The morning’s reverse grid race of the penultimate race in the 2023 ROKiT F4 British Championship saw Rodin Carlin Kiwi Louis Sharp’s 13 point advantage trimmed to ten points. It was a battle in the midfield that saw Sharp surrounded by a swarm of Hitech Pulse-Eight cars, but critically for the title battle, Will Macintyre (Hitech Pulse-Eight) kept the standings leader behind, ultimately finishing seventh and eleventh respectively after starting 16th and 19th.
Winner of the race was rookie Josh Irfan (Rodin Carlin) who claimed his second overall win of the year. He was followed by Jack Sherwood (CDR), making his third podium appearance of the year, and rookie Isaac Barashi (Argenti Motorsport) taking his second overall top-three of the year.
Gustav Jonsson (CDR) finished the race in 14th, and fourth rookie across the line, which secured him an unassailable lead and the Rookie Cup with one race remaining. As 2023 Rookie Cup winner he follows in the footsteps of, among others, Formula 2’s Jack Doohan and Zane Maloney who won in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Gabriel Stilp (Hitech Pulse-Eight) is the 2023 Rookie Cup runner-up.
The title was decided in the second race of the day, and 30th of the season. Sharp started from pole position with Deagen Fairclough (JHR) alongside on the front row. Macintyre started from third on the grid alongside team-mate Jimmy Piszcyk. Fairclough made a charge and took the lead from the line with Sharp slotting into second and Macintyre third. The lead pair set new fastest laps, Sharp twice and Fairclough an impressive six times in the 15 laps, enabling Fairclough to finish 2.433 seconds ahead of Sharp with Macintyre 0.755 seconds behind.
Sharp’s second place was enough to secure the championship with Macintyre’s third sealing his runner-up position. It was Fairclough who claimed the Motul Fastest Lap Award in both races and a further two points to help confirm his third place in the championship.
The Team’s Cup was won by Rodin Carlin with points accumulated by strong performances from Louis Sharp, Dion Gowda, Josh Irfan and Noah Lisle who won 15 of the 30 races.
2023 has been an ultra-competitive year to remember with 12 different race winners, 21 different podium finishers and a total of 27 competitors.
The Pirelli Hardest Charger was Noah Lisle who gained nine places in races one and three this weekend.
The 2024 season commences on 27th April at Donington Park after a 202 day hiatus.
