Catastrophic collision at the commencement of the Italian Formula 4 race, featuring 15 vehicles, causes suspension of the competition
The second race of the Italian Formula 4 series during the fifth round was disrupted by a multi-car crash just 17 seconds after the start. The incident occurred when two Prema drivers stalled on the grid, causing a 15-car pileup and leading to the suspension and eventual abandonment of the race.
The crash was the result of Newman Chi's (Prema) car stalling at the start, causing Maksimilian Popov (Van Amersfoort Racing) to hit his car. This domino effect caused significant damage to over a dozen cars, disrupting the race from the outset.
Despite the chaos, all drivers were reported to be unharmed. The race was red-flagged, and officials decided not to restart it due to the extent of the crash and the number of cars involved. No points were awarded for Race 2, maintaining the status quo following the first race of the weekend, won by Gabriel Gomez.
Teo Schropp, starting from the 20th position with Jenzer Motorsport, managed to avoid the collision and overtake two rivals in the early stages of the race. However, the frequent safety car interventions disrupted his rhythm and prevented him from advancing as planned. He eventually finished in 23rd place.
The abandonment of Race 2 puts greater emphasis on Race 3 for drivers seeking to score valuable points in the championship. As the event continues with Race 3 on Sunday as scheduled, championship implications depend heavily on performances in that race.
Teo Schropp, born in San Fernando, Argentina, currently stands in 22nd place in the Formula 4 Italian Championship drivers' standings, having earned 11 points from his outstanding performance at the Vallelunga Circuit.
[1] Race 2 of Italian Formula 4 at Imola abandoned after multi-car crash [2] Italian Formula 4 Race 2 at Imola abandoned after multi-car crash [3] Italian Formula 4: Race 2 abandoned due to multi-car crash
[1] The multi-car crash during the Italian Formula 4 Race 2 at Imola was triggered by a stalled car belonging to Newman Chi of Prema, causing Grand-prix auto-racing chaos and ultimately leading to the race's abandonment.
[2] Garnering attention in the Italian Formula 4 series, the second race at Imola during the fifth round was abandoned due to a massive, race-disrupting crash in the Grand-prix racing event, involving over a dozen cars.
