– Swede strengthens position in intensifying title fight
– Eye-catching race craft displayed at Croft
– Fortec racer grabs fifth podium in nine races
Joel Granfors picked up another podium at this weekend’s British F4 round at Croft, the Swede continuing to make inroads in the title fight.
Granfors arrived at Croft with confidence running high, having clinched his first win in the championship at the previous round at Thruxton and added a further three podiums across the last six races.
That momentum was to be maintained, as Granfors stormed to a fresh second-place finish in the first race of the meeting on Saturday – capped with an advanced move on pre-event championship leader Matthew Rees.
Granfors started the race in third but managed to draw alongside Rees halfway around the opening lap, the duo running wheel to wheel for 20 seconds before the Swede finally drifted clear in an eye-catching powerslide.
“Good to see the form being maintained and another podium in the books,” says Joel Granfors. “We knew the JHR cars (featuring Rees) were going to be quick in the beginning of the race, so I had to do something early on. I managed to grab the opportunity and it was definitely a positive start to the weekend.”
Granfors delivered another strong drive in the subsequent Race 2, where he vaulted himself from 14th on the fully reversed grid to eighth by the chequered flag – surviving a chaotic start and then narrowly avoiding contact as confusion ensued in the field as the safety car was triggered.
The Fortec rookie then wrapped up the event with fourth place in the concluding Race 3 on Sunday, again making a crucial move on Rees to further strengthen his cause in the championship.
While Granfors retains fourth in the standings, he continues to edge closer to the overall top, now sitting just 28 points behind new leader Matias Zagazeta – and a mere three from third place. Three championship rounds remain.
“Things are getting close in the championship, and there’s all to play for with the momentum we’ve got,” Joel Granfors concludes. “It’s been a solid weekend again here at Croft and we have now had five podiums in the last nine races. We just have to keep doing what we’re doing, and try to improve wherever we can, and we should be in for an exciting end to the season!”
The F4 British Championship gets back on track already next weekend (25-26 September), setting camp at legendary Formula 1 circuit Silverstone.
RESULTS
F4 British Championship
Rd. 7 | Croft
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
F4 British Championship
After 7/10 rounds
1: Matias Zagazeta (PER), 220 p.
2: Matthew Rees (GBR), 215 p.
3: McKenzy Cresswell (GBR), 195 p.
4: Joel Granfors (SWE), 192 p.
5: James Hedley (GBR), 185 p.