Hitech secures strong points in dramatic Brands Hatch weekend
Round 2 - Brands Hatch - Report
Hitech completed an action-packed second round of the 2026 Wera Tools F4 British Championship at Brands Hatch with competitive performances across all three races, highlighted by Adam Al Azhari’s double pole position, Theo Palmer’s continued consistency, and an outstanding recovery drive from Chiara Bättig in changing conditions during Race 3.
Al Azhari underlined his pace from the outset by securing pole position for both Race 1 and Race 3 after topping qualifying at the Brands Hatch Indy circuit, reaffirming his reputation as one of the standout performers around the Kent venue.
Race 1
Al Azhari made a strong launch from pole and successfully defended from Van Langendonck into Paddock Hill Bend to retain the lead in the opening moments of the race. Palmer settled into fifth place, while Scott Kin Lindblom held 11th before an early Safety Car and subsequent red flag interrupted proceedings.
Following a lengthy delay, the race resumed with a standing restart, where Al Azhari slipped to second position but responded well to secure a podium finish and valuable championship points.
Palmer remained firmly in contention throughout and delivered one of the standout moments of the race on the final lap, overtaking Wherrell at Paddock Hill Bend to secure fourth place. The Briton also recorded the fastest lap of the race – his third fastest lap award of the season – underlining his strong race pace once again.
Lindblom finished 10th after a competitive midfield battle, while Chiara Bättig continued her development with a solid drive to 17th.
Race 2
The second race of the weekend was heavily disrupted by an opening-lap Safety Car that remained in place until lap eight, reducing the race to a short sprint around the tight and technical Indy circuit.
Palmer emerged as Hitech’s lead runner throughout the race, maintaining position inside the top 10 during the limited green-flag running.
Al Azhari suffered a difficult opening lap and dropped down the order, while Lindblom and Bättig also battled in dense midfield traffic following the restart.
In the closing stages, Palmer executed a confident move on Jeff-Hall at Paddock Hill Bend on lap 20 to secure ninth place at the chequered flag.
Lindblom narrowly missed out on the top 10 in 11th after another composed drive, while Bättig finished 20th. Al Azhari recovered to 21st following his early setback.
Race 3
The final race of the weekend brought changing conditions, with damp weather before the start creating uncertainty over tyre strategy.
Al Azhari started from pole position once again after securing his second pole of the weekend in qualifying, while Palmer lined up sixth, Lindblom 19th, and Bättig 30th.
The decision to start on wet tyres initially proved the correct one. Al Azhari made an excellent launch to retain the lead and immediately demonstrated the advantage of the wets by setting the fastest lap of the race and lapping roughly three seconds faster than those on slick tyres during the opening phase.
Palmer also made a strong start and gained a position early on, while Lindblom surged into the top 10 and Bättig climbed into the top 15 as the mixed strategies began to shape the order.
However, two prolonged safety car interruptions dramatically altered the complexion of the race. The neutralisations reduced the advantage held by those on wet tyres and gradually brought the slick-shod runners back into contention as the circuit dried.
Despite the interruptions, Al Azhari continued to hold firm at the front for much of the race, while Palmer and Lindblom ran strongly inside the top 10.
As conditions evolved, Bättig was among the first front-runners to switch to slick tyres, and this proved to be the correct decision when she produced a standout drive to sixth during the closing stages – a whopping 24 places gained.
With the crossover fully arriving late in the race, Al Azhari was eventually overtaken by Van Langendonck and later Belofsky, both benefitting from the superior grip of slick tyres on the drying circuit. Palmer also pitted for slicks after a puncture but dropped to P23.
In the final laps, the order changed rapidly as tyre strategy became decisive. Al Azhari ultimately finished eighth after leading much of the race on wets, while Lindblom crossed the line in 14th.
The team now sits second in the standings, with all four drivers inside the top 12 in the drivers’ battle.
