Deagen Fairclough crowned British F4 champion with 11th race win

Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

Deagen Fairclough has taken the 2024 British Formula 4 title with a dominant win at Silverstone.

Only Alex Ninovic was still within mathematical contention going into the first race of the penultimate round of the season, but needed to outscore Fairclough to keep his championship hopes alive. Ninovic fought for the race lead at the start, but a damaged front wing took him out of contention for both the race win and the championship.

Ninovic got the best start and jumped up to second after starting fourth. He went side by side with Fairclough for the race lead, but the polesitter managed to hold onto the position.

The Rodin driver slipped back into a fight with Jack Sherwood and James Higgins, allowing Hitech’s Fairclough to escape down the road.

Higgins emerged in the lead of the battle for second and began to chase after Fairclough, while Ninovic slipped back to fifth. Ninovic made slight contact with Zack Scoular, causing a left rear puncture for Scoular and a damaged front wing for himself. Ninovic tried to continue, but a black and orange flag forced him to pit and he dropped to the back of the field.

Meanwhile, after briefly being caught by Higgins, Fairclough pulled away again in the second half of the race. He was more than eight seconds clear of Higgins at the chequered flag

Reza Seewooruthun had spent the race in the battle for second, and was alongside Higgins as they crossed the line at the end of the race, but Higgins just managed to keep his nose ahead of take the runner up position.

Sherwood picked up fourth ahead of Gustav Jonsson and Rowan Campbell-Pilling, who had both joined the fight for second in the closing stages of the race.

Harri Raynolds, making his debut in the championship, climbed up to seventh ahead of Matius Ryba. Alex Berg and Martin Molnar completed the top 10.

Race results (22 laps)