Fortec Motorsports showed good pace in the F4 British Championship at the weekend (August 24/25), taking a pair of fourth place finishes at Donington Park.
It was a good showing for both Kai Daryanani and Alex Berg, who recorded five top 10 finishes between them on a changeable visit to Leicestershire, with an extra race to tackle as well.
In a wet qualifying on Saturday morning both drivers found their runs disrupted by two red flags, with a third coming out in the closing moments. Despite those challenges, Kai finished seventh and sixth fastest, on fastest and second fastest times, while Alex ended 13th and 11th with his two quickest laps.
The first race was a shortened 18 minutes long, with the field given an extra formation lap around the damp but now drying track. The Safety Car came out on the opening lap, with Alex unfortunately falling down the order, and when it peeled back into the pit lane, there was only one full racing lap before the red flag was shown. On what would now be a five-minute restart, Kai moved up to fourth, taking the flag just 0.8s from a podium, while Alex gained four places to cross the line 10th.
The second contest on Saturday was the rescheduled race from Donington Park in April, when weather curtailed much of the second day’s action. Kai slotted into fourth place, but unfortunately took contact at turn one, ending his afternoon on the spot. After the Safety Car was called to recover his car, Alex battled his way to sixth, scoring good championship points.
Race three, on Sunday morning, featured another early Safety Car, but when racing resumed Kai moved forward two places and this time a mere 0.7s from the podium in fourth, while Alex moved forward too, but then slipped back to finish 13th.
The Canadian started the final contest well however, gaining four places on the opening lap, running ninth, just ahead of Kai. Unfortunately, on the penultimate lap the pair came together at the final corner, damaging Alex’s front wing. That led to him sliding off into the gravel, while Kai managed to complete the final lap, taking the flag ninth.
The F4 British Championship side of the team will be back in action over the weekend of September 20-22, for three races on the Silverstone National circuit. The line-up will be back to three as well, with Nina Gademan missing Donington Park after being called up to F1 Academy on home soil at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Kai Daryanani – #8
Race 1: Start – 6, Result – 4
Race 2: Start – 3, Result – DNF
Race 3: Start – 6, Result – 4
Race 4: Start – 7, Result – 9
Championship: 13 (74 Points)
“We had a decent qualifying, and I finished with seventh and sixth, which meant I could get closer to the podium positions in the races. In the first race I finished fourth, and I was in fourth in race two before I was taken out. In the third race on Sunday morning, I was fourth again, but the last one was a bit more difficult. I went for a move, and it didn’t quite work out, which meant I lost a couple of positions, so it was a bit frustrating. The pace was good and it’s all there, I think it’s just about small little decisions that I need to make better and that will contribute to being more consistent and getting more points. I am looking forward to Silverstone.”
Alex Berg – #48
Race 1: Start – 11, Result – 10
Race 2: Start – 8, Result – 6
Race 3: Start – 13, Result – 13
Race 4: Start – 13, Result – DNF
Championship: 14 (49 points)
“I wasn’t super quick in testing as it was my first time around the GP circuit, but I made some improvements through the practice sessions and qualifying. I feel more confident in myself and in my driving, and I’m ready to move forward and start to score points a lot more consistently. The results weren’t always there, but I scored some good points across the weekend, and it was a step in the right direction for me.”
