The destiny of the Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA title will go down to the wire in two weeks’ time after the series closed out its penultimate event of the season in action-packed fashion at Silverstone.
On what proved to be a frenetic Sunday at the Home of British Motor Racing, Argenti Motorsport’s Ethan Jeff-Hall became the 14th different winner of the season in race two, before Chris Dittmann Racing’s Tommy Harfield grabbed his second win of the year in race three.
In the battle for title supremacy, Fionn McLaughlin (Hitech TGR) remains in the box seat heading into next month’s series finale at Brands Hatch, having extended his advantage over Jimmy Piszcyk (Rodin Motorsport) and Martin Molnár (Virtuosi Racing), who both trail by 61.5 points.
Title celebrations did take place at the world-famous Northamptonshire venue though, as Fortec Motorsport’s Ary Bansal claimed a clean sweep of Challenge Cup wins, which in turn guaranteed him an unassailable lead at the head of that competition.
Race day began in spectacular style, as Mercedes F1 Junior Jeff-Hall produced an incredible overtake around the outside at Brooklands to secure his maiden victory in the UK’s single-seater series.
Rodin Motorsport’s Adam Al Azhari had started the reverse-grid contest from pole position, and the Emirati driver initially held the lead as the field streamed through the opening sequence of corners, all while drama ensued behind him.
Despite making a flying start from the midfield, championship leader McLaughlin found himself in the thick of the action and he was on the receiving end of contact entering Maggotts, which subsequently damaged his Hitech TGR machine and later forced him into retirement.
McLaughlin’s demise appeared to open the door for Molnár to close the gap in the points however he too would also encounter trouble as an errant front wing became caught under his car at Luffield, which sent him into the gravel and ultimately out of the points.
While the title combatants faced issues, the battle for supremacy at the front of the field had everyone on the edge of their seats as Al Azhari came under threat from the trio of August Raber (Argenti Motorsport), Jeff-Hall and Bansal.
Following a safety car period to recover the stricken car of Haarni Sadiq (JHR Developments), Raber was the first to make his move as he drew alongside Al Azhari exiting Luffield, and the pair subsequently ran side-by-side for a large portion of the following lap.
On the run down the Wellington Straight to Brooklands, Jeff-Hall utilised the slipstream from Raber and Al Azhari to make it three-wide heading into the sweeping left-hander – where he duly kept his foot pinned to the floor to take two positions in one fell swoop.
Once out front, Jeff-Hall didn’t look back, and he kept Raber and Bansal at arm’s length for the remainder of the bout to take his maiden win in Britain’s Formula 4 category.
Al Azhari ultimately settled for fourth place ahead of JHR Developments’ Rowan Campbell-Pilling and Hitech TGR’s Joseph Smith, who clinched Rookie Cup honours and a season-best finish of sixth.
Completing the top ten was McLaren Development Driver Ella Lloyd, her Rodin Motorsport team-mate Piszcyk, Theo Palmer (Xcel Motorsport) and Arjen Kräling (Argenti Motorsport).
Despite finishing two laps adrift of the leaders, Molnár was able to claim the Lotus Fastest Lap and the precious bonus points that came with it.
The weekend’s third and final bout – which was broadcast live on ITV4 and ITVX – saw Harfield come to the fore as he tallied his second win in as many race meetings, despite having to contend with two safety car periods.
It was McLaughlin that hit the front as the lights went out, as he out-dragged pole-sitter Molnár, but Harfield soon emerged as the driver to watch. Muscling his way past the fast-starting Piszcyk, the talented teenager soon set off after the series and race leader.
Closing onto the rear wing of the Irishman down the Wellington Straight, Harfield drew alongside McLaughlin at Brooklands, before then completing the overtake at the exit of Luffield. From there, he cruised to victory and emphatically clinched the Lotus Fastest Lap in the process.
McLaughlin would withstand late pressure from Piszcyk to secure second, while Bansal made it three Challenge Cup wins out of three to secure the coveted title and fourth place on the road.
After starting on the front row, Molnár bounced back from his lacklustre opening lap to secure fifth, coming out on top in a thrilling battle with Henry Joslyn (Fortec Motorsport) during the first half of the race. The Hungarian finished ahead of Raber, Dries van Langendonck (Rodin Motorsport), Jeff-Hall, Campbell-Pilling and Thomas Bearman (Hitech TGR).
Leaving Silverstone, McLaughlin – who has already wrapped up the Rookie Cup title – has one hand on the overall crown going to Brands Hatch, while Hitech TGR remain in control of the Teams’ Cup.
The Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA will close out its 2025 season around the legendary Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit on October 4-5.
