Campbell-Pilling wins in British F4 as McLaughlin and Molnar clash

Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

Rowan Campbell-Pilling took his first British Formula 4 victory in race three at Knockhill as title contenders Fionn McLaughlin and Martin Molnar collided.

Molnar had just taken third from McLaughlin when the pair made contact at the hairpin, putting both drivers out of the race.

Racing would not last much longer, as Ella Lloyd ran wide into the gravel at the chicane and red flags ended the weekend two minutes early.

It had already been a disrupted race. Ethan Jeff-Hall stalled from third on the grid, and while everyone managed to avoid his stationary car, Adam Al Azhari and Chase Fernandez clashed as they swerved around him.

The safety car at the end of lap one, with Campbell-Pilling leading the field after passing Thomas Bearman.

Following the restart, McLaughlin and Molnar began to battle for third and that allowed the top two to escape up the road.

Bearman could not challenge Campbell-Pilling, but was sitting comfortably in second prior to the safety car’s return. This time Henry Mercier had beached his car in the gravel at the chicane.

There were 11 minutes left on the race clock when green flags next waved. Campbell-Pilling got a good restart and began pulling away again. He was 1.631 seconds clear of Bearman around the short circuit when the red flags appeared.

McLaughlin and Molnar resumed their battle after the second restart. Molnar had been able to get alongside McLaughlin early in the race, but could not make the move stick and came under attack himself from Ary Bansal. This time Bansal was under pressure from Tommy Harfield, leaving Molnar free to focus on attacking.

When he next went side-by-side with McLaughlin, he held on. The move for position would finally come at the chicane, where Molnar dived down the inside of McLaughlin despite a lock-up. Molnar appeared to be ahead as they came out of the corner, but McLaughlin made contact with Molnar’s rear wheels, sending both drivers spinning.

Bansal, Harfield and James Piszcyk, who had all been following close behind, had to run wide to avoid them. Coming out of that drama in third was Bansal, while Harfield and Piszcyk fell down the order. Molnar limped to the pits, and McLaughlin was left stranded.

Henry Joslyn avoided the spinners successfully to rise to fourth, ahead of Al Azhari and Harfield. Piszcyk finished 11th. 

Lloyd had an eventful race before her off at the chicane. She had been part of the battle for sixth with Harfield and Piszcyk earlier on, but a monent of slight contact sent her wide and into the pits.

Race results (22 laps)