The 26 drivers in the coveted single-seater championship run by the FFSA Academy travelled to Magny-Cours for the fifth of seven events in the 2024 season, from 22nd to 25th August. Chester Kieffer took advantage of the opportunity to resolve the braking and handling problems which had disrupted his weekend at the Nürburgring. Unfortunately, the technical problem was detected late in his car, depriving him of precious working time to finalise his set-up for the official meeting.
“I didn’t start the Qualifying session in the best conditions and I had a few problems getting the most out of the new tyres on my Formula 4,” regretted the driver from Luxembourg. “The set-up wasn’t optimal and I perhaps tried to do too much to get the best possible time. What’s more, a ‘track limit’ penalty in the wrong place, in the chicane before the start line, had the effect of cancelling the lap time I’d just set, and also the next one. This relegated me to 20th on the grid for Races 1 and 2, then 18th for Race 3.”
As the weekend wore on, Chester Kieffer regained his confidence and made some magnificent comebacks. “In Race 1, I was able to overtake several drivers to move up from 20th to 11th place, before doing even better in Race 2, in which I came back to 10th despite numerous appearances by the safety car which had the effect of limiting overtaking opportunities.”
“I never gave up on my objective of scoring points despite my poor Qualifying session. But just as I got off to a good start, finding myself P11 at the start of Race 3, contact with another single-seater ripped the valve off the rim. I had to retire with many regrets.”
“Of course, this event would have been different if I’d finished in the top 10 in Qualifying, especially as I had more than enough potential to do it. It’s frustrating not to have been able to increase my points tally.” However, the promising Luxembourger is still in a brilliant 4th place in the French Championship despite having far less motor sport experience than most of his rivals. At the last two races in Dijon and Le Castellet, Chester will be aiming for a return to the podium, and if possible the top step, as he has already done twice this season.
Info Kartcom / Photo KSP – Guillaume Veuve