Hitech GP’s Alex Dunne cemented his lead in the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA with a controlled lights-to-flag victory in the final race of the weekend at Thruxton.
When the lights went out, Dunne came under immediate threat from a lightning-fast Ugochukwu on the second row, and the pair made slight contact as Dunne defended the inside line into Allard, but both emerged unscathed.
That allowed Gray to challenge Dunne for the race lead on the outside into the Complex. The Irishman held firm, and with Gray veering off across the grass a few corners later at Noble, making it a two-horse race for the victory between Dunne and Ugochukwu.
The McLaren junior, Ugochukwu, kept Dunne honest however an opportunity to reel in the championship leader never materialised, and Dunne duly took the chequered flag 6.5 seconds clear to register a fifth win of the year.
“The car was incredible,” said an elated Dunne in parc ferme. “To be honest, I don’t even know what to say anymore. Every time we show up, the car is good. I’m doing a good job.
“The team are doing a mega job. They’re pushing me on and and they’re working really hard. They’re doing their best for me, and the results are showing that.”
Ugochukwu will take some consolation from a seventh Rookie Cup victory of the season, and now sits as Dunne’s nearest challenger in the championship, 39 points the gap heading to Oulton Park.
Sharp’s podium is his second visit to the rostrum in as many meetings, as the Rodin Cars-backed racer continues to make up for lost time, having missed the championship’s first round at Donington Park due to his age.
Neate backed up his maiden victory earlier in the day with a steady run to fourth in the leading Phinsys by Argenti challenger, with Guinchard rounding out the top five.
Edward Pearson emerged ahead after a frenetic battle for sixth. His Virtuosi team-mate Michael Shin led the way initially, but in attempting to pass Loake at the Complex for sixth the pair made contact, taking off Loake’s front wing and leaving Shin with a puncture.
Both were forced to pit and would not finish, giving Pearson a trouble-free run to the flag. His namesake Joel finished seventh for Chris Dittmann Racing, despite a moment across the kerbs at Club chicane whilst fighting hard with Adam Fitzgerald (Argenti).
A hard-charging Oliver Stewart steered his Hitech challenger from the back row of the grid to ninth spot, the Scot finishing just a tenth shy of eighth-placed Fitzgerald. Noah Lisle rounded out the top ten, leading home team-mate Georgi Dimitrov.
Eduardo Coseteng lost his front wing at the complex on the first lap and finished 12th via the pits, with last of the Silverstone-based team’s quartet, Daniel Mavlyutov, next in 13th. Shin completed the finishers.
ROKiT British F4 heads next to Oulton Park’s Island circuit for Rounds 10, 11 & 12 on the 11-12 June.
To view the race result, click here.
