Pirtek Racing’s rising star Jamie Caroline secured two more podium finishes at Silverstone to maintain his lead in the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost.
The rapid teenager went into the penultimate meeting of the season knowing that he could wrap up the title if results were to go his way, and he started the weekend with sixth place on the grid in a tightly-fought qualifying session on Saturday morning.
Jumping up to fourth on the opening lap of race one, Jamie would spend the full 20 minute encounter battling for the podium positions but a late spin as rain started to fall meant he had to settle for fourth spot.
Starting fifth in race two on Sunday, Jamie made a lightning start in his Carlin-run car to rocket into the lead on the run to turn one and pulled out a slender lead through the opening laps.
A small error allowed team-mate Logan Sargeant to close in and make a move for the lead mid-way through, although second place for Jamie allowed him to outscore his main title rival Oscar Piastri.
Jamie would then repeat that result in the final race of the weekend as he followed Piastri home for his 15th podium of the campaign and he now takes a 67.5 point lead into the final races of the season – with a maximum of 75 still available.
“The team continues to give me a great car but we’re struggling for straight line speed through no fault of our own and at a power circuit like Silverstone, that’s always going to make it hard,” he said.
“It would have been good to pick up a victory and wrap up the title up this weekend but it wasn’t to be. I’m still in the best position going to Brands Hatch and have the points on the board, although I’m not going to be taking anything for granted going into the final rounds as anything could happen.
“This weekend could have been better but it could also have been a lot worse. Brands Hatch is a circuit where I’ve always gone well in the past and hopefully that will be the same in a few weeks time.”