With 38 drivers on the grid, the first race of the season began with the Peruvian losing his privileged position to Griffin Peebles (MP Motorsport), who made a perfect start to take the lead while Maciej Gladysz (MP Motorsport) chased Cárdenas.
However, the Griffin Core by Campos Racing driver kept his composure and on the second lap managed to pass the Australian with a great move at the Dani Pedrosa corner. From that moment, Cárdenas imposed the great pace shown in qualifying to pull away while Gladysz pressured his teammate lap after lap, although without finding a way through.
Midway through the race, an investigation into the starting procedure put Andrés Cárdenas's possible victory at risk, but he didn't slow down in his pursuit to increase his lead to secure it, although ultimately the penalty didn't come. The Peruvian, flawless, secured his first victory of the year ahead of Peebles (first podium) and Gladysz (F4 debut with a podium and as the best rookie). Mattia Colnaghi (MP Motorsport) and Lucas Fluxá (MP Motorsport) were the other two rookie protagonists on the podium, while Carrie Schreiner was the best female driver in the race.
Peebles and Cota shine in the Winter Series
The rain returned to be the protagonist of a very racing Sunday at the Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto. In the morning qualifying session, marked by a red flag five minutes before the end, Juan Cota secured his first Pole Position in F4.
The second race of the weekend, with young drivers and a wet track as an explosive mix, required the Safety Car to intervene twice due to drivers going off track, fortunately without consequences. After completing 13 laps within the established race time, it was Griffin Peebles (MP Motorsport) who claimed victory from Pole position, with Maciej Gladysz second, and Andrés Cárdenas of the Spanish team Griffin Core by Campos Racing finishing third on the podium.
Meanwhile, in Race 3 without rain, Spanish driver Juan Cota (Drivex) claimed his first F4 victory at the Madrid-based team's party, with a 1-2 putting Mikel Pedersen in P2 and Matheus Ferreira (US Racing) completing the podium.
At the conclusion of the first Formula Winter Series event in Jerez, Andrés Cárdenas is the first leader with 56 points, holding a 10-point advantage over second-placed Griffin Peebles with 46 points, while Maciej Gladysz (43) is third and Matheus Ferreira (35) fourth.
The next event will take place next week (October 16-18) at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo.
