Adria (RO) 07/06/2014 – One could not expect anything else than a big sportive participation from the 22 drivers on track in the first round of the Italian F.4. Championship powered by Abarth that is underway at the Adria International Raceway. The circuit near Rovigo is housing the Aci Racing Weekend with the absolute world debut of the new single seater category desired by FIA that brought on track a huge spectacle from time zero with free practice.
The Canadian driver Lance Stroll (Prema Power Team), his French team-mate Brandon Maisano and the Italian Andrea Russo (Diegi Motorsport) posted very quick lap times since the first exits of the day. Matteo Cairoli (Antonelli Motorsport), Mattia Drudi (Adria Raceway by Cram) and Leonardo Pulcini (Euronova Racing), on their slipstream, announced a great battle ahead of the two qualifying sessions that eventually defined the first two starting grids of the Championship this afternoon.

Stroll kept his momentum in qualifying one, as he posted a 1'15"348 that was worth race one's pole position. Maisano was not slow either, despite being at a comeback after a 2013 not full of action. "This year I am back with a complete programme and in this moment I am focused on re-syncing with the track” declared the Frenchman. "I am still not happy but the second time I posted at 73 thousands to Stroll's is a good start”. Pulcini has also been very good as is 552 thousands shy of the pole position, he proceeded Drudi that will complete the second row tomorrow morning. The fifth and sixth time set by Cairoli and Russo will give them a third row start, the latter commented at the end of qualy one: "In my first outing on a single seater I already experienced obstacles like traffic but I will have to get the hang of these things improving the strategy during qualifying”.

Russo improved his position in the second session and challenged Stroll for the pole position. The Canadian though improved again and claimed the second pole with the time 1'15"376. "I improved my performance also thanks to the team's work that went in the right direction – stated a radiant Stroll after qualifying – Today's result does not go down to a single element, but to the great care put in this by the whole team”. Maisano ended his effort with another second place, this time at 223 thousands from Stroll pole valid for Race-3. Matteo Russo clinched the third place, with a gap of 0"382s, while Drudi will line up in fourth. Cairoli and Pulcini will follow them in third row. Race-2 starting grid will follow the result of Race-1 with top ten grid inversion.

The Pole Position Prize by WSK Promotion came as a pleasant though unexpected end of the day. This prize has been devised to award the pole sitters. Promoter Luca De Donno started the awarding of this prize with the double prize given to Lance Stroll. The design of the trophy is inspired to a F.1. steering wheel.

Rai Sport 2 will cover the three races of the event live tomorrow morning at 8:55hrs (local time), at 12:40hrs and at 16:55hrs. The Maltese Channel TVM2 will broadcast race 3 live, while the live streaming will be available at www.acisportitalia.it, www.f4championship.com and www.sportube.it. The three races will also be shown deferred on Monday 9 June at 20:30 Italian time on Dinamica Channel.