaro	27 September	Lasse Sørensen	Lasse Sørensen	Lasse Sørensen	Dorian Boccolacci	Lasse Sørensen
	R2				Lasse Sørensen	Lasse Sørensen	Felix Hirsiger	Lasse Sørensen
	R3		nowrap	28 September	nowrap	Lasse Sørensen	nowrap	Dorian Boccolacci	nowrap	Lasse Sørensen	nowrap	Dorian Boccolacci	nowrap	Lasse Sørensen
6	R1	Circuito de Jerez, Jerez de la Frontera	18 October	Joseph Mawson	Joseph Mawson	Joseph Mawson	Patricio O'Ward	Joseph Mawson
	R2	19 October		Vladimir Atoev	Gjergj Haxhiu	Gjergj Haxhiu	David Droux
	R3		Joseph Mawson	Lasse Sørensen	Lasse Sørensen	Patricio O'Ward	Lasse Sørensen
7	R1	Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet	25 October	Lasse Sørensen	Felix Hirsiger	Lasse Sørensen	Felix Hirsiger	Lasse Sørensen
	R2				Lasse Sørensen	Patricio O'Ward	Patricio O'Ward	Lasse Sørensen
	R3		26 October	nowrap	Valentin Moineault	nowrap	Dorian Boccolacci	nowrap	Valentin Moineault	nowrap	Dorian Boccolacci	nowrap	Valentin Moineault

Championship standings

F4

Pos Driver LMS PAU VDV MAG NOG JER LEC Points 1 Lasse Sørensen 2 22† 2 2 8 2 1 1 1 2 8 3 1 1 1 2 7 1 1 2 2 387 2 Dorian Boccolacci 3 5 4 1 9 1 7 4 2 3 Ret 12 2 4 2 4 6 20 5 Ret 3 238 3 Felix Hirsiger 6 2 3 3 7 3 2 Ret 19 1 6 1 3 2 3 12 9 13 2 DNS 20 226 4 Joey Mawson 1 3 1 DSQ 17 20† 6 3 Ret 4 3 2 9 16 8 1 16 2 188 5 Denis Bulatov 18 10 6 8 1 Ret 5 2 7 9 1 7 6 13 6 6 5 12 6 5 6 168 6 Valentin Moineault 16 Ret DNS 5 3 16 12 8 3 14 10 8 7 5 11 5 4 3 4 7 1 150 7 Patricio O'Ward 4 5 5 5 Ret 11 4 6 5 3 8 5 7 1 5 143 8 Paul Hökfelt, Jr. 7 4 7 Ret Ret Ret 3 Ret 6 11 5 5 11 10 9 9 14 8 8 6 4 103 9 Amaury Richard 4 16 5 6 5 5 9 17 4 17 Ret 16 13 Ret 19 13 20 17 3 8 18 85 10 Valentin Hasse-Clot 13 6 9 Ret 10 Ret 10 Ret 9 7 2 4 5 3 7 11 10 14 Ret 15 Ret 83 11 Vladimir Atoev 5 9 20 Ret 11 6 11 7 8 8 12 18 8 19 4 15 11 9 9 4 10 71 12 David Droux 15 13 12 4 6 12 20† 10 Ret 6 7 6 15 11 15 7 2 10 69 13 Bryan Elpitiya 10 1 8 Ret 14 Ret 8 6 12 Ret 11 Ret 16 8 22 14 17 7 17 EX EX 53 14 Erwan Jule 8 21† 11 7 4 4 13 12 11 10 4 9 19 14 14 Ret 21 DNS 13 10 11 52 15 Niclas Nylund 14 11 10 11 20† 7 Ret 14 17 Ret 13 13 12 7 12 8 3 4 44 16 Gjergj Haxhiu 11 12 13 Ret Ret 10 18 11 10 13 Ret 15 21 22† 16 10 1 6 Ret Ret 8 40 17 Simo Laaksonen 12 8 14 9 2 11 15 9 13 20 19† 19 17 12 18 16 22 16 11 9 13 31 18 Reuben Kressner 9 7 15 16† 16 8 Ret 15 Ret Ret 18 14 14 9 13 Ret 19 11 12 Ret 7 20 19 João Carvalho 21 18 19 10 19 9 16 Ret Ret 16 15 21 22 Ret Ret 19 13 18 16 12 16 3 20 Harrison Newey 18 16 9 2 21 Axel Matus 19 15 18 12 15 15 17 16 16 18 14 17 18 15 17 17 18 15 15 11 15 1 22 Tom Soubiron 17 17 17 13 12 14 14 13 14 15 16 20 20 17 20 14 14 14 0 23 align=left nowrap Hugo Sugnot-Darniche 22 19 21 14 18 Ret Ret 19 15 19 17 22 23 18 21 18 12 21 Ret 13 17 0 24 Juan Manuel Jimenez 20 14 16 17† 13 13 Ret 18 18 0 25 Anouck Abadie Ret 20 22 15 21 17 19 20 Ret 21 Ret 23 24 20 23 20 15 19 19 17 19 0 Guest drivers ineligible for points  — Max Defourny 12 9 10 10 21† 10 10 3 12 Pos Driver LMS PAU VDV MAG NOG JER LEC Points

Bold – Pole Italics – Fastest Lap

† — Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 75% of the race distance.

Junior

Pos	Driver	LMS			PAU			VDV			MAG			NOG			JER			LEC			Points
1	Dorian Boccolacci	3	5	4	1	9	1	7	4	2	3	Ret	12	2	4	2	4	6	20	5	Ret	3	327
2	Felix Hirsiger	6	2	3	3	7	3	2	Ret	19	1	6	1	3	2	3	12	9	13	2	DNS	20	292
3	Denis Bulatov	18	10	6	8	1	Ret	5	2	7	9	1	7	6	13	6	6	5	12	6	5	6	249
4	Patricio O'Ward							4	5	5	5	Ret	11	4	6	5	3	8	5	7	1	5	194
5	Paul Hökfelt, Jr.	7	4	7	Ret	Ret	Ret	3	Ret	6	11	5	5	11	10	9	9	14	8	8	6	4	194
6	Vladimir Atoev	5	9	20	Ret	11	6	11	7	8	8	12	18	8	19	4	15	11	9	9	4	10	166
7	Simo Laaksonen	12	8	14	9	2	11	15	9	13	20	19†	19	17	12	18	16	22	16	11	9	13	117
8	Bryan Elpitiya	10	1	8	Ret	14	Ret	8	6	12	Ret	11	Ret	16	8	22	14	17	7	17	EX	EX	115
9	Gjergj Haxhiu	11	12	13	Ret	Ret	10	18	11	10	13	Ret	15	21	22†	16	10	1	6	Ret	Ret	8	88
10	Axel Matus	19	15	18	12	15	15	17	16	16	18	14	17	18	15	17	17	18	15	15	11	15	75
11	Hugo Sugnot-Darniche	22	19	21	14	18	Ret	Ret	19	15	19	17	22	23	18	21	18	12	21	Ret	13	17	31
12	Juan Manuel Jimenez	20	14	16	17†	13	13	Ret	18	18													31
13	Harrison Newey																			18	16	9	13
Guest drivers ineligible for points
	Max Defourny										12	9	10	10	21†	10				10	3	12
Pos	Driver	LMS			PAU			VDV			MAG			NOG			JER			LEC			Points

International Series

Pos	Driver	LMS			PAU			VDV			MAG			NOG			JER			LEC			Points
1	Lasse Sørensen	2	22†	2	2	8	2	1	1	1	2	8	3	1	1	1	2	7	1	1	2	2	385
2	Joseph Mawson	1	3	1	DSQ	17	20†	6	3	Ret	4	3	2	9	16	8	1	16	2				230
3	Valentin Moineault	16	Ret	DNS	5	3	16	12	8	3	14	10	8	7	5	11	5	4	3	4	7	1	228
4	Valentin Hasse-Clot	13	6	9	Ret	10	Ret	10	Ret	9	7	2	4	5	3	7	11	10	14	Ret	15	Ret	190
5	Erwan Jule	8	21†	11	7	4	4	13	12	11	10	4	9	19	14	14	Ret	21	DNS	13	10	11	175
6	Amaury Richard	4	16	5	6	5	5	9	17	4	17	Ret	16	13	Ret	19	13	20	17	3	8	18	171
7	David Droux	15	13	12	4	6	12	20†	10	Ret	6	7	6	15	11	15	7	2	10				135
8	Niclas Nylund	14	11	10	11	20†	7	Ret	14	17	Ret	13	13	12	7	12	8	3	4				112
9	Reuben Kressner	9	7	15	16†	16	8	Ret	15	Ret	Ret	18	14	14	9	13	Ret	19	11	12	Ret	7	105
10	Tom Soubiron	17	17	17	13	12	14	14	13	14	15	16	20	20	17	20				14	14	14	84
11	João Carvalho	21	18	19	10	19	9	16	Ret	Ret	16	15	21	22	Ret	Ret	19	13	18	16	12	16	62
12	Anouck Abadie	Ret	20	22	15	21	17	19	20	Ret	21	Ret	23	24	20	23	20	15	19	19	17	19	20
Pos	Driver	LMS			PAU			VDV			MAG			NOG			JER			LEC			Points

Notes and References

1. News: Calendar Championnat de France F4 2014. Auto Sport Academy. French F4 Championship. 13 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140222202354/http://www.autosportacademy.com/gb/competition/2013-season/calendar-results/p/21/r/annee-2014.html. 22 February 2014. dead. dmy-all.
2. News: Nine more drivers confirmed for 2014 French F4 season. Khorounzhiy. Valentin. Paddock Scout. PaddockScout.com. 26 February 2014. 26 February 2014.
3. News: Boccolacci leads more names for French F4 2014. Allen. Peter. Paddock Scout. PaddockScout.com. 13 February 2014. 13 February 2014.
4. News: Bryan Elpitiya confirmed to make single-seater debut in French F4 2014. Khorounzhiy. Valentin. Paddock Scout. PaddockScout.com. 4 February 2014. 13 February 2014.
5. News: Hirsiger set to return to French F4 for 2014 season. Khorounzhiy. Valentin. Paddock Scout. PaddockScout.com. 7 February 2014. 13 February 2014.
6. News: 2014 French F4 season preview. David. Gruz. Paddock Scout. PaddockScout.com. 25 April 2014. 25 April 2014.
7. Web site: @patriciooward: 4 July. Twitter. Twitter Inc.. 4 July 2014. 4 July 2014.