Fairclough, Lindblad, Sharp & Slater
The four drivers that will participate in the on-track tests for this year’s Silverstone Autosport BRDC Award have been chosen.
Formula 2-bound FIA Formula 3 race-winner and Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad is the only second-time finalist, having made the final four last year while racing in Formula 4, and he will be going up against GB3 points leader Louis Sharp, British F4 champion Deagen Fairclough and Italian F4 dominator Freddie Slater.
Fitness and simulator elements will take place before the finalists spend two days lapping Silverstone in MotorSport Vision Formula 2 cars, a Ligier LMP3 prototype sportscar and an Aston Martin Vantage GT3.
British Racing Drivers’ Club vice-president Derek Warwick chairs the judging planel, which also includes IMSA racer Alexander Sims, long-time Aston Martin sportscar driver Darren Turner, IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti, racer Andrew Kirkaldy, race car designer Mark Williams, engineer Leena Gade, commentator Ian Titchmarsh and Autosport magazine’s chief editor Kevin Turner.
The winner of the award will recieve a prize Formula 1 test with Aston Martin and a £200,000 cheque.
“I had a feeling I could be in the four – we’ve had such a mega season. I saw Derek Warwick when [2023 winner] Joseph Loake had his run in the F1 car to try and get to know people. I’m so excited for all three cars – the driving technique for the LMP3 and GT3 will be completely different to single-seaters and I’m buzzing,” said Fairclough.
Lindblad was similarly confident of being a finalist: “Based on the fact I got in last year and the year I’d had in F3, I thought I was a good candidate. Last year I was very inexperienced, having just done F4, and going into the award I’d had lots of race weekends back-to-back. This time I know what to expect and I’m looking forward to it. Silverstone is such a good track and the F2 is fun to drive.”
The Anglo-Swede and New Zealand-born Sharp both met the eligibility criteria for the award, which seeks to find the best young British driver.
“It’s a real honour,” said Sharp. “I was in the top 10 last year and this time I really wanted to put myself in the shootout. The main focus has been GB3 because if you don’t do a good job there you won’t be selected anyway. I’m coming in fresh – I’ve never driven a tin-top so the GT3 and LMP3 will be a new challenge, and the F2 is a step up.”
Slater called it “a surprise” to make the final four.
“We’ve had a mega season and it’s one of the things you want to be in, but you never know,” he commented. “I’m really excited about the F2 car – something with more power and downforce than I’m used to. I’m not sure about the LMP3 because I don’t know much about it, but the GT3 is something I’ve been wanting to drive for a long time.”