F4 BRITISH GETS READY TO ROCK
Are there more top step visits in store for Luis Leeds this weekend? – Photo: Jakob Ebrey
Just nine races remain to decide the outcome of this year’s F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford. The title fight is wide open with no less than eight drivers still having a realistic shot at top honours.
Championship leader Max Fewtrell arrives at Rockingham Motor Speedway battling to defend his slender points lead after keeping cool amid the fireworks out on track at Knockhill and adding yet another valuable podium to his tally.
Fewtrell is part of the formidable Carlin quartet which includes Devlin DeFrancesco, James Pull and Petru Florescu. The squad were dominant in pre-season testing at Rockingham. Don’t be surprised to see more of the same.
During a dramatic weekend of Ford EcoBoost-powered junior single-seater racing just a fortnight ago, it was Australians Luis Leeds (TRS Arden) and Zane Goddard (Double R Racing) who came out on top with a win apiece. As others around them faltered, the Aussies were in the ascendancy and in doing so put themselves into thick of title fight; Red Bull Junior Leeds now sitting just five points adrift of Fewtrell.
Fortec Motorsports’ Alex Quinn also made strides in the standings, finally having a weekend where he could showcase his true pace; claiming a race victory and romping further clear in the Rookie Class.
JHR’s Sennan Fielding is another serious contender for the title and despite a Knockhill weekend that didn’t quite come together, he showed flashes of speed which if unleashed consistently could prove devastating. Team-mates Billy Monger and Jack Butel have no shortage of talent behind the wheel either so are also likely to be in the mix.
Elsewhere, TRS Arden’s Rafael Martins, as well as star rookies Jack Martin and Ayrton Simmons all have the potential to compete towards the sharp end.
Jamie Caroline and Frank Bird are hungry for more strong point scoring success, with Nicolai Kjaergaard wanting to rediscover the form he showed at Snetterton last month.
Compatriot Patrik Matthiesen (JTR) returns after missing out on Knockhill and Richardson Racing’s Alexandra Marinescu re-joins the cohort of Ford EcoBoost-powered young talent.
Carrie Schreiner also returns for Double R; the highlight of her last British F4 outing a fantastic fourth place at Thruxton.
The Ford EcoBoost-powered action gets underway with two test sessions tomorrow ahead of official qualifying at 1020 and Round 22 of the Championship at 1415 on Saturday. The action then ramps up even more on Sunday with the second race of the weekend at 1050 and the final race starting at 1552 which will be screened live on ITV4.
Alex Battipaglia
