Yokohama control tyres perform 'perfectly'Three different race winners at first roundMark Webber and Derek Warwick present trophies
Yokohama enjoyed what can only be described as a perfect start to this year's BRDC Formula 4 Championship, running under the MSV Racing banner at Silverstone, the home of the British Grand Prix. No less than 21 drivers competed in the opening round of the new series, based on single seat racecars using Yokohama control ADVAN A005 slick and A006 tyres.
Interest in the series was clear from the moment it was announced - all 24 grid slots were taken before the cars were even available for delivery, with cars run either by motorsport teams or privately by drivers themselves. Thanks to exceptional marketing and TV exposure across the world, drivers flocked to the series, from the UK, Europe and North and South America.
Having worked with MSVR for several years, including tyre partner to the Formula 2 championship, Yokohama was again chosen to supply the control tyres for the series. The first round saw competitors allowed an increased quota of tyres but for following rounds, each car will be allowed four new dry per race weekend, each of which features three separate races.
The first round took place at Silverstone and the weather was decidedly changeable. Most teams took the opportunity to test on both wet and dry tyres on the Friday but come Saturday and the qualifying session, the conditions remained dry and all completed their laps on the slick tyres.
Jake Hughes took the first pole position of the series for Race 1, with Jake Dalton second and Matt Bell third. However, come the race, it was Bell who was on a mission, forging his way through to the lead when Dalton and Hughes made contact during the race. This allowed former Ginetta Junior champion Seb Morris to come through to collect third place in the first of the weekend's three races.
The grid for the second race was based on the top eight finishers from race one reversed and saw fierce competition, with the front-runners carving their way through the field. By the chequered flag, it was Jack Barlow who claimed the win, from third on the grid with Morris, starting sixth, claiming the second spot. Third went to Dalton from fifth on the grid.
The third and final race of the weekend saw the grid determined by aggregate fastest lap times from the first two races and saw the third winner of the weekend, with Dalton claiming the honours after being hounded throughout the race by Morris, who took second. Third went to Matthew Graham after an intense early four-way battle for the final podium position.
Recognising the importance of the series, the trophies for race two, the first of Sunday's two races, were presented by BRDC President and former F1 driver, Derek Warwick while those for the third round were handed-out by none other than Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber, who was impressed by the series and the quality of the driving. "It's a great category and an ideal entry point for young drivers to develop a good feel for slicks and wings," the likeable Australian said.
The Yokohama tyres performed perfectly all weekend, rewarding drivers with excellent grip combined with wear resistance and consistency. Commenting, Head of Motorsport at Yokohama HPT Ltd, Mark Evans, said; "It has been a fantastic first round for Yokohama and the BRDC F4 Championship. The ADVAN tyres did exactly what we expected them to do and performed perfectly - delivered superb grip and consistency across three races and we have seen some excellent racing as a result. To have three different race winners on the first round shows how competitive the series is likely to be and the endorsement of a driver of Mark's stature is testament to the importance of this series."
The results of the weekend mean that Morris leads the overall standings, two points clear of Dalton with Bell in third.
The next round takes place at Brands Hatch on the weekend of 18/19 May and forms part of the DTM race weekend at the Kent circuit.
