Hitech score double podium at Zandvoort
Round 6 - Zandvoort - Report
Hitech TGR’s Fionn McLaughlin increased his lead at the top of the Wera Tools F4 British Championship standings after a successful weekend at Zandvoort. It was an eventful second-ever overseas visit to the Dutch seaside circuit for British F4, with the Irish driver claiming a win and a second place in the Netherlands.
Starting Race 1 on Saturday third on the grid, the Hitech ace made a strong getaway to grab second place on the opening lap. For much of the 20-minute race, Fionn was less than a second behind the leader but couldn’t find a way past on the narrow 2.6-mile Zandvoort track. After 12 laps, he crossed the line 1.127s behind the winner — and while he didn’t take outright honours, he did claim the Rookie Class Cup win.
Fionn McLaughlin:
“I’ll take this result after starting P3. Tough start to the race, but managed to finish in P2 so I’m happy. This is a good track, but it’s sandy, so the grip isn’t very good — but you have to adapt to these situations.”
In the final race of the weekend, Fionn started from P1 after claiming the C1RCUIT Watches Pole Position Award with a new lap record. He moved to the right off the start to defend into Turn 1 and held the lead. Unfortunately, the race was red-flagged on lap three after a multi-car incident into Turn 3.
Once the race got underway again, Fionn defended into the first corner and retained the lead, but two further Safety Car interventions and a second red flag brought the event to a premature end.
Fionn continued:
“You’ll take any win. I’m happy with the job we did. Annoyed with all the Safety Cars and the red flags, but it’s been a good weekend. I drove well and bounced back from any mistakes I made.”
After finishing seventh overall in Race 2, the Red Bull Junior Team driver also claimed a hat-trick of Rookie Class victories across the Zandvoort weekend.
After stalling off the line in Race 1, Thomas Bearman started the second race from the front row and, despite an initial slow getaway, held second through the first half of the lap. Exiting the banked Turn 3, Thomas made a move for the lead and went to the front. Unfortunately, the race was red-flagged due to a multi-car incident, in which Hitech team-mate Xavier Avramides picked up damage and was unable to take the restart or contest Race 3. The Australian had also retired from Race 1 with front wing damage.
Once the track was cleared, Thomas again suffered with wheelspin off the line and dropped to fourth by the time the field reached Tarzan. He recovered to retake second place but sadly picked up front wing damage and was forced to pit for repairs — although he did set the fastest lap after returning to the track at the back of the field. In the final race of the weekend, Thomas finished P7.
Competing at her local track, Dutch racer Nina Gademan took time out from her F1 Academy season to return to a Hitech cockpit, finishing 21st, 14th and 15th.
The next race takes place at Knockhill on August 16-17.
