Alex Dunne is 2022 British F4 Champion & Runner-up in Italian series
Alex Dunne (IRL – Hitech GP) is the 2022 champion of the British F4 Championship Certified by FIA. The Meath native, while at the Monza circuit in the Italian F4 Championship, had the mathematical certainty of becoming champion of the British series at the end of qualifying with his direct opponent, Oliver Gray (GBR – Carlin) unable to catch him in the standings. Alex Dunne commented on the title in the British series: “It is a real honour to be British F4 2022 champion. It has been a really incredible year with Hitech GP, where we broke the record for the most wins in a single season. As a team we also achieved great results. We knew it would be possible, but I am very happy with what we have achieved.”
The boost of the title conquered allowed the Irish driver, in the Italian campaign with US Racing team, to take second place in race one in the Temple of Speed, overtaking Rafael Camara (BRA – Prema Racing) in second place in the overall standings and recovering points on championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli (ITA – Prema Racing), winner in race two. The Italian driver, in a fortnight’ time, at Mugello, will have to watch out for the Irishman’s recovery, but will be able to manage a good advantage over him.
At Brands Hatch, in the tenth and final round of the British F4 Championship, Joseph Loake (GBR – JHR Developments) won both race 1 and race 3, while in the second race Eduardo Coseteng (PHI – Hitech GP) got his maiden win. Oliver Gray was on the podium twice, taking second place in race 2 ahead of Daniel Guinchard (GBR – Phinsys by Argenti) and third place in race 3 behind his partner Louis Sharp (NZL – Carlin). In race two, behind Coseteng, Michael Shin (KOR – Virtuosi Racing) and Louis Sharp took the podium. Off the podium, but still winner of the rookie title, was Ugo Ugochukwu (USA – Carlin), who made a key contribution to Carlin’s team title victory.
At Monza, in the penultimate round of the Italian F4 Championship Certified by FIA, only two races could be held due to the rain, which caused race two to be postponed and race three to be cancelled. As many as 44 single-seaters took part, setting an international record in the series. With a dry track, in race one, it was Charlie Wurz (AUT – Prema Racing) who took the first victory in the Italian series ahead of British Champion Alex Dunne (IRL – US Racing) and Kacper Sztuka (POL – US Racing). In the second race in the Temple of Speed, Andrea Kimi Antonelli returned to victory ahead of a wild Charlie Wurz and the Norwegian Martinus Stenshorne (NOR – Van Amersfoort Racing) for the first time on the podium after a growing season. The Italian title will be awarded in a fortnight at the Mugello Circuit.
Happy with his first victory in the Italian series, on the other hand, Charlie Wurz: “It was not an easy race, it was very challenging, but at the same time very enjoyable. We fought every lap, with many side-by-side battles, and in the end I managed to cross the finish line first. I am very happy and grateful to the team. The first pole position and the first win on the same weekend, on a historic track like Monza, is really fantastic”.F4 British Championship Overall Standings: 1. Alex Dunne (IRL – Hitech GP) 412; 2. Oliver Gray (GBR – Carlin) 343; 3. Ugo Ugochukwu (USA – Carlin) 290; 4. Louis Sharp (NZL – Carlin) 272; 5. Joseph Loake (GBR – JHR Developments) 271.
Italian F4 Championship Overall Standings: 1. Andrea Kimi Antonelli (ITA – Prema Racing) 287; 2. Alex Dunne (IRL – US Racing) 223; 3. Rafael Camara (BRA – Prema Racing) 214; 4. Charlie Wurz (AUT – Prema Racing) 165; 5. James Wharton (AUS – Prema Racing) & Kacper Sztuka (POL – US Racing) 150.
