CROFT SETS THE SCENE AS NAIL-BITING BRITISH F4 TITLE FIGHT LANDS IN YORKSHIRE
With twelve races to run and a whole host of rising stars in with a realistic shout of lifting the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost crown, Croft this weekend marks the start of the title run-in.
It’s still JHR’s Matthew Rees who leads at the championship summit, but after only a second-ever weekend in single seaters without a podium finish at Thruxton, his margin has been cut to just four points over Matias Zagazeta (Argenti).
The Peruvian leap-frogged James Hedley, now at Carlin and adapting fast to his new challenger, in Hampshire with a brace of second-place finishes, but the trio remain blanketed by just eight markers in total.
Both Rees and Hedley were given a boost in mid-week with the announcement of their nominations for the prestigious Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Award, news that is sure to give both contenders a spring in their step this weekend.
Fortec’s Joel Granfors and Ollie Gray arrive with some serious momentum after both scored maiden victories last time out to boost their own hopes of making a late season bid for the honours, the pair now split by McKenzy Cresswell (JHR) in fourth, fifth and sixth respectively in the points.
JHR’s final challenger, Joseph Loake, remains on the fringes of the title fight but will need to start chaining together some big results, and quickly, if he is to put himself back into the reckoning.
Nine different drivers have won a race this season, and a whole host of Ford-powered rising stars could yet be a thorn in the side of those vying for the championship.
Arden’s Zak Taylor will be aiming to banish memories of his Thruxton roll with a return to his race-winning antics earlier in the campaign, the Brit joined by new arrival Georgi Dimitrov and the ever-improving David Morales.
Ditto the rest of Carlin’s line-up; Dougie Bolger has been knocking on the door of a maiden podium for some time now, whilst Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak and Kai Askey will be aiming to add to their silverware haul in Yorkshire.
Aiden Neate’s performances of late have attracted plenty of praise, and an equal season-best fourth at Thruxton has put the wind in the sails of team-mate Eduardo Coseteng.
The last of Argenti’s prospects, Marcos Flack, has endured a character-building set of results but will look to start the fightback this time out.
Georgi Dimitrov returns to the fray this weekend, having completed a switch from Richardson Racing to Arden Motorsport, meaning the Red Arrows return to a three-car line-up from this weekend.
