Sennan Fielding's fine testing form translated into an emphatic pole position and lights to flag victory on Saturday (30 July) at Snetterton for JHR Developments in the F4 British Championship.

Later in the day, Carlin starred once more with Petru Florescu taking his fifth win of the season to put him back in charge at the top of the standings as he led home a Carlin 1-2-3 with James Pull and Devlin DeFrancesco completing the podium.

Following his flawless qualifying performance and lights to flag victory in race one, many touted Sennan Fielding for a second victory in the final race on Sunday (31 July), and he didn't disappoint from pole.

The Amigos-backed driver was in the ascendancy all weekend and victory in Round 18 of the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered Ford capped off a stellar 48 hours him.

The weekend’s double race winner said: “I had a great first lap and I was hoping to build a good lead, but when the gap got under a second the tow was big down the straights. I worked out where DeFrancesco was quicker and where I was quicker and used that to my advantage.

“It was a great race and it’s been a great weekend for us. The team have done a fantastic job and thank you to everyone who has been here this weekend. All the marshals and everyone who has given their spare time to make it possible for us to go racing. A massive thanks to everyone at JHR and Amigos.”

Carlin’s Devlin DeFrancesco and Max Fewtrell were in close pursuit of Fielding throughout with TRS Arden’s Red Bull Junior star Luis Leeds getting in on the act too, lapping quicker than anyone else for a large part of the race in fourth.

Explained Leeds: “We had a lot of good pace. I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me for the rest of this year to come out on top, but I’m looking forward to the last four race weekends and I will be working as hard as I can to win this championship.

“I don’t expect anything to come easy. It’s a great championship because all the drivers in it are so good. It’s what makes it tough, but it’s also what makes it one of the best championships in the world.”

DeFrancesco did well to leap past team-mate Fewtrell at the start, his second place making him the only driver to finish on the podium in all three races this weekend.

Commented DeFrancesco: “We had a good pace in the race, just not in the right places. We were all over Sennan in sector two in the tight and twisty bits, but there were a few other places where he was a bit better than me.

“I’m really looking forward to the rest of the year though. I think we did the maximum we could this weekend even though we didn’t get the win. I have made a massive gain in the championship.”

It was also a welcome return to the podium for Fewtrell, who endured a difficult Saturday, but bounced back brilliantly ensuring that he is only four points off the championship lead.

Added Fewtrell: “I think this podium softens the blow following the first race. I didn’t get a great start so Devlin got me off the line and then we just stayed in formation. I think the pace was fine and I’m looking forward to Knockhill now to get some better results. There is still a long way to go.”

Fastest lap of the race was snatched away from Leeds by fifth place man Petru Florescu on the penultimate lap. Championship leader Florescu went into the race seeking a strong points finish to ensure he left Norfolk at the top of the standings and he duly delivered.

Said the Romanian: “It was a good race. I managed to gain three positions and do the fastest lap on old tyres. I’m really happy to leave this weekend back in the lead of the championship. I think if qualifying had gone better we could have fought for more wins.”

Nicolai Kjaergaard made it a clean sweep of Rookie Class wins courtesy of an assured drive to sixth for Fortec Motorsports. The Dane has been a revelation following the summer break and has sent a message that he’s force to be reckoned with for the remainder of the season.

“I’m really happy,” said Kjaergaard. “I tried to get a good start off the line and be consistent and we did that. I gained three positions so it was a good race. I am confident behind the wheel. I have had consistency in my races without many mistakes and that’s how I can keep my positions and also gain some. I hope to carry on this good form at Knockhill.”

Provisional results Round 16 Snetterton 30 July 2016

9 laps / 26.72 miles
1 Sennan FIELDING / GBR / JHR 21m 4.243s
2 Devlin DEFRANCESCO / CDN / Carlin +0.532s
3 James PULL / GBR / Carlin +1.707s
4 Zane GODDARD / AUS / Double R +2.778s
5 Luis LEEDS / AUS / Arden +3.116s
6 Nicolai KJAERGAARD / DEN / Fortec +4.382s
7 Petru FLORESCU / ROU / Carlin +4.836s
8 Rafael MARTINS / BRA / Arden +5.432s
9 Alex QUINN / GBR / Fortec +9.808s
10 Patrik MATTHIESEN / DEN / JTR +10.428s etc.

Fastest lap James Pull / Carlin 1m 52.668s / 94.86 mph

Rookie class 1 Kjaergaard, 2 Quinn, 3 Simmons, 4 Martin
 

Provisional results Round 17 Snetterton 30 July 2016
10 laps / 29.68 miles
1 Petru FLORESCU / ROU / Carlin 20m 29.799s
2 James PULL / GBR / Carlin +2.741s
3 Devlin DEFRANCESCO / CDN / Carlin +4.484s
4 Nicolai KJAERGAARD / DEN / Fortec +6.454s
5 Sennan FIELDING / GBR / JHR +6.578s
6 Alex QUINN / GBR / Fortec +6.647s
7 Jamie CAROLINE / GBR / Fortec +8.372s
8 Patrik MATTHIESEN / DEN / JTR +9.010s
9 Max FEWTRELL / GBR / Carlin +9.209s
10 Frank BIRD / GBR / Fortec +9.782s etc.

Fastest lap Petru Florescu / Carlin 1m 52.156s / 95.29 mph

Rookie Class 1 Kjaergaard, 2 Quinn, 3 Simmons

 
Provisional results Round 18 Snetterton 31 July 2016
8 laps / 23.75 miles
1 Sennan FIELDING / GBR / JHR 15m 14.464s
2 Devlin DEFRANCESCO / CDN / Carlin +0.400s
3 Max FEWTRELL / GBR / Carlin +1.162s
4 Luis LEEDS / AUS / Arden +1.662s
5 Petru FLORESCU / ROU / Carlin +4.915s
6 Nicolai KJAERGAARD / DEN / Fortec +11.530s
7 Zane GODDARD / AUS / Double R +11.990s
8 Ayrton SIMMONS / GBR / Arden +12.203s
9 Jack MARTIN / GBR / Arden +12.899s
10 Patrik MATTHIESEN / DEN / JTR +14.059s etc.
 
Fastest lap Petru Florescu / Carlin 1m 52.690s / 94.84 mph

Rookie Class 1 Kjaergaard, 2 Simmons, 3 Martin, 4 Quinn
 
Provisional Championship standings
1 Florescu 205, 2 Fewtrell 201, 3 DeFrancesco 197, 4 Fielding 194, 5 Pull 186, 6 Leeds 174, 7 Quinn 122, 8 Goddard 120, 9 Caroline 115, 10 Martins 114 etc.
 
Rookie Class standings
1 Quinn 324, 2 J Martin 255, 3 Kjaergaard 238, 4 Simmons 191, 5 R Martin 130