FORD’S ‘FAMOUS FIVE’ HEAD TO CROFT READY FOR NEXT CHAPTER IN THRILLING TITLE RACE

It’s still advantage Luke Browning at the top of the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost standings, but the momentum is with the chasing pack heading to Croft this weekend [09-11 October].

Zak O’Sullivan, Casper Stevenson and Alex Connor – the three drivers closest to Browning – split the victories at Silverstone last time out, with closest challenger O’Sullivan scoring a podium hat-trick to reduce the arrears to 33 points with eight races still to run.

First-time winner Stevenson is now just a further 20 markers behind, and both Connor and JHR’s James Hedley – fourth and fifth overall – will need a strong weekend in Yorkshire to keep their title bids alive and kicking.

Crucially, Ford’s rising stars will be without a reverse-grid race this weekend due to the reduced daylight hours, with both grids set from their fastest and second-fastest times in qualifying respectively.

Croft is among the hardest circuits to overtake at on the calendar, so a strong qualifying from Browning could yet see him keep the others at arm’s length and stabilise his lead heading into the title run-in.

Behind the leading quintet, a whole host of drivers have already shown their ability to fight for podium finishes in 2020, and could yet throw a spanner in the works for the title contenders.

Roman Bilinski has been enjoying a consistent run of late, with JHR’s Abbi Pulling no doubt keen to add to her silverware tally after visits to the rostrum at Brands Hatch and Thruxton earlier in the campaign.

Reema Juffali thrilled the ITV audiences in Northamptonshire with a hat-trick of points finishes, including two equal career-best results and some superb racecraft, and will be looking to build on that again this time around.

Aussie rising star Christian Mansell leads a hotly-contested Rookie Cup, having shared the spoils with Frederick Lubin, Matias Zagazeta and the returning Rafael Villagomez of late.

In the Teams Cup, it’s advantage Fortec Motorsport, but getting both Browning and the returning Rafael Villagomez at the sharp end will be vital with Carlin and Arden hot on their heels.