The first qualifying round of the 2024 Saudi Formula 4 took place in Kuwait. Four races were held at the Kuwait Motor Town circuit, and in one of them the Russian pilot Kirill Kutskov, last year’s world karting champion in the OK class, won second place.
In the first race, Kutskov started fifth and lost one position on the first lap, but as a result of a collision between Oscar Wurz and Federico Al-Rifai, Kirill made his way to fourth place. The victory in the race was scored by Suleiman Zanfari, who was ahead of Saker Almaosherji and Hamda Al-Kubaisi.
Kutskov started the second race in ninth position, but already on the first lap he broke through to fourth place, and then, when Omar Aldereyaane and Saker Almaosherji rolled back, he took second place. The Russian entered into a fight for victory with Amna Al-Kubaisi, but contact occurred between the cars.
Al-Kubaisi dropped to eighth place, and Kutskov, with a damaged front wing, returned to fourth. Federico Al-Rifai turned out to be the strongest, leaving behind Amna’s sister Hamda Al-Kubaisi and Serbian pilot Andrei Petrovich.
Kutskov finished the third race of the weekend in sixth position, having gained one position after the start, while Hamda Al-Kubaisi was in first place, sharing the podium with Almaosherji and Petrovich.
The last race of the stage was the best for the Russian. Kutskov started from third position, but already at the start, when Suleiman Zanfari made a mistake, he rose to second place. Throughout the entire distance, Kirill put pressure on the leader Federico Al-Rifai, but in the end he remained second, nevertheless chalking up his first podium in “formula” races.
Al-Rifai is in the lead in the overall standings at the end of the first stage, with two victories to his name. Hamda Al-Kubaisi is just a little behind him, followed by Saker Almaosherji and Andrei Petrovich. Kirill Kutskov takes sixth position. Thus, the Russian world champion will confidently make his debut in “formula” racing.
The second stage of the F4 of Saudi Arabia will take place from February 8 to 10 – the competition will again take place on the track in Kuwait.
Source: Rosbalt
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