Richard Verschoor took his first victory of the F4 North Europe Zone weekend (19-21 August) at Moscow Raceway in tricky damp conditions. The Dutch driver started in pole position and held his ground while plenty of drama unfolded behind.

Jarno Opmeer from did not make a great start and Tuomas Haapalainen got past in the first corner. There was then a major upset, as a number of drivers received a drive through penalty for jumping the start. Verschoor got his fourth race win in Moscow this season and Haapalainen behind him got his first ever podium finish. Isaakyan excelled as he took P3 in his comeback race.

Race winner Richard Verschoor said, “I managed to get a good start and from then on, it was about containing Tuomas and Jarno. I am delighted with my victory, and the unfortunate penalty of Jarno gives me the opportunity to close the gap in the championship points.”

Clouds gathered around Moscow Raceway before Race 2, but rain stayed away as the cars rolled onto the grid. Grid order was based in Race 1 results, which meant Verschoor was again on pole, Haapalainen behind him and the wild card Russian Nerses Isaakyan behind the Finn. Championship leader Jarno Opmeer had to start as far as P10 after suffering a drive through penalty as one of the earlier jump-starters.

The start was again clean with Verschoor keeping the lead over his rivals, while Isaakyan overtook Haapalainen for P2 straight into turn one and then tried in vain to hunt down the leader. As Isaakyan drifted wide and rejoined the racing line where Haapalainen was already trying to use the mistake for his own luck, the two cars collided, but fortunately both drivers could keep on racing. Rasmus Markkanen was waiting in ambush and jumped on the opportunity to overtake Haapalainen and secure himself a spot on the podium, taking P2 at the flag.

Jarno Opmeer was fighting back from P10 when he got stuck behind Russian-Cypriot driver Vladimir Tziortzis who had a technical issue on his car, with Opmeer making contact, he was forced to pit and lose ground once again.

In front, oblivious to all the action behind, the Red Bull Junior driver Richard Verschoor greeted the DTM event spectators with a lights to flag victory again, taking the championship lead by five points.

For the first time this weekend the sun was shining when the final race in Moscow Raceway was ready to begin.

A third pole position for Verschoor saw him and Jarno Opmeer nose to tail in turn one. Roope Markkanen also had a brilliant start as he kept his position in P3. Opmeer had his only chance of overtaking Verschoor at the back straight in the first lap but Verschoor’s aggressive blocking was enough to stop the attempt. The Dutch duo pulled a strong gap to others and it was just the two of them who had the chance to take the victory.

As the chequered flag was waved, Richard Verschoor was crowned Moscow Raceway King as the Dutchman remains unbeaten on the Russian circuit. It was a second hat-trick of victories for Verschoor who confirmed today his leader position in the 2016 SMP F4 NEZ Championship with a 12-point gap to Jarno Opmeer.

"It is another perfect weekend,” added Verschoor. “The key was to improve the starts which were my weakness in the first part of the season. Now it is about keeping my head clear and focus on winning the championship.”

Championship challenger Jarno Opmeer added, “Race 3 was much better than the previous ones! It is showing the improvement during the weekend. So I will now go home and train, prepare myself, work, as I won’t let the Championship title out of my sight!”

The Russian rounds are now over, the SMP F4 NEZ certified by FIA family is returning to Europe and will be stopping at a new venue for the championship, the Swedish track of Anderstorp in two weeks’ time (2-4 September).

For more information on F4 NEZ, click here.