Caroline Takes the Spoils Following Brave Overtake

Jamie Caroline defied the odds in the second race of the weekend at Donington Park in the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost. The Carlin racer overtook five cars in one lap to double up with victories, having secured the race one win just hours earlier.  The Pirtek Racing-backed rising star’s spellbinding performance sees him extend his championship lead to 47 points from team-mate Patrik Pasma who recorded his second podium of the season. It all means that Caroline stands on the brink of making history heading into the ITV4 live-televised final race of the weekend at 1220 on Sunday. He has the chance to achieve the “grand slam” – winning every race in a British F4 weekend. A feat that has never been achieved before.

Despite Caroline’s dominance there were brilliant performances throughout the field, including the Fortec Motorsports’ duo of Oliver York and Hampus Ericsson scoring a maiden podium and Ford F4 Challenge Cup podium respectively. Elsewhere Jamie Sharp brought home points for the first time for new team Sharp Motorsport and proceeded to do so again after another fantastic drive in race two. While Harry Webb and Richardson Racing recorded their best result of the season in race one only to better it hours later.

The Pirtek Racing-backed rising star pulled away off the line better than pole sitter Linus Lundqvist, but Lundqvist refused to give an inch and relinquish his lead as Caroline attempted to squeeze past around the outside of turn one. Despite not making the move stick, Caroline persevered and pulled off what proved to be the race-winning overtake on Lundqvist, with a brave lunge down the inside of the Swedish racer at Old Hairpin on the opening lap. With clear air ahead Caroline broke away from the chasing pack, recording fastest lap of the race just past the halfway stage on the way to the fourth Ford EcoBoost-powered win of his career and an enhanced championship lead.

“I knew Linus wouldn’t let me go around the outside of him at the first corner,” said Caroline. “There was a little bit of rubbing which is always good fun. When I did get past, the move was all about selling him a dummy. I went to the outside and then switched back to the inside of the corner. I had to really get the car stopped to prevent him from getting the cut-back. It was a sweet Caroline lunge. Once in front I pushed hard for about four laps and then in the last four laps I focused on looking after tyres. It’s the first win I have ever had at Donington in my career so it’s great to tick it off the list. I’ve been wanting to for a while now.”

Although unable to quite match the pace of Caroline, Lundqvist brought his Double R-prepared racer comfortably home in second to record his first points of the season and kick start his championship bid following a difficult weekend two weeks ago. “This podium is a good way to bounce back after Brands Hatch,” said Lundqvist. “I didn’t get the best start, but I managed to hold off Caroline who eventually got past me. He was very quick and we didn’t quite have the pace to match him. I didn’t expect Jamie to make the move he did. It was pretty risky, but he made it stick and that’s racing. I expect it to be tough. It’s British F4!”

Lundqvist finished ahead of the fast starting Billy Monger (JHR Developments) who had a storming opening lap which saw him climb several places, helped by Alex Quinn and Karl Massaad getting caught up in an incident at McLeans.

“Qualifying wasn’t ideal for us with the yellow flags at the end, because we were on a lap good enough to put us on the front row,” explained Monger. “It meant I had to start seventh, but I had a mega first lap getting up to fifth and managing to get past York and Piastri up the hill which put me into third.

“I nearly overtook Linus into the final chicane on the last lap so almost had second, but I think it would have been too close and could have been game over for both of us so I backed out, focusing on bringing home the points.”

Monger was pushed hard throughout for the final podium spot and the Ford F4 Challenge Cup class win by Oliver York (Fortec Motorsports), who in turn found himself defending from Oscar Piastri. The TRS Adren racer having been shuffled a couple of places down the order on the opening lap despite a strong start.

Patrik Pasma (Carlin) got in on the act too, closing in on Piastri as the race progressed, but the young Aussie was robust in his defence as he held on to fifth from Pasma in sixth. A reverse grid pole coming as some consolation for Pasma as he bids for his maiden British F4 win.

Richardson Racing’s Harry Webb put in a great drive to record his best finish of the season so far in seventh, bringing home more valuable points and yet another Challenge Cup podium.

Behind him could be found Jamie Sharp who climbed six places to score his first points of the season in eighth in a landmark race for new team Sharp Motorsport. “It was so hectic at the start, but if anything it got even more hectic towards the end,” commented Sharp. “Our pace in the race was really good. I managed to find a decent rhythm. I pulled off some great overtakes. It was such close racing. It feels so good to finally get these points and it’s nice to prove that we can be right up there in the mix.”

If there was an award for driver of the race it would most probably go to Hampus Ericsson who, in only his first race in cars, kept his cool to rise up a remarkable nine places from his grid position to score points on his British F4 debut.  It was a stunning performance from the 15-year-old who pulled off some excellent overtakes which belied his relative lack of experience. A last lap cracker saw him emerge ahead of Logan Sargeant and Ayrton Simmons having been three abreast down the back straight.

“It was an unbelievable race,” said Ericsson. “I played it smart and finished ninth after starting at the back in my first race in a formula car so I’m really happy. It felt so good to pull off those overtakes and I learnt so much from that race. That move on the last lap was crazy. I had one wheel on the grass, but I stayed full throttle to overtake two guys. I had to go for it. It was the last lap!”

 

Round 5, Grid – Donington Park

1^st – No. 21, Patrik Pasma, FIN, Carlin

2^nd – No. 81, Oscar Piastri, AUS, Arden

3^rd – No. 5, Oliver York*, GBR, Fortec

4^th – No. 23, Billy Monger*, GBR, JHR

5^th – No. 76, Linus Lundqvist, SWE, Double R

6^th – No. 38, Jamie Caroline, GBR, Carlin

7^th – No. 2, Harry Webb*, GBR, Richardson

8^th – No. 89, Jamie Sharp, GBR, Sharp

9^th – No. 18, Hampus Ericsson, SWE, JHR

10^th – No. 31, Logan Sargeant, USA, Carlin

11^th – No. 12, Ayrton Simmons, GBR, Arden

12^th – No. 91, Jacky Liu, CHN, GW Motorsport

13^th – No. 22, Manuel Sulaiman, MEX, JHR

14^th – No. 46, Yves Baltas, USA, Arden

15^th – No. 6, Lucas Alecco Roy, GER, Carlin

16^th – No. 92, Daniel Cao, CHN, Double R

17^th – No. 46, Alex Quinn, GBR, Arden

18^th – No. 27, Karl Massaad, LBN, Double R

 

Round 5, Results – Donington Park

1^st – No. 38, Jamie Caroline, GBR, Carlin, 18 laps, 20:45.763

2^nd – No. 5, Oliver York*, GBR, Fortec, Gap: 2.769

3^rd – No. 21, Patrik Pasma, FIN, Carlin, Gap: 16.877

4^th – No. 2, Harry Webb*, GBR, Richardson, Gap: 17.793

5^th – No. 81, Oscar Piastri, AUS, Arden, Gap: 18.342

6^th – No. 12, Ayrton Simmons, GBR, Arden, Gap: 18.874

7^th – No. 89, Jamie Sharp, GBR, Sharp, Gap: 19.194

8^th – No. 27, Karl Massaad, LBN, Double R, Gap: 24.823

9^th – No. 92, Daniel Cao, CHN, Double R, Gap: 25.125

10^th – No. 18, Hampus Ericsson, SWE, JHR, Gap: 25.491

11^th – No. 91, Jacky Liu, CHN, GW Motorsport, Gap: 33.209

12^th – No. 22, Manuel Sulaiman, MEX, JHR, Gap: 1:00.025

13^th – No. 31, Logan Sargeant, USA, Carlin, Gap: 1:04.778

14^th – No. 46, Yves Baltas, USA, Arden, Gap: 2 laps

 

Did Not Finish

No. 76, Linus Lundqvist, SWE, Double R, Lap 10

No. 6, Lucas Alecco Roy, GER, Carlin, Lap 4

No. 23, Billy Monger*, GBR, JHR, Lap 1

 

Did Not Start

No. 46, Alex Quinn, GBR, Arden

 

Fastest Laps

No. 38, Jamie Caroline, GBR, Carlin, Lap 13, 1:08.007, 104.76 mph, 168.60 kph

No. 31, Logan Sargeant, USA, Carlin, Lap 7, 1:08.170, 104.51 mph, 168.19 kph

 

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