GRS started the Formula 4 UAE championship this weekend. The event marked the beginning of the season and the introduction of the new Tatuus F4 T-021 in an official event. Despite facing difficulties, the team’s performance was remarkable, and the results were good.
Arriving at Yas Marina Circuit, in Abu Dhabi, the team had not received the necessary equipment to prepare the car on time. The assembly was therefore done with less time than expected. However, the team’s staff did a magnificent job, and the car was ready on time. On the first day with on-track action, Vladislav Ryabov put the car on seventh place after three testing sessions.
The ‘Russian Rocket’ had the pace to be on the Top 10 throughout the entire weekend. On Friday, he finished the Warm-Up session held before qualifying on third place. He eventually qualified on eleventh and eighth position.
Race 1 was held under the track’s lights. Ryabov was consistent, maintaining a stable pace and attacking with precision. The performance made him finish his maiden F4 UAE race on the points as he finished ninth after an astonishing overtake on the closing laps. Unluckily, Ryabov -and all drivers in the Top 10- committed an infraction that cost him a 3-place grid penalty for the following race.
Races 2 and 3 took place on Saturday. On the second one, Ryabov started 14th due to the penalty. He kept his head down and gained several places until he collided with another driver while fighting for the final points. He took damage and was forced to retire the car. The Russian driver overturned the situation in Race 3, where his performance was great. He gained positions until seeing the chequered flag in sixth place. This result became a fifth position after a rival was given a penalty.
Ryabov had a difficult start on the final race of the weekend. The Russian driver, however, regained his pace and made up places until getting, once again, into the battle for the points. His battle ended abruptly after an incident with another driver, where he took damage. He had to retire the car.
The team’s first Formula 4 UAE weekend comes to an end as we leave the track with 12 points in the bag. The pace and the overall feeling were positive, and we are determined to keep working on this direction to improve the results. The championship does not stop, and races will be back next weekend at Dubai Autodrome.
