The F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered Ford has done nothing but entertain this season and the 2016 instalment reaches its climax with six drivers from four teams in title contention.

JHR’s Sennan Fielding heads the field by five points from Carlin’s Max Fewtrell and Arden’s Luis Leeds who is a further 14 points adrift. These three young stars have the best shot at securing the most coveted championship in British single-seater racing.

Fielding has shown resilience and determination to claw his way to the top. A dip in form before the summer break suggested the wheels might be coming off his campaign, but a setup breakthrough has seen the Chesterfield racer come back revitalised and looking stronger than ever. The 20-year-old has age and experience on his side and he knows how to win at Brands Hatch having triumphed in the rain around the Indy circuit in April.

Fewtrell has been consistency personified; a metronomic points scorer whilst others have faltered. His season has been sprinkled with magic. Two wins and some inspired battles through the field suggest he has all the ingredients to be crowned champion.

Leeds arrives at Brands Hatch with one more win to his name than Fewtrell. The Red Bull Junior has excelled behind the wheel. His Achilles heel has been qualifying, but a pole position and front row grid slot at Silverstone suggests his luck may have changed at just the right moment.

Carlin’s Devlin DeFrancesco and James Pull lie next in the standings following a year full of highlights; Pull claiming his maiden victory and DeFrancesco pulling off some of the finest overtakes thanks to aggressive, yet controlled driving.

The newly crowned Rookie class champion Alex Quinn has stayed in contention for Fortec and although he would require misfortune to befall those ahead of him stranger things have happened this season.

Behind him in the standings sit Petru Florescu and Zane Goddard. Florescu’s first half of the year was magnificent, the latter half torrid. The Romanian dominated proceedings around the Indy circuit in April however, scoring two of his five wins this season.

Goddard’s start to the year was beset by misfortune, but since the summer break the Double R ace has been formidable. The Aussie looks to have found a sweet spot with the car with four victories to his name.

2016’s winningest driver is the accolade firmly in the sights of Florescu and Goddard, but Fielding who also sits on five might well have something to say about that.

Florescu’s performance could be pivotal for Carlin who look to retain their title as British F4 teams champion. Having failed to close out the title at Silverstone thanks to a resolute Arden squad there is still everything to play for.

Arden will need 2016 race-winner Rafael Martins to come to the fore, as well as their rookie stars Jack Martin and Ayrton Simmons who are locked in a fiercely competitive battle for second in class with Fortec’s Nicolai Kjaergaard. The three drivers separated by just two points.

Frank Bird looks to round off the year with a strong result to underline his progression, whilst Jamie Caroline will give his all to record a so far elusive victory.

JHR’s Billy Monger and Jack Butel are sure to be in the mix and could well play a part in the title fight, helping to take valuable points away from team-mate Fielding’s rivals.

Elsewhere, Andy Richardson will want to build on a weekend full of promise for Richardson Racing last time out at Silverstone.

The F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford action begins on Friday with two pre-event test sessions ahead of qualifying and Round 28 of the season. A blockbuster Sunday follows with two further races; the last of 2016 being screened on ITV4. With the title battle likely to go down to the wire no one will want to miss it.

Brands Hatch timetable
Friday 30 September
0950-1035 & 1435-1515 Testing

Saturday 1 October
1135 Qualifying; 1620 Race 1

Sunday 2 October
1000 Race 2; 1542 Race 3 LIVE ON ITV4
Driver Autograph Session at Ford Race Centre 1200-1230

On TV – Live on ITV4 & itv.com/btcc Sunday 1542
On Radio – Listen to live circuit commentary on British F4 Radio.
Listen to interviews throughout the weekend here.