JHR Developments, reigning holders of all three F4 British Championship titles, made a winning start to the 2022 season over the weekend (April 23/24), as Georgi Dimitrov claimed victory, while Joseph Loake and Noah Lisle also made podium visits.
After a slight disappointment in qualifying, all three drivers showed skill, speed and ability in the races, making good overtakes and reminding rivals not to take them for granted this season.
ROKiT British F4 is ready for fresh start at Donington Park
In the opening race, both Georgi and Joseph did well to prevent cars from slowly coming off the line, the former taking five places and the latter two. Both had a good early pace, with Joseph making a daring pass to his teammate to take fifth, while behind them Noah had a good clean run in tenth overall and third among the Rookies. In the closing stages, Georgi came under pressure and fell back a few spots, Joseph remained fifth despite the best intentions of those behind him, while Noah claimed a debut Rookie podium.
The second race had the reverse grid, for the top ten qualifiers, and again Georgi and Joseph started well, settled in first and second and pulled away from the pack although Daniel Guinchard stayed with them. Noah climbed to tenth but came under pressure late and crossed the line 11th overall and just outside another Rookie podium. Up front, Aiden Neate, a lap down, started to put pressure on Georgi, which helped his teammate Guinchard close in, making it a close battle for victory. Joseph was unlucky on the last lap and finished third, but Georgi claimed his first win with the team.
In the final race of the weekend, live on ITV4, it was another good start for Joseph who rocketed to fourth, but contact cost him momentum and a few places. Georgi also came off the line well, up to eighth, then climbed to sixth, where he finished, while team-mate Joseph lost further positions and crossed the line in a disappointing ninth. Noah recovered well from a slow start and was a challenge for the second of the Rookies, but lost some pace in the closing laps and finished fourth and 12th overall.
The team will return to action in the GB3 Championship at Silverstone on May 7/8, while the F4 crew will race at Brands Hatch on the weekend of May 14/15.