Bell and Robertson claim wins as Dalton extends BRDC F4 championship lead‏

Privateer Matt Bell and HHC Motorsport’s Charlie Robertson were the winners in today’s (Sunday) two BRDC Formula 4 Championship races on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit, while second place in race three extended Jake Dalton’s lead in the drivers’ championship to 16 points.Mark Godwin Racing’s Dalton was the winner in yesterday’s first race of the weekend, before following that up with a fifth and a second in today’s two events. He now heads the championship from Robertson and Bell.“It feels great to leave Brands Hatch with the championship lead” Dalton enthused. “We put in a good consistent three races to get the points we needed to move into the lead of the championship.“In qualifying for race one I just managed to pop that one lap in which got me pole position for the first race and once you get the lead at Brands Hatch you’ve got a great chance of winning. In race three I took my opportunity to move into second and from there on just made sure I could put in some consistent laps in. I’d like to say a big thanks to Mark Godwin Racing for everything this weekend and I’m looking forward to Snetterton now confident about my pace. We were second in the pre-season test and we should go well there next time out.”Privateer Matt Bell claimed his second win of the season in today's second BRDC F4 race of the weekend, despite seeing a large lead wiped out by a mid race safety car period. Newcomer James Fletcher was second for Team KBS with Robertson fighting to third from seventh on the grid.“We’re running out of the back of a trailer so we are proper privateers” said Bell after his victory. “We basically run the car, prep it, and work five days a week, so to come here and get results like this is awesome and a testament to MSV who have created a championship which enables drivers to go racing on a lesser budget than others.”Robertson then claimed his maiden F4 win with a commanding drive from pole position in race three, securing his third podium of the weekend in the process. Dalton was second with Robertson's team mate Raoul Hyman completing HHC’s excellent weekend with his first F4 podium finish in third.“It’s been a fantastic weekend and I didn’t think a win would be on the cards after Silverstone,” Robertson commented. “Starting from pole position really helped me, and I had my sights set on getting away. I was able to build a good gap and then I was just cruising for the last five or six laps.”2009 Formula One World Champion Jenson Button was at Brands Hatch today, and he spent time with all 24 F4 drivers in the Mercedes-Benz DTM hospitality centre where he gave career advice, driving tips and also posed with the drivers for group photographs. Jenson was there as a special guest of Mercedes and Brands Hatch, and he also came to Kent to show his support for McLaren team-mate Gary Paffett in the DTM race.“F4 looks like a great stepping stone to other categories,” Button commented. “It’s great to see so many drivers from around the world as well. When I raced in junior categories back in 1998 it wasn’t as international as it is now and it’s good to see that people from all over the world have come to the UK, it is a great place to learn your race craft and to compete.”


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