As part of ROKiT British F4’s 2024 end of season awards, there was the inaugural presentation of a new and very special award, the Jake Cook Memorial Award.
Jake was a familiar face in the British F4 paddock, having previously raced Ginetta Juniors, Formula Ford and Formula Renault. In 2010 Jake became the first driver to be awarded the MSA’s Young Driver of the Year Award, before generously sharing the skills he had accumulated, from a sport he had loved, as an Academy coach, supporting, amongst others, many drivers on the British F4 grid.
Sadly, Jake passed away in November 2023, having encountered mental health struggles, however his family, led by his wife and British F4 championship manager, Eve Lake-Grange, created this award in order that Jake’s memory lives on and keeps his name alive in motorsport.
The award is unique in British F4, as it is voted on by the Team Managers of the F4 paddock and awarded to a current season British F4 driver who has shown great improvement over the championship season; a driver with determination in adversity and who has demonstrated respect for their closest rivals both on and off track.
The inaugural Jake Cook Memorial Award was presented by Eve Lake-Grange to Martin Molnar, Virtuosi Racing.
Eve said, “I am delighted to present this award, created in Jake’s name and memory, to Martin. He is a very worthy winner, and I am so grateful that their traits have been recognised by the experienced eyes of our British F4 Team Managers.
“I also wanted to use the award creation to shine a light on mental health; my family have been impacted by mental health this past year, not just through Jake, however as a consequence I also had to take some time away earlier in the year to be treated. I am not ashamed of these struggles, and I encourage everyone to keep talking, and remember it is OK to not be OK.
“Jake’s Award is not just a trophy, however with the winner awarded a cheque for £500 that our family will be matching with a £500 donation to the Mind Charity; it’s a charity very close to my heart, who work hard to ensure that everyone experiencing a mental health problem, gets the support and respect that they deserve.
“Jake was many things to us, a husband, father, son, however he was also a racing driver. I am delighted that Martin is recognised today by some of the most experienced personnel in the paddock and really highlighted as a driver to watch for the future”
Hitech Pulse-Eight are delighted to announce Mika Abrahams in the 2024 ROKiT British F4 Championship certified by FIA.
Abrahams competed in karting for four years in South Africa and Italy, before making the step up to car racing. He impressed in the Danish F4 Championship in 2022, scoring nine podiums from just fifteen starts. In 2023, the 15-year-old made the move to British F4, taking a podium in only his maiden year in the series.
The South African driver is now set to join Hitech Pulse-Eight in his sophomore season in British F4, joining Deagen Fairclough and Reza Seewooruthun on the grid. The team’s final driver is set to be announced over the coming weeks.
Reflecting on the announcement, Abrahams commented, “I’m really proud to be driving for a world class team like Hitech. I’m grateful for the opportunity they have given me.
‘The whole team has been so welcoming and I’m ready to get to work to take on my second season in British F4 with this great team behind me.”
Hitech’s F4 Team Manager, Dominic Stott, added, “We are delighted to have Mika join us for 2024. After some impressive performances last season, we are confident he will be a front-runner this year.
“After narrowly missing out on the drivers and teams championships in 2023, signing Mika is another sign of our intentions going into the new season. “While he will still be 15 when the season starts and one of the youngest on the grid, he has plenty of experience and has been working hard in the off season to be best prepared for the challenge ahead.”
Chris Dittmann Racing is excited to announce that British teenager Bart Harrison will be joining the team for the 2024 season, as he takes the step up from karting to compete in the ROKiT F4 British Championship.
The 16-year-old first caught the racing bug aged five after an outing to an indoor karting track, with racing quickly becoming an obsession for the youngster. Joining Fusion Motorsport in 2017, Bart continued to grow on track, gaining knowledge and speed which helped him ascend the ranks.
In 2019, he stepped up into the Mini X30 category, racing across Europe collecting trophies and wins along the way. After a move to Mick Barrett Racing in 2020, Bart became the only driver to win back-to-back Winter Cup titles in Valencia and was selected to represent Great Britain in the FIA Karting Academy Trophy in 2021. Racing in the competitive X30 senior category since 2022, Bart has shown incredible talent and speed, and that he is more than ready to take his first step into single-seaters in 2024.
Bart has completed several pre-season test days in the Tatuus T-421 with the Tewksbury outfit, impressing with his quick progress behind the wheel. He will benefit from a robust training program with the team, with decades of combined experience in the sport helping to make his jump from karts to cars as successful as possible.
The 2024 F4 British Championship season begins at Donington Park over the weekend of April 27/28 and promises to be another fiercely competitive year for the championship, with the new addition of the first overseas race at Zandvoort in July.
Bart Harrison
“Taking this step up into single-seaters is a massive change, so it’s going to take some time to adapt to that, but I’m really excited. I hope that together with Chris Dittmann Racing, we can have a really successful year.
We made a lot of progress during the test days I did with the team earlier this year. I enjoyed every moment of it, which is very important. I progressed the most within myself and on the timing screens when I was with Chris Dittmann Racing, so I knew they were going to be the right fit for me going into the F4 British Championship.
Stepping into the car for the first time, it was a huge change from what I’m used to. It took about five days for me to start feeling more in control of the car. We’ll see how the first round at Donington Park goes, but I’m feeling confident. I’ve been working really hard on my preparation for 2024, so I think we’ll surprise a lot of people.
I’d like to say a huge thank you to my dad, Martyn Harrison for supporting me along my entire motorsport journey, as well as other sponsors and supporters who have helped me get to where I am today. I’m excited for this next chapter at Chris Dittmann Racing.”
Chris Dittmann, Team Owner
“We’re excited to welcome Bart to the team for the F4 British Championship, as he has shown some great potential in the car throughout pre-season testing with us. It’s looking like it’s going to be another very competitive grid, so it won’t be easy for Bart coming straight from karting, but I have no doubt we can help him develop quickly and I’m looking forward to a successful season together.”
Abbi Pulling will remain with the Rodin Carlin team for the 2024 F1 Academy season which she’ll contest alongside a campaign in the ROKiT British F4 Championship.
Pulling, an Alpine Academy driver, will run in a full F1 liveried car for the F1 Academy season as she becomes one of the ten drivers who will be supported by the prestigious Formula One grid. Alongside these commitments, Pulling will be also taking on dual programme in the ROKiT F4 British Championship contributing to a busy 2024.
2023 saw Pulling taking part in the inaugural F1 Academy where she was firmly established as one to watch. The British racer stormed through the season taking a total of seven podiums and two pole positions on her way to fifth overall in the standings. Always finding herself firmly in the mix, she pulled off multiple fantastic overtaking manoeuvres and has established herself as a front runner going into her second season.
Pulling becomes the first driver in Rodin Carlin’s F1 Academy line-up to be confirmed which will support the F1 calendar for selected rounds following a change for the 2024 season. The sophomore year will see the field challenged with a brilliant calendar taking in exciting new circuits such as Singapore, Miami and Qatar.
Pulling will run a programme with reigning Team Champions Rodin Carlin in the ROKiT F4 British Championship alongside her F1 Academy season as she continues to get as much experience behind the wheel as possible.
Pulling said, “I’m ecstatic to be coming back with Rodin Carlin in 2024. We had some highs and lows in our 2023 campaign, but it was the best group of people to work with and learn with; it really feels like a second family. We’re pushing hard for 2024, and I think we have an exciting year lined up. We’re going to quite a few unknown tracks such as Jeddah and Qatar so the limited track time prior to the new events will be a good challenge together as a team. I’m honoured to be representing Alpine for another season in the F1 Academy and thank them for their continued support with my development.
“It’s also going to be really great to be head back to the British F4 Championship there’s certainly some unfinished business there and I’m pleased to be able to race in such a brilliant championship with Rodin Carlin where they have such a great history – I think we’re in for a great year together!”
F1 Academy Team Principal Stephanie Carlin added, “I am so pleased that both Abbi and Alpine have put their faith in the team again for the 2024 season. Abbi is a delight to work with and her speed behind the wheel and general work ethic is fantastic. Not only that, she’s a fantastic role model for other women in motorsport.
“Abbi was a star to watch last year and I have no doubt she will be a championship contender in 2024. I’m also pleased that she will be taking part in selected British F4 rounds which will give her even more valuable time behind the wheel in another competitive championship.”
Rodin Carlin is pleased to confirm that Alex Ninovic will race in the ROKiT British F4 Championship as he remains with the team for the 2024 season.
Ninovic spent the 2023 season racing with the team in the Spanish F4 Championship where he showed fantastic progress which culminated in a podium in Valencia.
Ninovic now looks to take this experience as he moves to the British Formula 4 Championship racing on historic circuits such as Silverstone and Brands Hatch, alongside fan favourite Zandvoort; a new addition to the 2024 calendar.
The Rodin Cars-backed driver enjoyed a strong junior career winning multiple karting championships at state level in his native Australia before becoming the national champion in the KA3 Senior class. Ninovic then took the opportunity to head to Europe for the next stage of his career with Spanish F4 firmly in his sights.
Joining Rodin Carlin at the start of the 2023 season, he was quick to get up to speed in the Tatuus F4 T-421. His Spanish F4 season consisted of racing in a bumper field of drivers as the extremely popular championship included multiple competitors with more experience on the European circuits. However, the rookie racer was quickly sitting firmly within the top ten which culminated in a trip to the podium in Valencia for the first time – clearly showing his pace.
Ninovic said of the upcoming season, “I am super excited and can’t wait to continue flying the Rodin Cars flag into the 2024 ROKiT British F4 Championship. I feel like we had a strong first season in Europe racing in Spanish F4 so I’m looking forward to the British rounds and taking all this knowledge forward. I want to say thank you to Rodin Cars for their continued support of me and giving me the opportunity to race again this season and build on everything we’ve learnt so far.”
Stephanie Carlin said, “I’m so pleased that Alex will be remaining with the team and making the move to the British F4 Championship. Alex had a positive debut season in Europe and made great progress to claim his first podium in Valencia. I have no doubt that he will take all this experience with him to the British F4 Championship and enjoy a really strong season with the team.”
The F4 British Championship consists of ten rounds and will, for the first time, travel to Zandvoort in August providing a new challenge for all drivers involved.
With planning and preparations ongoing for the 2024 season, the ROKiT F4 British Championship has announced two major event additions to its 2024 season calendar.
In 2023, the championship broke new ground being the first FIA-certified Formula 4 series to hold a race meeting around the full, 3.6-mile Silverstone Grand Prix layout.
For 2024, in addition to another experience of the Silverstone F1 GP track layout, the British F4 championship is embarking on its first overseas foray, adding Circuit Zandvoort to its calendar, and in doing so, becoming the first Formula 4 championship to run at the Netherlands GP track in the modern era of FIA F4.
Both the Silverstone GP circuit visit and that of Zandvoort will take the championship’s drivers to the respective venues within weeks of their Formula 1® heroes, such as recent British F4 graduates, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Logan Sargeant, to whom they aspire to emulate.
The full calendar sees the FIA-certified Formula 4 series racing at the best of Britain’s iconic tracks and layouts, while enjoying four GP track layouts and two current F1 tracks, all providing an unparalleled learning platform for the single seater stars of tomorrow.
The 2024 calendar remains at ten events, which will feature 30 races, with eight of ten weekends once again supporting the British Touring Car Championship, ensuring drivers and teams continue to enjoy the unique atmosphere of racing in front of capacity crowds and on live free to air national television.
The championship opener once again will take place at Donington Park on the 27th/28th of April followed by racing every two weeks at Brands Hatch (Indy) and Snetterton (300) in May, then Thruxton in early June. The first F1 GP track visit of the season will be at Silverstone on 15th/16th June followed by the round at Zandvoort on 13/14 July.
August is a busy month with a trip to north of the border to Knockhill, followed by a second round at Donington Park on the Grand Prix layout. Silverstone’s national circuit sees racing resume on 21st/22nd of September with the season finale taking place at Brands Hatch on the 5th/6th of October.
Motorsport UK CEO, Hugh Chambers, commented, “I am very proud that we continue to innovate with the ROKiT British F4 championship. The addition to the calendar of the F1 track at Zandvoort, on top of our existing Silverstone F1 track weekend, perfectly complements our eight weekends as part of the BTCC rounds. These are held at the best of Britain’s tracks, which history shows has produced multiple world champions in the past.
“With four GP track layouts in 2024, two historic and two current tracks, our commitment to preparing and developing British F4 drivers for future single seater careers is evident. This is the reason that more than half the drivers on the 2023 grid came from international markets, as they can see how British F4 provides the perfect pathway to a career in motorsport.
“We have placed great emphasis on listening to the market, and working with the British F4 teams to refine our offering and I am certain that the shape of our 2024 calendar will prove an attractive proposition to domestic and overseas drivers alike.”
2024 ROKiT British F4 Championship certified by FIA Calendar*
Rounds Date Venue/Circuit
1, 2, 3 27/ 28 April Donington Park (National)
4, 5, 6 11/ 12 May Brands Hatch (Indy)
7, 8, 9 25/ 26 May Snetterton (300)
10, 11, 12 08/ 09 June Thruxton
13, 14, 15 15/ 16 June Silverstone (GP)
16, 17, 18 13/14 July Zandvoort
19, 20, 21 10/ 11 August Knockhill
22, 23, 24 24/ 25 August Donington Park (GP)
25, 26, 27 21/ 22 September Silverstone (National)
28, 29, 30 05/ 06 October Brands Hatch (GP)
Hitech Pulse-Eight Racing have announced that Reza Seewooruthun will join their driver line-up in the 2024 ROKiT F4 British and F4 UAE Championship.
The 17-year-old from Dorset started his motorsport journey in karting aged thirteen, where he quickly showcased his skill and race craft. Competitive performances across junior categories, including becoming the English Karting Champion in just his second year of karting, led him to progress onto cars in the highly-anticipated Ginetta Junior Championship.
Seewooruthun stepped up to the Ginetta Winter Series at Brands Hatch in 2022, where he achieved podiums in all races and went on to claim the runner-up title in the Rookie Cup. This year he contested a full season in Ginetta Juniors, finishing third place overall. Demonstrating his versatility and prowess on track, the young driver achieved a clean sweep of wins at Brands Hatch. He led every lap of every race, making history as he became the first driver to do so in ten years since the formation of the championship.
In recent months, Seewooruthun had his first taste of the Formula 4 car and showcased remarkable progress over various test days. He is now set for his single-seater debut with Hitech, contesting the F4 UAE Championship in the New Year before turning to a full season in British F4, with the series set to get underway at Donington Park in April.
Commenting on his signing with Hitech, Reza added, “I’m excited to be partnering with Hitech in the UAE and British F4 Championship next season. Working with a world-class team is a real privilege. In the short time we have been working together, they’ve helped me to further develop my skills as a driver. I’m feeling confident in the car ahead of what will be my single-seater racing debut.”
“We are delighted to welcome Reza into the team for 2024,” added F4 Team Manager, Dominic Stott. “After following his progress closely this year and after a number of successful test days with us, he has proved to be a great addition to the team and we are looking forward to being a part of the next step in his career. The UAE championship will be ideal preparation for Reza to hit the ground running when the British F4 season kicks off in April.”
Argenti Motorsport proudly announces the signing of Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team Junior driver Yuanpu Cui for the upcoming 2024 ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by the FIA.
At just 15 years old, Cui, hailing from Xi’an, China, is set to make a significant move into single seaters, marking a crucial step in his promising racing career.
Having showcased remarkable progress during various tests in the latter half of this year, Cui expresses his dedication. “I’ll continue to make progress for next year’s competition and adapt to the formula car as soon as possible. The goal is to get on the championship podium” stated Cui.
Cui’s transition follows a successful karting career with podium finishes in prestigious events worldwide, including Italian National events, WSK Open Cup, WSK Final Cup, the ROK Cup Superfinal, and WSK Euro Series.
Notable achievements include a P2 position in the 31° Andrea Margutti Trophy in OK Junior and podiums in various categories, demonstrating his versatility and prowess on the track.
Argenti Motorsport Team Principal, Michael Meadows, expresses enthusiasm about Cui’s addition “We are very happy to welcome Yuanpu to the team. He has been working hard in testing, and we are excited to see his development and where this will take him.”
Cui’s successful karting journey, combined with the support of Argenti Motorsport, sets the stage for an exciting debut season in single-seater racing.
The team looks forward to announcing the remainder of its driver lineup in the coming weeks.
Fortec Motorsport is delighted to announce that Nina Gademan will make her debut in the F4 British Championship with the team for the 2024 season.
The 20-year-old from Wijster in the Netherlands is an accomplished karter – having taken the Karting Slalom Gold medal at the 2019 FIA Motorsport Games. She also beat out 1200 entrants to become part of FIA Girls on Track European Team in 2019, completing two FIA training camps.
Her first turn in car racing came in the PTC Cup in a Citroen C1, finishing the leading Rookie, and she took part in the 24 Hours of Zolder in 2022 as part of an all-female line-up, finishing second in the TB class in a BMW 325i.
Nina is also a driver coach, YouTuber, and has a large following on social media where she posts content of both sim and real-world racing, including Formula 1 track guides for Veloce Esports.
She recently completed two successful days testing with the team and will complete more mileage over the winter, ahead of the opening rounds of the 2024 F4 British Championship season, which will take place at Donington Park over the weekend of April 27/28.
Nina Gademan
“I’m excited to join Fortec Motorsport for my debut season in the F4 British Championship. I would like to say a huge thanks to the team and my sponsors for their unwavering belief in me and making this incredible opportunity possible. Thank you for being the wind beneath my wings. Lets make this a season to remember”
Ollie Dutton – Team Principal Fortec Motorsport
“We’re happy to be announcing that Nina will be joining us in the F4 British Championship for 2024. She is a talented young racer who has shone when she has been given opportunities, so we’re excited to see what we can achieve together throughout the season.
“In particular we will be focusing on her development and, while it will be a steep learning curve, we are confident that she will be up to speed and on the pace when the lights go out at the first round of the season.”
Deagen Fairclough has been unveiled as the first confirmed entry with Hitech Grand Prix for the 2024 ROKiT F4 British Championship. The move will see ROKiT become team sponsor for Hitech ahead of the new season.
The British driver finished third in the 2023 British F4 Championship, earning his opportunity on the grid at the inaugural ROKiT Racing Stars final shoot-out last year. Fairclough hopes to add more wins as he embarks on a renewed campaign in the series, switching to 2023 Team Runner’s Up, Hitech, for the new season.
The 17-year-old racer started his career in karting at the age of 5 and moved to closed-wheel cars at 13. More recently, he embarked on the 2022 ROKiT Racing Star eSports competition and went on to win a fully-funded British F4 drive for 2023. He impressed with three race wins, seven podiums and several fastest laps to finish third overall in his maiden year in single-seaters.
Fairclough now looks towards a successful second season in the UK-based series, which is set to get underway on 27th – 28th April at Donington Park. Ten events will feature 30 races, once again supporting the British Touring Car Championship.
“We are delighted to announce Deagen into our British F4 line-up for 2024”, said Oliver Oakes, Hitech’s Team Principal. “He is a proven race winner and we are looking forward to developing him as a driver to be a Championship contender in 2024. I would like to thank ROKiT for placing their trust in Hitech, as well as welcoming them to the team as a sponsor.”
“We’re very excited to see Deagen joining Hitech for the 2024 season and, given his meteoric development last year, including 3 race wins in the last 3 race weekends, we are very confident he will be a serious contender for the championship next year. Deagen’s development as a driver is particularly pleasing for me because giving someone like Deagen the opportunity to demonstrate their talent in a fully-funded F4 car, when they otherwise don’t have the means to race in the championship, is precisely what we set out to achieve with ROKiT Racing Star,” said Jonathan Kendrick, Chairman and Co-Founder of the ROKiT group of Companies.
Deagen Fairclough added, “Winning the ROKiT Racing Star competition last year enabled me to race in the 2023 F4 season which was a fantastic learning curve for me and I was pleased with the developments and improvements I made through the season. I am so excited to be joining Hitech GP and am delighted to have the continued sponsorship from Jonathan’s ROKiT Group. I can’t wait to get started!”
