F4 British Championship – Page 4

TOCA support championships serve up Croft cracker

Croft Circuit played host to a memorable two days of TOCA support championship action this past weekend (June 25/26) as the 2022 season reached the halfway point.

Sharing the bill with the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship in North Yorkshire, five one-make categories served up a feast of entertainment for the bumper crowd that was in attendance.

After missing Oulton Park, the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship made a triumphant return, delivering a pair of exciting contests. Race one saw Sonny Smith come out on top of a spectacular multi-car battle for the lead before Will Macintyre claimed his second win of the season in a calmer second race.

Alex Dunne continued his dominance in the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA by chalking up a seventh win of the season to cement his position at the top of the standings.

Saturday’s two races saw Aiden Neate – who was celebrating his 16th birthday – score a commanding pole-to-flag victory in race one before Dunne came to the fore in the second contest, storming to victory in style after grabbing the lead off the line.

Williams F1 Junior Oliver Gray then made it three different winners from three races as he triumphed in a shortened final race, his first of the season.

Tin top thrills and spills were in full force in the Quaife MINI CHALLENGE Trophy as a capacity grid went wheel-to-wheel in two frenetic encounters. Championship leader Nelson King reigned supreme in Saturday’s bout before then going onto double his account for the weekend on Sunday.

The Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge made its final appearance of the season on the TOCA package and true to form it didn’t disappoint, with two pulsating contests getting fans on the edge of their seats.

Entering the business end of the title battle, Harley Haughton continued his scintillating form of recent rounds by storming to a pole position double and then backed it up with a pair of commanding race wins. That clean sweep has now moved the Elite Motorsport driver to the summit of the drivers’ standings with two events to go.

Bringing the curtain down on the support race action over the course of the weekend was two races from the Porsche Visit Cayman Islands Sprint Challenge GB. Boasting an ultra-competitive grid, Matthew Armstrong emerged as the driver to beat, winning both races.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Croft Circuit, CLICK HERE.

Knockhill provides the next stop on the calendar for the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship and TOCA support categories, with the annual trip north of the border for the sixth event of the season taking place on July 30/31.

Oulton Park serves up blockbuster action across TOCA support package

Oulton Park provided the backdrop to the latest all-action chapter of what is proving to be an unmissable season for the TOCA support package this past weekend (June 11/12) as five championships served up a feast of entertainment.

Taking centre stage alongside the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship in Cheshire, blockbuster thrills and spills ran throughout each series – keeping the bumper trackside crowd and those watching on ITV and ITV4 on the edge of their seats from start-to-finish.

The Porsche Carrera Cup GB had its fair share of thrilling moments across its two races, the first of which was marred by a red flag. Fresh off the back of his win at Brands Hatch, Will Martin was the driver to beat in the opener as he held off the charging Adam Smalley and Kiern Jewiss to win.

Matty Graham came to the fore in race two as he claimed a commanding lights-to-flag victory, having started from pole position.

James Kellett continued his fine start to the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Sueprcup season, adding a further two wins to the three he claimed at the Brands Hatch season-opener last month.

After claiming pole position in style, Kellett was untouchable in the opening bout as he scored victory by a staggering 15 seconds. The Rosland Gold Racing by Century Motorsport driver doubled his tally for the weekend with another superlative performance in race two, maintaining his unbeaten streak.

Kellett’s second win came in astonishing circumstances as a multi-car crash on the run to the chequered flag saw him vault from fourth to first within a matter of metres. Aston Millar and Reece Somerfield – both of whom were involved in the incident – rounded out the podium.

There was plenty of wheel-to-wheel entertainment in the Quaife MINI CHALLENGE JCW as Sam Weller and Jason Lockwood scored a victory apiece.

Saturday arguably belonged to Weller as the Hybrid Tune racer powered his way to the top of the times in qualifying and then converted it into victory in race one. Lockwood then ,mastered tricky conditions in Sunday’s second race to triumph.

The latest chapter of the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA had everyone on the edge of their seats as the motorsport stars of tomorrow produced an unmissable lakeside triple-header.

Alex Dunne continued his dominance with a commanding lights-to-flag victory in race one before Daniel Guinchard and Louis Sharp scored their breakthrough first wins in races two and three.

Bringing the curtain down on the action was a pair of races from the Ginetta GT Academy, which was making its one and only appearance on the BTCC support bill this year.

Enjoying what is proving to be a hugely successful sophomore year, the one-make series boasted a bumper 28-car grid and provided plenty of close racing as Ravi Ramyead scored victory.

Ramyead got the jump on pole-sitter Warren as the lights went out for race one and although he was under constant pressure, held on to win. Ramyead then repeated the feat in race two to complete a remarkable weekend.

To view the full classification of results from all TOCA support championships sessions at Oulton Park, CLICK HERE.

Croft Circuit provides the next stop on the calendar for the TOCA support package on June 11/12 where the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship is poised to return to action after a weekend off.

Thruxton thrills for TOCA support championships

It wasn’t just the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship that had fans on the edge of their seats at Thruxton Circuit this past weekend (May 28/29) as the TOCA support championships also shared the headlines.

Marking the first of two visits to the fastest circuit in the UK this year, five one-make categories took centre stage in Hampshire to write the latest chapter in what is already shaping up to be a blockbuster season across the board.

The Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge made their second appearance on the BTCC support bill and like their Junior counterparts, they didn’t disappoint.

Harley Haughton – who has been one of the standout performers in the series thus far – was the driver to beat in Saturday’s opening bout as he charged from third on the grid to claim a well-deserved maiden victory. Haughton then repeated the feat on Sunday with a similarly commanding drive.

Elsewhere, Josh Rowledge and Ian Aguilera enjoyed a share of the spoils in what were two blockbuster Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship races – the second of which ended prematurely

There was plenty of wheel-to-wheel entertainment in the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA as Alex Dunne and Aiden Neate stood on the top step of the podium.

Despite starting on pole position, Dunne had to secure victory the hard way in race one as he battled back past Ugo Ugochukwu on lap four after losing the lead off the line. Once back in front, the Irishman powered clear to win and strengthen his title challenge.

Dunne would go on to prevail in race three after Neate led an Argenti Motorsport 1-2 in an enthralling reverse grid contest on Sunday.

The Quaife MINI CHALLENGE Trophy – which boasted a bumper 30-car entry list – led the way with two frenetic races. Nelson King continued his sensational start to the season as he narrowly prevailed in the opening contest after pipping Louie Capozzoli and Matt Hammond in a drag to the line.

Capozzoli struck back in the second bout as he chalked up his first win of the year after fending off the advances of Alfie Glenie. King was declared the winner of the third race, which was twice affected by red flag stoppages.

Rounding out the weekend’s track action was a pair of pulsating races from the Porsche Visit Cayman Islands Sprint Challenge GB. Now in its third season, the one-make series made its first appearance on the TOCA support package for this season with Harry Foster winning both bouts.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Thruxton, CLICK HERE.

Oulton Park provides the next stop on the calendar for the TOCA support package on June 11/12 where the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, MINI CHALLENGE JCW and Ginetta GT4 Supercup all return to action.

ROKiT Racing Stars shine bright as winners are crowned

Monica Boulton Ramos and Deagen Fairclough have each won a spot on the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA grid for 2023 after being named the inaugural winners of the ROKiT Racing Stars competition.

Launched this year with the aim of discovering new motorsport talent through online sim racing, the innovative scheme – which is spearheaded by former President of the FIA Single Seater Commission Bob Fernley and ROKiT – is unique to British motorsport as it looks to remove the cost barrier to compete.

Five high-octane qualifying rounds on RaceRoom software whittled down the competition before 15 of the country’s brightest stars – seven girls and eight boys – went wheel-to-wheel on simulators at the University of Bolton for a never-before-seen prize.

Competing just hours before he was due to sit a GCSE exam, Fairclough proved to be one of the standout performers as he took a clean sweep of victories around the virtual Brands Hatch Grand Prix to secure his place as the Male Racing Star.

“I’m so over the moon,” said an overjoyed Fairclough. “I’m so speechless. ROKiT have given us such a fantastic opportunity, I’ve been waiting for an amazing opportunity like this, and it’s come around. I’m really overwhelmed, I can’t believe it.”

Boulton Ramos’ route to victory in the female category proved to be just as commanding as she charged to victory in race one before repeating the performance in the second contest to clinch the coveted F4 seat.

“I am still speechless,” Monica commented. “I had performed well in the qualifying races online and thought I had a chance but the competition from the other girls here in Bolton was tremendous and I am just delighted I have come through.”

Both drivers are now set to embark on six months of training in readiness for competition, supported by both the Motorsport UK Academy and Hitech GP. Later in the year they will then begin pre-seas testing before taking up full-time race seats in the series for 2023.

TOCA support package makes a splash at Brands Hatch

Contrasting conditions of bright sunshine and persistent rain only added to the drama at Brands Hatch this past weekend (May 14/15) as the TOCA support package continued its 2022 season.

Hot on the heels of a sensational curtain-raiser at Donington Park last month, five championships took centre stage around the famous Kent venue for a thrilling two days of racing in front of a packed trackside crowd.

Alex Dunne remains at the summit of the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA after clinching his third win of the season. Coming off the back of a double win at Donington Park, the Hitech GP commanded proceedings in race one to strengthen his advantage in the points.

That was to be his only visit to the top step of the podium over the course of the weekend however as Michael Shin gave Virtuosi Racing their first triumph in race two before Carlin’s Ugo Ugochukwu blasted to victory in the final contest.

The Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship also saw three different drivers claim victory across what were a trio of frenetic encounters. Josh Rowledge had triumphed on the road in race one however a post-race penalty promoted Kanato Le to secure what was his maiden win in the popular one-make category.

Rowledge then went on to narrowly miss out on victory in race two as he hounded Will MacIntyre all the way to the chequered flag. Race three – which took place in very different conditions to that of the day before – saw Harri Reynolds take on a starring role to clinch his second win of year.

A new era for the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup was ushered in at Brands Hatch with the brand-new G56 making its competitive debut. The weekend proved to be one to remember for James Kellett as he made his mark with a hat-trick of commanding wins – becoming the first driver to achieve the feat since 2016.

The Porsche Carrera Cup GB also saw its fair share of excitement with Will Martin and Kiern Jewiss making it four different winners from four races. Race one saw a five-minute dash to the flag after the race was halted, with Martin holding off the chasing pack right the way to the finish.

Race two – which as held in worse conditions than earlier in the day – saw Jewiss convert a superlative start from fifth into victory as he held off the charging Martin and Adam Smalley.

Bringing the curtain down on the weekend were a trio of races from the Quaife MINI CHALLENGE JCW. Never short of entertainment, the tin top series saw Jack Mitchell romp to an impressive pair of wins before Max Coates was victorious in a shortened third and final bout.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Brands Hatch, click here.

Thruxton Circuit provides the next stop on the calendar for the TOCA support package, with the fastest circuit in the UK hosting the third event of the 2022 season on May 28/29.

TOCA support package takes centre stage at Donington Park

Donington Park played host to a memorable season-opener for the championships competing on the TOCA support package this past weekend (April 23/24).

Taking centre stage alongside the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, five all-action categories delighted fans with two blockbuster days of wheel-to-wheel entertainment under the flightpath of East Midlands airport.

Boasting a bumper grid of youngsters all hoping to forge a career in motorsport, the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship has always been good value down the years and 2022 looks to be no different as they produced an exhilirating trio of races.

Josh Rowledge claimed bragging rights in the season-opener as he charged to victory from third before he was denied by a mere 0.068s from clinching honours in race two, with Harri Reynolds pipping him to the line. Reynolds doubled his account for the weekend by charging to the top step of the podium in race three.

It’s been a winter of change for the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA with just about everything being new, most importantly the car. Boasting a competitive grid of drivers all hoping to scale the single-seater mountain, the series kicked off what is a new era in style.

Hitech GP’s Alex Dunne withstood a Carlin charge in race one to take a commanding win before sophomore racer Georgi Dimitrov netted his first win for JHR Developments. Dunne then doubled his win tally with another dominant performance in race three.

The Porsche Carrera Cup GB is another to have introduced a new car for this season and it too didn’t disappoint. Making debut in the series, former British GT champion wrote his name into the history books by claiming victory in race ahead of Porsche Junior GB winner Adam Smalley.

Redline Racing enjoyed further success in race two as Matthew Graham produced a commanding drive to claim victory ahead of Theo Edgerton and Kiern Jewiss – who had endured a rollercoaster race day.

Tin top thrills were in high order courtesy of the Quaife MINI CHALLENGE JCW’s, with three barnstorming races putting fans on the edge of their seats. Sam Weller charged to the top step of the podium in the opening bout and then repeated the feat in race two. Race three spoils fell the way of Ronan Pearson, who produced a perfect safety car restart to pull clear of the chasing pack.

Rounding out the weekend’s action were three races from the Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge, which came hot on the heels of competing over the Easter weekend at Oulton Park.

Will Orton claimed victory in race one before Will Jenkins made his mark in the race two, clinching a hard-fought win after a multi-car battle entertained at the front of the field. Jenkins then stormed to victory in race two before Connor Grady triumphed in race three.

To view the full classification of results from all sessions at Donington Park, CLICK HERE.

ROKiT British F4 edges closer to the start of new season

Preparations for the 2022 ROKit F4 British Championship certified by FIA continued this week as the single seater series held its official Season Launch at the Home of British Motor Racing, Silverstone.

Taking centre stage around the National circuit, teams and drivers had the opportunity to meet the media, showcase their liveries and take part in nearly six hours of testing ahead of the Donington Park curtain-raiser later this month.

The 2022 campaign is one of change Britain’s FIA Formula 4 category with new organisers in Motorsport UK, the introduction of a new chassis, engine and tyre providers and a whole host of prizes that have been designed to create a pathway for drivers within the sport.

Many of Europe’s leading teams have entered the championship for this season including Virtuosi Racing, Hitech GP and Chris Dittmann Racing, who have joined Carlin, Phinsys by Argenti and JHR Developments – who set the pace on during Tuesday testing.

Joseph Loake, who enters his second season with the team, ended up setting a benchmark time of 54.032 seconds to claim the early bragging rights ahead of team-mate and fellow sophomore racer Georgi Dimitrov.

Carlin and McLaren F1 Junior Ugo Ugochukwu ended the day third fastest whilst the Argenti duo of Aiden Neate and Mercedes F1 Junior Daniel Guinchard, who rounded out the top five.

Filling the remainder of the top ten was Williams F1 Junior Oliver Gray, Eduardo Coseteng, Louis Sharp, Michael Shin and Noah Lisle.

Less than three weeks now remain until the 2022 ROKiT British F4 season begins in front of a capacity trackside audience and ITV4’s television cameras at Donington Park.

New-for-2022 British F4 car hits the track for the first time

Preparations for the upcoming ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA season have continued to ramp up with Virtuosi Racing becoming the first team to hit the track in the UK with the new-for-2022 second-generation car.

Completing a full day’s running at Brands Hatch on Wednesday (January 26), the Norfolk-based team put the new Tatuus T-421, it’s new Abarth powertrain and the Pirelli control tyres it runs on through its paces around the Indy circuit.

Behind the wheel was the team’s first signing for the 2022 season, Edward Pearson, and he wasted no time in getting up to speed.

“It’s fantastic to be able to get my first laps in the car ticked off. Today was all about bedding everything in, checking the car over and getting myself up to speed as a driver,” said the 15-year-old single-seater graduate.

“We started off cautiously and then gradually built it up and by the end of the day, we were posting good lap times. It’s my first test in the car and with the team, so very much just a case of establishing the foundations for the winter ahead.

“The car itself is a lot of fun to drive, and obviously quite different to what I’m used to racing in Ginetta Juniors. I’m looking forward to the next opportunity to get back behind the wheel already.”

Virtuosi Team Manager Mark Salmon was also left satisfied with the maiden running of the new car, heaping plenty of praise onto it.

“For the first test, we have to be very happy with how today has gone. Our engineering team has plenty of data to go away and crunch some numbers, and for Edward, we’ve started to build up his mileage in the car before the season starts,” he explained.

“The car itself is fantastic for this level. Today was our first run out with it, and it’s gone flawlessly, which really gives us the confidence to start pushing the limits straight out of the box. I have a feeling the championship is going to have quite a few people talking this season.”

Hugh Chambers, CEO of Motorsport UK added: “It’s fantastic to see our teams begin their winter testing programmes, and I’m sure with a brand new car, engine package and tyre to get their heads around, things will be flat out between now and the start of the season.

“Both Edward and Virtuosi are very enthusiastic following the test, so it’s clear to see the new Tatuus T-421 has made quite an impression in such a short space of time. We wish all the teams the best with their pre-season preparations and look forward to the opening rounds at Donington Park in just twelve weeks’ time.”

New era beckons for ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA in 2022

The ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA is poised to enter a new era next year, with 2022 marking a dramatic shift for the internationally renowned entry-level category for the stars of tomorrow.

Now organised by Motorsport UK, the governing body and membership organisation for UK motorsport, Britain’s FIA Formula 4 series will reach new heights as it ushers in a wave of new changes.

One major change will see adoption of the hugely successful Tatuus-Abarth chassis and engine combination which features a number of notable safety advancements, including the Halo cockpit protection device and strengthened side anti-intrusion panels. Further safety features such as TOCA’s on-board signalling systems will also be included on the 2022 car as well.

The introduction of Pirelli as the category’s tyre supplier will bring the championship in line with its contemporaries around Europe, as well as the rest of the FIA Single-Seater Pathway.

In addition to the 12 FIA Super License points that are up for grabs, the 2022 Champion will receive a funded test in a Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine challenger courtesy of Pirelli.

They will also receive a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go behind the scenes at a Formula 1 Grand Prix with McLaren, giving them an in-depth insight into life at the sport’s top table.

British F4 has also named ROKiT as its new title sponsor for the forthcoming campaign and they have announced a brand-new Racing Star programm e to support two future talents.

The scheme will select 32 participants aged either 14 or 15 years old through the sport’s ever-growing eSports scene, with a further shootout held on state-of-the-art simulators to determine which two drivers – one boy and one girl – will be awarded a fully-funded seat in British F4 for the 2023 season with the FIA Racing Star team, underpinned by Hitech GP.

Hugh Chambers, CEO of Motorsport UK, said: “This is a really significant moment as the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA continues to build towards what will be a ground-breaking year in 2022.

“It’s an excellent opportunity to have everybody together to get an exclusive first-look at the new car in the UK, and also to unveil some of the exciting commercial ties we’ve forged to help enrich the experience for drivers competing in the championship.

“As the entry-level step on the single-seater ladder, it’s absolutely crucial we put together a platform that gives competitors the best opportunity to make meaningful progress through the ranks. Many of these drivers will be aiming for Formula 1, so giving them a championship that allows them to start gathering relevant experience from their first laps in the car is a key element of what we’re building.

“Our vision has always been to grow and develop the series into a global leader, and to kick things off with partnerships alongside the likes of ROKiT, McLaren and Pirelli really gives us a solid grounding on which to build and unveil further incentives in the near future. It also highlights how seriously British F4 is regarded at the highest echelons of the sport.

“We understand that teams are already attracting heavy interest for seats, which is extremely encouraging, and all the signs at this stage points towards a healthy grid to kick off the championship’s new era in 2022.”

BARC selected as organising club for ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA

The British Automobile Racing Club is delighted to announce that it has been selected as the organised club for the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA for 2022 and beyond.

Appointed by Motorsport UK, the BARC will act as the lead club local organiser for the championship and its related events, including collaborating with the UK governing body on elements of the series’ organisation.

The Club currently fulfils a similar role for the rest of the high-profile British Touring Car Championship package on which ROKiT British F4 sits, making it an ideal partnership founded on years of relevant experience and expertise.

Hugh Chambers, CEO of Motorsport UK, said: “Motorsport UK is pleased to confirm the BARC as the local club organiser for the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA.

“Having a strong organising team off-circuit creates a positive, enjoyable environment for competitors on track, and in a season where much will be different as the series embarks on a new era, their wealth of experience will be a valuable resource for the series to draw upon.

“Our vision has always been to develop the championship into a global leader and the appointment of the BARC is another important step on that journey.”

Ben Taylor, BARC Chief Executive, added: “We are delighted that the BARC has been selected by Motorsport UK as the lead club for the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA.

“It is the most prestigious single-seater championship in the country, and we are proud that the governing body has entrusted its new operation into the hands of the UK’s oldest racing club.

“The championship will form part of the high profile TOCA package which is the jewel in the crown of the BARC’s operations and provides the perfect platform for these young drivers to develop their skills as potential stars of the future.”

To find out more information on the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA, head to https://www.fiaformula4.com/.