JHR’s Sennan Fielding wrestled the championship lead away from Carlin’s Max Fewtrell, whilst Double R’s Zane Goddard doubled his victory tally for the weekend. Alex Quinn celebrated being crowned Rookie class champion with a stylish win for Fortec and the youngest driver on the grid, Arden’s Ayrton Simmons, had his best weekend of the season with two Rookie class wins.

In race one, Zane Goddard took full advantage of a superb start to climb from fourth on the grid to first. Seizing his opportunity as front row starters Sennan Fielding and Luis Leeds squabbled for the lead. Once out in front the Double R racer was untouchable on his way to his third F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford victory of the season; finishing over seven seconds clear of the field.

“It was a great race,” said Goddard. “It was an amazing start. I couldn’t even imagine that happening. It all just worked out so well. We got into the lead and kept on pumping in fast laps. We were able to build up a good gap.”

“I got a really good start, getting past Monger straight away. Then Luis and Sennan seemed to focus on each other on the inside and I was able to speed around the outside of them both. The car was a pleasure to drive. I’m lost for words. It was fantastic.”

There was no shortage of drama elsewhere. Championship leader Max Fewtrell and Billy Monger made contact on the opening lap forcing Monger to retire and leaving the championship leader at the back of the field. Fewtrell putting on a determined drive, recording fastest lap in the process, to try to haul himself back into the points paying positions.

As the race drew to a close Leeds was all over the rear of Sennan Fielding’s JHR prepared racer but a coming together left Leeds with a puncture and on the final lap he had to fend off a train of cars headed by Jamie Caroline. The latter had survived race long pressure from Carlin’s Devlin DeFrancesco, having gained three places at the start.

Commented Fielding: “Fair play to Zane, he did an excellent start. I just couldn’t get the traction off the line. We played a bit of a lottery with the car in terms of finding the right setup after a difficult day yesterday. We didn’t quite know how it was going to be so to come away with second is a great result.”

British F4’s Rookie class drivers once again put on an entertaining display of driving. Fortec Motorsports’ Alex Quinn climbing 10 places after an out of sorts qualifying to put him in a Rookie class podium battle between team-mate Kjaergaard and TRS Arden’s Ayrton Simmons.

Simmons, the youngest driver on the grid, emerged victorious for the second time this season. A well-deserved win after climbing five places amid all the action, and by finishing second in class Quinn did enough to be crowned Rookie class champion.

Despite only finishing ninth overall, the Racing Steps Foundation backed star did it in style showcasing excellent race craft with some exceptional overtakes. A move which involved going from the outside of Kjaergaard at Brooklands to the inside for Luffield a particular highlight and display of absolute precision behind the wheel.

Simmons explained: “Qualifying wasn’t ideal. It was quite tricky conditions, but I’m really happy with this race. I made up a lot of places from 12th and we have got a really good reverse-grid race position too.”

Added Quinn: “It was kind of like Snetterton. Having to bounce back after a bad qualifying. I pulled off a few brave moves around the outside at Brooklands. At the beginning of the season it would have been my weakness to overtake and now it’s a strength so I’m really happy with my performance.

“It’s a relief to finally become Rookie champion. We’ve been dominant in the class for quite a few races now. It wasn’t clear-cut when we were going to win it. We had a good chance and it’s good to get it done now, so we can focus on just winning races now.”

Quinn celebrated being crowned Rookie class champion by winning the second race of the weekend in textbook fashion.

A flawless start from pole saw him stay in front of fellow front row starter Luis Leeds, with the Racing Steps Foundation ace then proceeding to break away from the field. His progress was halted just under halfway into the race when the safety car was deployed to recover team-mate Kjaergaard’s stricken car. Quinn wasn’t fazed however, mastering the restart and pulling out a gap to Rafael Martins.

Said a jubilant Quinn: “I cannot express my feelings. I’m so happy. I need to say a huge thanks to the Racing Steps Foundation and Fortec because without them I wouldn’t be here, let alone at the front.”

“I’m really happy with the car and the performance of myself. I pushed as hard as I could to get the win. I’ve shown this weekend that I can race through the field and lead from the front which is great.”

Martins had looked strong all weekend and after an excellent sixth place finish yesterday was full of fight today, leaping past TRS Arden team-mate Ayrton Simmons off the line and then scything past Luis Leeds on the following lap at Becketts.

“I think it was quite a good race on the first few laps for me,” said Martins. “I couldn’t catch Alex. He did a great job. I thought after the safety car I could have a chance, but he did a great job at the restart.”

Leeds was cautious in the early stages, however, as the race progressed his confidence behind the wheel came back in full force as he hounded Martins for second until the end.

Explained Leeds: “I got good points in the championship and scored more points than any of the other contenders although it wasn’t my greatest of races.

“With the puncture I had yesterday we didn’t have the best of tyres for this race. Two tyres were scrapped so we had to use some new tyres, but I had to preserve them for the race this afternoon when we start from pole.”

JHR’s Sennan Fielding made impressive progress up the order throughout the race, from eighth up to fourth.

There was no stopping Fewtrell however. The championship leader going into the race had it all to do starting from the penultimate row of the grid and he picked his way through the field expertly. His move around the outside of Simmons at Brooklands thrilling spectators. It set up an entertaining battle between himself and team-mates DeFrancesco and Pull, as well as Fielding and Goddard.

For the second time, it was Double R Racing’s Zane Goddard who proved to be the class of the field on his way to victory in the final contest at Silverstone.

Goddard had his work cut out starting from third on the grid behind formidable title contenders Sennan Fielding and Luis Leeds, but he made it look easy with two superb overtaking manoeuvres.

After the start it seemed that compatriot Leeds might well scamper off into the distance. The Red Bull Junior making a lightning getaway off the line from pole, the best of any driver, and set about trying to build a gap.

Fielding and Goddard were having none of it though. Leeds was unable to escape their clutches and perhaps with no title fight to worry about, Goddard was the driver to seize the initiative dispatching both drivers ahead. Once clear Goddard looked calm and in control on his way to victory number four of the season.

"I thought I was going to have to pull something pretty special out of the bag before the race,” explained Goodard. “I had to make two big lunges. Thankfully they both worked out. I didn’t know if I was going to pull them off or not. I tried to get past as soon as I could and fortunately I did. I was then able to stay in the lead.

“Unfortunately we had a lot of bad luck in the first part of the year, but we have turned things around. We have really shown our speed again here. The team did a great job and now we have another two wins to add to the tally. Hopefully we can finish the year with some more.”

TRS Arden's Leeds and JHR Developments' Fielding once again staked their claims for the title, putting in measured performances to finish on the podium and bring home valuable points.

Added Fielding: “I really had to look after my rear tyres because I was struggling for grip. Once I had broken away from the Carlin drivers I was quite happy to bring home this result. Fingers crossed we can keep this up. I think Brands Hatch is a stronger circuit for me, but we will see when we get there.”

“I had a bit of cramp in my leg at the start and nearly stalled off the line, but I think everyone apart from Luis didn’t get the best of starts. During the race I struggled a little bit with rear end grip as they tyres grained.

“It’s a great result for us. To come away leading the championship. I cannot ask for anything more especially after how slow we were on Friday and fair play to Zane who I think has been awesome this weekend. A very big well done to him.”

It all means that after a spectacular Silverstone weekend attention now turns to what promises to be a historic final meeting of the season at Brands Hatch in two weeks, with six drivers from four different teams all still in contention for the title.

F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford

Provisional results Round 25 Silverstone 17 September 2016
21 laps / 34.45 miles
1 Zane GODDARD / AUS / Double R 20m 06.969s / 102.75mph
2 Sennan FIELDING / GBR / JHR +7.397s
3 Devlin DEFRANCESCO / CDN / Carlin +18.530s
4 James PULL / GBR / Carlin +18.868s
5 Petru FLORESCU / ROU / Carlin +19.239s
6 Rafael MARTINS / BRA / Arden +19.993s
7 Ayrton SIMMONS / GBR / Arden +20.171s
8 Luis LEEDS / AUS / Arden +20.448s
9 Alex QUINN / GBR / Fortec +20.718s
10 Nicolai KJAERGAARD / DEN / Fortec +21.758s

Fastest lap: Max Fewtrell / Carlin 56.820 / 103.93mph

Rookie class: 1 Simmons; 2 Quinn; 3 Kjaergaard; 4 Martin

Provisional results Round 26 Silverstone 18 September 2016
20 laps / 32.8 miles
1 Alex QUINN / GBR / Fortec 20m 41.423s / 95.14mph
2 Rafael MARTINS / BRA / Arden +1.215s
3 Luis LEEDS / AUS / Arden +1.876s
4 Sennan FIELDING / GBR / JHR +4.639s
5 Devlin DEFRANCESCO / CDN / Carlin +4.858s
6 Zane GODDARD / AUS / Double R +5.163s
7 Max FEWTRELL / GBR / Carlin +5.655s
8 Ayrton SIMMONS / GBR / Arden +6.333s
9 Jamie CAROLINE / GBR / Fortec +9.362s
10 Carrie SCHREINER / GER / Double R +9.751s etc.

Fastest lap: Max Fewtrell / Carlin 57.221 / 103.20mph

Rookie class: 1 Quinn; 2 Simmons; 3 Martin

Provisional results Round 27 Silverstone 18 September 2016
21 laps / 34.45 miles
1 Zane GODDARD / AUS / Double R 20m 16.340s / 101.96mph
2 Luis LEEDS / AUS / Arden +2.680s
3 Sennan FIELDING / GBR / JHR +4.359s
4 Devlin DEFRANCESCO / CDN / Carlin +5.863s
5 Max FEWTRELL / GBR / Carlin +6.211s
6 James PULL / GBR / Carlin +6.675s
7 Rafael MARTINS / BRA / Arden +10.521s
8 Billy MONGER / GBR / JHR +11.181s
9 Ayrton SIMMONS / GBR / Arden +15.045s
10 Alex QUINN / GBR / Fortec +15.411s etc.

Fastest lap: Max Fewtrell / Carlin 57.208 / 103.23mph

Rookie class: 1 Simmons; 2 Quinn; 3 Martin; 4 Kjaergaard

Provisional championship standings: 1 Fielding 308; 2 Fewtrell 303; 3 Leeds 289; 4 DeFrancesco 259; 5 Pull 248; 6 Quinn 240; =7 Florescu 230; =7 Goddard 230; 9 Martins 180; 10 Caroline 148 etc.

Rookie class: 1 Quinn 535; J Martin 357; =3 Kjaergaard 355; =3 Simmons 355; 5 R Martin 130

Full results