James Wharton second-fastest on first day of F4 UAE testing

James Wharton has clocked the second-fastest time at Dubai Autodrome on the first day of testing for the 2023 Formula 4 United Arab Emirates series.

Running the number #13 for the Mumbai Falcons, Wharton set his fastest lap in Monday's final session, behind leader and teammate Tuuka Taponen.

Briton William Macintyre and Aussie Wharton were one-two in the first of three sessions on Monday, with Macintyre opening his account for 2023 with a lap time of 2:03.701 around the 5.39km Dubai circuit.

French driver Théophile Nael was the first driver to crack the 2:10 barrier, almost fifteen minutes into the 9am session.

Nael and Valerio Rinicella swapped fastest laps into 2:04s before Macintyre bested the pack with his lap.

Returning to the track just two hours later, Nael was the first to set a competitive time once again, before a battle between Keanu Al Azhari, Tuuka Taponen, and Wharton sent the lap times well below the establishing runs from the early session.

Nael had whittled his best lap to the mid-2:03s as the second session drew to a close, but it was Jesse Carrasquedo who was best by midday for team R-Ace GP, setting a time of 2:02.579.

Another two hour break and into the final session of the day, Nael went three-from-three in establishing the pace, but Finnish driver Tapnonen was unbeatable in the final minutes of Monday running, setting the pace at 2:02.173 against the incredible field of 39 drivers.

Teammate James Wharton was second-fastest, less than half a second behind.

Noah Lisle managed fourteenth fastest in the opening session for Xcel Motorsport, with Jimmy Piszcyk twenty-fourth in the third session for Hitech Grand Prix.

Rookie Jack Beeton ran thirty-fourth in the first and third sessions for Pinnacle VAR, with a remarkable setup during the day slashing more than ten seconds off his final lap time.

The Formula 4 United Arab Emirates field returns for another day of testing before round one 13-14 January in Dubai.