Fortec Motorsport’s team in the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA will tackle the full Grand Prix layout at Donington Park for the first time this weekend [26-27 August].
The Daventry-based team will make the relatively short trip to the 2.49-mile East Midlands venue looking to build on an eighth podium of the season earned on an otherwise-difficult trip to Scotland last time out.
With Knockhill consigned to the history books, the focus for the team’s rising stars – British talent James Higgins and South Africa’s Mika Abrahams – turns to bouncing back and ending the final six races of the 2023 campaign on a good run of form.
It’s a circuit that has already yielded F4 silverware for the team this season, with Aiden Neate scoring the first of eight podiums on the venue’s National configuration at the season-opener, back in the spring.
The GP loop only alters three corners versus the National layout but offers an entirely different set of challenges for drivers in Britain’s FIA Formula 4 series to tackle.
The fast left-right chicane at Foggarty Esses sets up two additional overtaking opportunities, first on the brakes into the iconic Melbourne hairpin, and then on the steady climb to Goddards to complete the lap.
That, plus the circuit’s usual sequences of high-speed, flowing corners, such as the Craner Curves, should make for a thrilling spectacle for the capacity crowd trackside in the support of the British Touring Car Championship, and millions more watching at home on ITV4.
Also notable this weekend is the expansion of the schedule to four races, as the series re-arranges the cancelled race from Snetterton earlier in the campaign.
After two free practice sessions on Thursday to get better-acquainted with the new layout, the competitive action begins in anger on Saturday morning, with qualifying at 10:25 (BST).
The first two races follow later that afternoon at 13:50 and 17:00, with another double-header of action on Sunday at 10:55 and 16:00 respectively.
James Higgins (#18) said:
“I’m excited to get underway at Donington Park.
“For me, the focus is to get back on form, and to come away with a better set of results.
“I know the team will give me a good car, and this is a circuit I enjoy driving, so we’ve got all the ingredients there for a good weekend.”
Mika Abrahams (#29) said:
“I’m feeling confident for Donington this weekend.
“We’ve gone well in testing here, including sessions we were quickest, and in the top five. Our form is looking good, and we are in decent shape as a team.
“I just need to put it all together this weekend, and I’m confident we’ll be able to walk away with a decent haul of points.”
Oliver Dutton, Team Principal said:
“It’s always interesting to race on a different layout; I know it only adds a few corners compared to the National circuit, but it’s surprising what a different that can make, both in terms of preparation and over a lap in the car.
“But Donington Park in general has always been good to us. We had a few teething problems there in the spring – usual ‘season-opener’ stuff, but I think we’re returning in much better shape.
“As ever, I think qualifying is going to be more than half the battle. We’ve got such a closely-packed field this year, but if we can put the cars up front on Saturday morning, we’ve every chance of walking away with some silverware.
“Everybody’s pulling in the same direction, we just need that little bit of luck to go our way.”
