British F4 enjoys frenetic Donington Park opener with the spoils shared

Three different winners from the opening three British Formula 4 races, and seven drivers gracing the Donington Park podium last weekend, confirmed pre-season predictions of a close campaign.

It was Argenti’s August Raber who claimed the initial bragging rights after defeating race-one polesitter Henry Joslyn. Fortec’s Joslyn led into Redgate on the opening lap while Raber sprinted from third on the grid to take second from Hitech’s Red Bull Junior Fionn McLaughlin. Raber wasn’t waiting around, however, and the Swedish driver sliced into the lead at Redgate on lap three.

“It started halfway around the lap,” Raber explained of his race-winning move. “You need to anticipate you’re going to make a move soon otherwise you’re going to cook your tyres in the dirty air. I didn’t brake too late into the final corner, focusing on getting the power on early. I tried to stay right behind him so that he couldn’t see me in his mirrors and, luckily, he didn’t defend so I just chucked it down the inside.”

While Raber then paced himself to victory, McLaughlin took second after wheel-to-wheel contact between Joslyn and Jimmy Piszcyk (Rodin) resulted in Joslyn finishing his race in the barriers at the chicane on lap eight of 15. Piszcyk received a five-second penalty for jumping the start, which therefore promoted Tommy Harfield (CDR) onto the podium.

Chase Fernandez secured the top step of the podium in a shortened reversed-grid race two to give Xcel Motorsport a maiden series win. Having bolted into the lead after the red lights went out, Fernandez maintained a slender advantage early on until Martin Molnar slotted himself into second on lap 12. The race leader came under increasing pressure from the Virtuosi driver, who attempted to make a move on the exit of Redgate in the closing stages of the race but ultimately had to concede track position as Fernandez assertively covered the corner exit. The Hungarian driver wouldn’t get another chance as the race was red-flagged and declared finished after Ella Lloyd stopped on the back straight with a puncture.

Piszcyk then emerged victorious in the finale after on-track winner Raber and second-placed McLaughlin were penalised for track-limits infringements. Raber led throughout the contest despite the close attentions of McLaughlin, but Piszcyk kept it on the island to take the win.

“We got a decent start and managed to have a little battle with Joslyn who was on pole,” explained Piszcyk. “We just sat in third for the rest of the race and kept it very clean the whole race while the two cars in front didn’t.” Harfield and Molnar were promoted to complete the podium, which also matches the early championship order after an intriguing start to the season.

Trice at the head of the Sprint Challenge train

There were some familiar names at the front of the Porsche Sprint Challenge GB field as late entry Tom Bradshaw and Toby Trice shared the spoils.

Toro Verde’s Bradshaw won the opener, although Trice (Clean Racing) had looked set to challenge for the lead but damage from contact with Jacob Tofts dropped him down the order. The podium was completed by Team Parker’s Joe Marshall and Tofts. “On the race restart, I just tucked in behind Bradshaw and I was looking for the overtake in the last period of the race,” said Trice, who ultimately finished fourth. “Then I got a huge hit from ‘Tofty’, which put the tracking out and, after that, the car was all over the place.”

Trice and Bradshaw did get to have a battle in race two, however, the pair slugging it out in the dying moments of the contest. Bradshaw very nearly took the lead at McLeans in the closing minutes however he ran wide, which allowed Trice to slip through again. “Toby made a mistake coming out of the Old Hairpin,” said Bradshaw. “I got up around the outside coming up to McLeans but I managed to outbrake myself so that was a bit of a foolish move.” Bradshaw settled for second behind Trice with Marshall completing the top three.

Trice doubled up in race three after Bradshaw was eliminated from the running at Redgate on the opening lap. Trice went unchallenged thereafter while Ethan Hammerton (Graves) and Marshall followed him home. “I feel absolutely at one with the car,” reflected Trice. “It moves so predictably and it’s so pleasant to drive. The high-speed flowy stuff just suits the car really nicely.”

Osborne is the undisputed Mini star

Alongside Sutton’s BTCC success, Osborne ensured there was NAPA joy in Minis as well

Photo by: JEP

There was no disputing who was the star of the Mini Challenge’s opening weekend as Jamie Osborne became the first driver since 2018 to win all three races at an event.

Osborne’s NAPA Mini led from lights to flag in the opener after polesitter Tom Ovenden bogged down at the start. The race was interrupted at mid-distance by a red flag and restarted with eight minutes left but this caused no problems for Osborne who took the flag 1.6s ahead of team-mate Lewis Selby. Excelr8’s Marlo Cordell joined them on the podium.

With the top nine reversed, Osborne took the flag again in race two after climbing up through the field while a fierce duel broke out behind him between Civic Cup champion Max Edmundson and Albert Webster. Webster succumbed to Edmundson’s pressure and finished off the podium whereas Edmundson undid all his hard work by gaining a penalty for track limits. This promoted Cordell and Ovenden to second and third respectively.

Osborne completed his undefeated weekend by managing to find a way past polesitter Ovenden on lap six of the finale on the run into the chicane. Ovenden had to settle for second with Selby finishing third as the race was halted early after Alex Solley damaged tyre barriers having crashed when trying to avoid a spinning car ahead.

Whiteside steals surprise early Carrera Cup march

Reigning Pro-Am champion Whiteside leaves Donington with points lead

Photo by: JEP

There was drama from the opening lap of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB season while Angus Whiteside left Leicestershire as the surprise early points leader.

The action began with fast-starting William Jenkins being spun on the exit of Redgate after contact with former Cayman rival Seb Hopkins. “I had a little slide,” explained Jenkins. “Seb had a little slide, and we touched, which span me into the pack.”

While Jenkins suffered heavy damage, Eden Motorsport’s Will Martin was the man in command and he took an unflustered win ahead of Team Parker Racing’s Sid Smith.

Andrew Rackstraw triumphed over Whiteside in the second encounter but the South African didn’t enjoy an easy victory. Whiteside, was third in the earlier contest, was pushing very hard indeed, with the purple machine locking brakes and smoking tyres on several laps as he attempted to find a way past his Century stablmate. Whiteside attempted a last-lap lunge at Redgate but Rackstraw had him covered, crossing the line just under four tenths ahead.

“It was super hard to follow because of the wash and the rear would go as you start to load the car up,” said Whiteside. “Towards the end of the race the car was going off as the temperatures come up and the tyres get hot and brakes were starting to fade.”

Rackstraw just defeated team-mate Whiteside (l) in race two

Photo by: JEP