Two outstanding race victories at Donington Park Grand Prix Circuit over the weekend, 28th/29th September, enabled Charlie Robertson to conclude his first season in single-seater racing as 2013 BRDC Formula 4 Vice-Champion.Wrapping up what has been a truly excellent campaign in the best possible style by winning the final two races of the season, as well as setting the fastest race lap in two of the event’s three outings, the Whyteleafe 16-year-old deservingly secured the coveted runner-up placing in the title chase.Even though disappointed to start sixth for Saturday afternoon’s race, round 22, after the qualifying session ended prematurely due to a car off the circuit – when Charlie was on his fastest lap – the HHC Motorsport driver was confident he had the necessary race pace to challenge for strong results.So it proved too as the Surrey teenager ended the final event of the campaign as the highest scoring driver over the course of the three races after his stunning wins in rounds 23 and 24 on Sunday. In total, he claimed nine podium finishes over the course of the campaign.“It really is fantastic to end the season on such a high, finishing second in the championship is great for our first season”, said the Investigo-backed driver, “Congratulations to Jake [Hughes] on winning the title too, he’s been really consistent and has been the man to beat for most of the year.“The team has done an awesome job for me, it was always the plan to stay with HHC for our move into Formula 4 and I’m sure we’ll be doing more things together in the future. I’ve built up a fantastic relationship with Jody [Hemmings], Charlie [Kemp] and everyone else at the team, we’ve had a great season together and to end it like this is incredible.”Moving up from sixth into fifth place on the opening lap of race one, Charlie grabbed fourth position on the seventh tour before confirming his pace with the fastest lap shortly after, a time of 1m31.970 seconds (97.36mph). He concluded the opening encounter just 0.7 seconds shy of the podium.Sunday morning’s race, round 23, was nothing short of sensational for the British Racing Drivers’ Club ‘Rising Star’ as he sliced his way through from fifth on the grid to take his second win of the F4 season. While overtaking in single-seaters at Donington Park is notoriously difficult, Charlie served up a series of outstanding passes to dispel the theory.Although edged back to sixth on the opening lap, the Scottish teenager regained the place on lap two and then produced a great move on the third tour to grab fourth position. Making tremendous progress, he took third at Melbourne Hairpin on lap four and on the very next tour he continued his relentless march through the upper order by seizing second position on lap five.Running within one second of race leader Struan Moore, the 16-year-old gradually edged closer and closer as he reeled off a series of fastest laps – ultimately ending the encounter with the best of the race, a time of 1m31.603 seconds (97.75mph).By lap 10 Charlie was in a position to attack and, after getting a great run out of the Old Hairpin and through Schwantz Curve, he produced a superb pass at McLeans to take the lead before controlling the race to the finish.Starting the final race of the season from pole position, by way of having set the fastest race lap of the weekend up to that point, Charlie dominated and led from lights-to-flag to secure a memorable third win of 2013. Leading by 1.2 seconds after the first lap alone, he increased his advantage with ease and went on to take the final chequered flag of the season 6.5 seconds clear.Television highlights of the action-packed season finale for the BRDC Formula 4 Championship will be screened on ITV4 and ITV4 HD next Sunday, 6th October, at 18.00.Final 2013 BRDC Formula 4 Championship Standings:2nd Charlie Robertson, 398pts
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