BRDC F4 Championship
Jake Hughes versus half of the field
Ten different winners, five lead changes in the standings and six drivers within a victory of the lead at halfway point ? these were the kind of stats provided by the intensely close inaugural BRDC F4 season, where some of Britain’s finest youngsters fought it out for the title.
While the championship had a clear pre-season favourite in Seb Morris, the fight was wide open right from the start, as the opening race was won by privateer Matt Bell. The consistent Morris led after the first round, but soon relinquished the lead to a charging Jake Dalton. The 18-year-old narrowly held on to first for several races before being ousted from first by Charlie Robertson. However, a streak of bad results from the latter meant Dalton was back at the top at the halfway point, albeit with no points cushion to speak of.
But, shortly after that, the dynamic changed. It was one of the frontrunners, Jake Hughes, who stunned the field with a sudden breakaway, slotting into the lead with three rounds to go and then methodically building up the advantage. While his main rivals ? Morris, Robertson, Dalton, Jack Barlow and the charging Matthew Graham ? were caught up in a heated fight to be the main chaser, Hughes managed to pull away and comfortably sealed the title.
Still, despite the champion’s late season dominance, there were a lot of very promising talents in this year’s BRDC F4. It seems that the majority of the championship’s frontrunners are eyeing up a promotion into Formula Renault 2.0 NEC and, if so, that series is set for one great 2014.
Valentin Khorounzhiy