Fairclough wins disrupted first Brands Hatch race to grow British F4 lead

Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

Deagen Fairclough won British Formula 4’s first race on Brands Hatch’s Indy layout after a dramatic startline crash limited green flag running.

The cause was a slow getaway from Mika Abrahams, who was fourth on the grid. Most of the field managed to avoid his slow-moving car, but he was clipped from the side by Ella Lloyd who had started towards the back of the grid. Lloyd was sent into the barriers at Paddock Hill Bend while Abrahams came to a stop on track. Zack Scoular also got a slow start, but managed to avoid any drama.

The race was immediately neutralised with few drivers having changed position before the safety car was brought out. It led the field for 10 minutes as the track was cleared, with Alex Ninovic and Rowan Campbell-Pilling behind poleman Fairclough at the front of the field.

Racing resumed with just over half the race time remaining, but there was little movement in the order. 

Ninovic managed to stay with Fairclough for a few laps, but the Hitech GP driver gradually pulled away. Points leader Fairclough set the fastest lap as he took his second win of the season, 2.306 seconds clear of Ninovic.

Campbell-Pilling kept Ninovic under pressure for most of the race, but began to slip back into a fight with Reza Seewooruthun in the closing laps. Seewooruthun pushed hard but could not find a way past the rookie. Campbell-Pilling claimed his first car racing podium in third, with Seewooruthun 0.441s behind.

James Higgins leapfrogged Yuanpu Cui on the shortened opening lap and held off Rodin Motorsport team-mate Jack Sherwood to finish fifth.

Abbi Pulling climbed up to seventh, ahead of Cui, Martin Molnar and Kai Daryanani.

Race results (20 laps)