LUNDQVIST TAKES WIN #4 IN BRITISH F4 AT ROCKINGHAM
Lundqvist looked as though he'd enjoyed himself taking the win in Race 1 at Rockingham! – Photo: Jakob Ebrey
Linus Lundqvist withstood pressure from a fast-starting Oliver York to take a commanding win from pole position in Round 22 of the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost.
York sniffed his second victory of the season in the opening exchanges through turns one and two, at one point just nudging in front of Lundqvist. However, the Swede was wise to his advances and kept York pinned to the outside to prevent him from scything past.
The Double R ace then set about pulling a gap and controlled the pace out front on the way to his fourth win of the campaign, with York 1.895 seconds behind.
“It’s brilliant to be able to add to my tally of wins for the season,” said Lundqvist. “I was so happy after qualifying on pole and now I’m on a whole other level!
“It was a bit tough at the start, defending the lead from the guys behind, but I held on and pulled a gap.
“Then it was all about managing the tyres which was made harder by being chased by York. So I had to manage the tyres while trying to maintain the gap which is not easy.
“I’m hugely excited to see what we can achieve tomorrow. I’m so happy with how the car is handling. The team have done an incredible job. It’s always so exciting to get behind the wheel of the British F4 car. Let’s see if we can get another win this weekend.”
“We were very evenly matched at the front,” added York. “Linus got a gap in the first part of the race. I managed to get alongside and just slightly in front of him through the first and second corners, but was on the outside so couldn’t quite make the move stick.
“Second is a good result. It’s good points for the championship and we can build on this.
“Even though I got my first win a fortnight ago we’ve been struggling a bit so it’s good to qualify well and carry that through into the race, battling at the front and showing we have the pace to win. Hopefully we can bag plenty more points tomorrow.”
Another fast starter was Jamie Caroline with lightning reactions off the line from fifth on the grid. The championship leader ran three abreast with Carlin team-mate Logan Sargeant and TRS Arden’s Ayrton Simmons on the run into Deene, running around the outside of the pair to emerge in third place.
Struggling with worn tyres, Caroline was unable to escape Sargeant’s clutches and in the closing stages his mirrors were full of Sargeant’s Ford EcoBoost-powered racer.
Caroline’s saving grace was a better run out of Brooke Chicane lap after lap. It was just enough to prevent Sargeant from getting sufficient slipstream down the straight and around the turn one banking to set up a move into Deene.
“We were fortunate in that race that Piastri was unable to finish and that I was able to hold on to third,” explained Caroline.
“We were on our most used tyres in that race which showed with the kind of lap times we were achieving, as well as the fact I was drifting through quite a few corners!
“It’s not a bad result at all as far as the championship is concerned with another good points haul.
“If we can get a podium in all three races this weekend that would be brilliant and then go into Silverstone with the chance of taking the title there.
“I initially pulled a gap to Logan and was catching York, but I just knew I didn’t have it in the tyres to mount a proper attack so I backed off, but then the tyres dropped off further and Logan was able to reel me in.
“I was kind of surprised I was able to pull away from Logan coming out of the last corner and onto the banking because I was struggling for traction due to the life left in the tyres. On one lap I even rubbed along the wall and I have no idea how the car stayed intact. Ford and Mygale clearly know how to build a strong car!”
Alex Battipaglia (Source: British F4)
