Louis Sharp has jumped to the top of the standings in British Formula 4 midway through the penultimate round following a race victory in the opener and a podium in Race 2 at Donington Park.
Sharp entered the four-race round just 28 points behind championship leader William Macintyre, with this morning’s results seeing the Kiwi now lead by four points.
Sharp took the upper hand in the tight title battle in qualifying, claiming second on the grid, while Macintyre was left stranded in the gravel with five minutes remaining in the session to drop to 13th.
Starting second but on the drying racing line worked in Sharp’s favour in Race 1, the Kiwi jumping pole-sitter Mika Abrahams off the line to take the lead into Turn 1. An early Safety Car kept the field bunched up, however, the Rodin Carlin driver would maintain a gap on Abraham off the restart to claim victory.
Macintyre could only improve from thirteenth to ninth.
Race 2’s grid had been set in qualifying at Snetterton in Round 3, with the race cancellation that weekend resulting in it being run at Donington Park.
Sharp, who started second, dropped to fourth on the opening lap, having slotted into second behind pole-sitter Dion Gowda off the start and then being passed by Kanato Le and Macintyre.
He would eventually work his way back to second, getting past Macintyre and then Le with an incredible move on Le on Lap 5 to re-take second.
Post-race penalties for Sharp, Macintyre and Le shuffled up the podium, with the fifth-placed finisher James Higgins promoted to second, only behind winner Gowda. Sharp’s penalty relegated him to third, while Macintyre dropped to sixth.
British Formula 4 returns for two more races tonight, the first beginning at 9.55 pm and the second at 3.00 am. The final round of the competition takes place at Brands Hatch from October 7.
Header Image: British Formula 4
