Ben Barnicoat will compete in this weekend’s (November 7/8) Duo BRDC Formula 4 Autumn Trophy opening round at Snetterton with Fortec Motorsports, it has been confirmed today (November 6). Barnicoat, who is a member of McLaren’s Young Driver Programme and supported by the Racing Steps Foundation, will take part in the first four Trophy rounds and will partner the Daventry-based squad’s other driver, Faisal Al Zubair, in Norfolk.

Barnicoat, who hails from Chesterfield, holds an impressive racing CV having claimed the 2014 Formula Renault 2.0 NEC title with two wins. Following on from that success, the 18-year-old was named AUTOSPORT Club Driver of the Year, and this season he’s completed a full campaign in the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 Championship, finishing fourth overall with three victories.

He also enjoyed a strong karting career, clinching the WTP Cadet Open title in 2007 along with becoming WTP “Little Green Man” Vice Champion. In 2009, he won the Kartmasters GP and Formula Kart Stars in the KF3 category and finished as runner-up in the highly competitive Super One Junior Championship. He added the 2012 CIK-FIA KF2 European Championship title before graduating to single-seater racing and success was immediate, as he claimed the Protyre Formula Renault Autumn Cup with Fortec Motorsports.

Barnicoat said: “I'm very happy to be making my BRDC Formula 4 debut with Fortec and to help them break into the series in good style. I've never raced at Snetterton before but I'm really looking forward to it.”

Daniel Mitchell, Team Manager of Fortec Motorsports BRDC F4 operation, added: “We are over the moon to have Ben driving for Fortec here. He has shown good progress in the new car already and he will be a great team-mate for Faisal too.”

The Autumn Trophy gets underway with four races across two days at Snetterton this weekend, before the final four contests will be held on the Indy Circuit at Brands Hatch one week later (November 14/15).