Fairbairn beats Mills to victory in thrilling GB4 season opener

Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

Jeremy Fairbairn won the GB4 season-opener at Oulton Park after a race-long dice with KMR Sport team-mate Tom Mills.

Just 1.8 seconds separated the top five at the chequered flag, with Evans GP’s Cooper Webster edging Colin Queen and Josh Irfan to the final podium spot.

Fairbairn made the better start from the outside of the front row to draw alongside Mills before sweeping around the outside at Old Hall into the lead.

Mills made an early challenge on Fairbairn into Knickerbrook but had to back out, and he had close company behind from Webster, Fortec Motorsports’ Queen and Fox Motorsport’s Liam McNeilly.

Queen survived a slight airborne moment after running wide at Druids to then attack Webster for third into Old Hall, with the pair continuing to go side-by-side until Webster used the inside line to hold onto the position into Cascades.

That squabble allowed the leading KMR duo to pull clear, while McNeilly lost time and slipped back to seventh. Webster and Queen started to close back in on the front two, with Mills also having a hairy moment on the exit of Cascades.

Mills had a stab for the lead into Old Hall, with Fairbairn again remaining ahead while behind the battle was just as close. Queen drew alongside Webster through Lodge, before having to concede into Old Hall.

The battle at the front continued to rage, Fairbairn defending into Old Hall before Mills stuck his nose up the inside into Cascades, with the two team-mates inches apart.

Elite Motorsport’s Irfan benefitted from the action ahead to close in on the lead quartet late on, but it was Fairbairn that led home the five-car train at the finish.

McNeilly set the fastest lap while salvaging a lonely sixth, meanwhile Fortec’s Rahaan Alva edged KMR’s Jack Clifford and Graham Brunton Racing’s Harry Burgoyne to seventh.

Harri Reynolds recovered from a grid stall to finish 10th, while Jason Conzo stalled at the beginning of the formation lap and ended up 12th behind Aditya Kulkarni.

Race result (12 laps)