Carlin and Jamie Caroline made it six wins for the season in round eight of the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost. Caroline emerged triumphant after one of the most thrilling races in the history of British F4.
A trademark Caroline flying start saw him propel his way from sixth to first by the time he reached turn two. However, he was unable to break clear of the field.
Double R Racing’s Linus Lundqvist made amends for losing second off the line to Fortec Motorsports Oliver York, with a perfectly judged move down the inside of York coming into Club on lap three and then proceeded to hunt down Caroline.
A fascinating battle ensued as Lundqvist rapidly closed in on Caroline, finding a way past on the drag up Woodham Hill, only for Caroline to strike back a lap later into the final chicane and go on to take the chequered flag as more drama unfolded behind him.
Ayrton Simmons pulled off a well-timed move to pass poleman Logan Sargeant at Club on lap three, after Sargeant had been shuffled down the order in the opening laps. However, Sargeant was having none of it and returned the favour just a lap later to regain fourth.
Behind him could be found team-mates Oscar Piastri and Alex Quinn with the former doing well to hold off the hard charging 2016 British F4 Rookie Champion. Patrik Pasma got in on the act as the race progressed, at one point inches apart from Quinn as they raced side by side down the main straight.
Elsewhere in the top 10 Jamie Sharp (Sharp Motorsport) got the better of Harry Webb (Richardson Racing) following an entertaining race-long duel, with York finishing in eighth and taking his second Ford F4 Challenge Cup win of the weekend having had Sargeant and the TRS Arden trio find a way past him.
Simmons and Piastri were on a mission in the latter stages, gaining the upper hand as they made their bids for the podium. The former taking the fight to the squabbling Caroline and Lundqvist, but it was Piastri who took the final podium spot opportunistically squeezing past his team-mate with Sargeant also scything through.
F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost
Provisional results Round 8 Thruxton 7 May 2017
16 laps / 37.69 miles
1 Jamie CAROLINE / GBR / Carlin 20m 05.985s / 112.52mph
2 Linus LUNDQVIST / SWE / Double R +3.880s
3 Oscar PIASTRI / AUS / Arden +5.405s
4 Logan SARGEANT / USA / Carlin +5.601s
5 Ayrton SIMMONS / GBR / Arden +6.683s
6 Alex QUINN / GBR / Arden +7.217s
7 Patrik PASMA / FIN / Carlin +7.641s
8 Oliver YORK / GBR / Fortec +8.204s
9 Jamie SHARP / GBR / Sharp +13.487s
10 Harry WEBB / GBR / Richardson +13.705s etc.
Fastest lap: Lundqvist 1m 14.167s / 114.35mph
Challenge Cup: 1 York; 2 Webb
