KMR Sport’s Brandon McCaughan and Fox Motorsport’s Branden Templeton claimed victories at Donington Park on Sunday, as contrasting weather conditions ensured plenty of GB4 entertainment in the East Midlands. McCaughan’s second win of the season came in wet conditions similar to his first at Oulton Park, allowing him to display the supreme car control skills he learned in rallycross and Formula Ford.
The track dried up in time for the final contest of the weekend, which Templeton dominated as he claimed his first ever victory in car racing, with a seven second margin to the rest of the pack.
Race two
McCaughan started third, but moved up to second almost immediately thanks to slow starts from front row pair Linus Granfors and Marcus Luzio. But the best launch came from Fox Motorsport’s Liam McNeilly, who took the lead from fourth.
McNeilly’s early lead stood at almost two seconds after the first two laps, but McCaughan carved into his gap and took the lead on lap six through the Craner Curves. The position was cemented at the Old Hairpin, and the Irish racer pulled away to take the flag 5.6 seconds clear.
A second podium on his comeback weekend was the result for McNeilly, who took second ahead KMR’s Burgoyne, who emerged on top of a last lap squabble with Fortec’s championship leader Granfors, who won yesterday. Callum Baxter (Graham Brunton Racing) and Chloe Grant (KMR Sport) completed the top-six.
Race three
The reverse grid saw the entire qualifying order inverted, with Graham Brunton Racing’s Mayer Deonarine starting from pole. The young Canadian enjoyed one of his best starts of the season so far, and built a big initial gap during the first lap. But Templeton from fifth had an even better opening tour as he climbed to second, and then made his move immediately on the start of lap two.
He was able to romp into the distance, taking the chequered flag 7.7 seconds clear of the pack, which was headed by Baxter who gained six places to take second place, his first GB4 podium.
Alisha Palmowski ended a difficult weekend for Elite Motorsport on a high as she too made up six places on the way to third, while Deonarine held onto a podium spot for the majority of the race, and ultimately claimed fourth, his own best result.
Fortec’s Jack Taylor was another to secure a personal best with fifth place, while McCaughan was the big mover as he climbed up eight spots to sixth. The race ended early after Chloe Grant was left stranded in the gravel at McLeans. In the championship battle, Granfors, who was fifth and ninth today, still leads the way on 203pts, with Burgoyne and McCaughan filling the top-three, and 32 points covering the trio.
Race two winner McCaughan said: “Amazing, what a feeling. At the end there we were just pulling away and the car was comfortable underneath me. The best feeling of my life, what a day! I’m having the time of my life in his championship, I love it. A huge thank you to my sponsors, everyone that’s helped get me here, all the work from my dad, it makes it feel so much better when you’re having to fight to be here. Thanks to the team as well, the car was mega.
“I’m so happy, there’s a lot of pressure, you don’t know what you’re coming into and this could be my last day in a slicks and wings car, I just don’t know. So I’m just going out and giving it all I can, and you can’t let the pressure get to you. Just have to keep cool and enjoy yourself, and I definitely enjoyed that one!”
Race three winner Templeton said: "It feels amazing, especially after such a hard weekend with incidents in both races. It feels even better after that. "I had my eyes set as soon as I got past turn one and there was only one car ahead of me. And as soon as I got ahead I just managed the gap and came out first. "We'd had no luck at all this weekend but something good has come out of the bad, so it's great."
GB4 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Donington Park race two top-six:
1. Brandon McCaughan, KMR Sport, 10 laps
2. Liam McNeilly, Fox Motorsport, +5.566s
3. Harry Burgoyne, KMR Sport, +13.199s
4. Linus Granfors, Fortec Motorsport, +14.691s
5. Callum Baxter, Graham Brunton Racing, +20.110s
6. Chloe Grant, KMR Sport, +23.991s
Click here for full result.
GB4 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Donington Park race three top-six:
1. Branden Templeton, Fox Motorsport, 7 laps
2. Callum Baxter, Graham Brunton Racing, +7.700s
3. Alisha Palmowski, Elite Motorsport, +8.473s
4. Mayer Deonarine, Graham Brunton Racing, +8.642s
5. Jack Taylor, Fortec Motorsport, +10.750s
6. Brandon McCaughan, KMR Sport, +16.185s
Click here for full result.
GB4 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, driver's standings after race nine of 21:
1. Linus Granfors, Fortec Motorsport, 203pts
2. Harry Burgoyne, KMR Sport, 176pts
3. Brandon McCaughan, KMR Sport, 171pts
4. Alisha Palmowski, Elite Motorsport, 137pts
5. Branden Templeton, Fox Motorsport, 130pts
6. Callum Baxter, Graham Brunton Racing, 130pts
Click here for full standings
GB4 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, team's standings after race nine of 21:
1. KMR Sport, 368pts
2. Fortec Motorsport, 294pts
3. Fox Motorsport, 247pts
4. Graham Brunton Racing, 211pts
5. Elite Motorsport, 207pts
6. Luzio.com, 102pts
Click here for full standings
For more championship information, visit www.gb-4.net