– Swede clings on to position despite sitting out last race of the year
– Debut international campaign includes one win and eight podium finishes
Joel Granfors ends his first season of international single-seater competition taking fourth place in the final F4 British Championship standings, bringing down the curtain on a year of valuable learning and high promise.
Granfors maintained his position in the standings across an anticlimactic final round at the Brands Hatch GP circuit, where the Swede showcased some serious potential but was frustratingly forced to sit out the last race of the year.
Granfors opened proceedings at the ex-F1 venue in strong style by going second quickest in both of Friday’s free practice sessions, and underlined his inherent pace by lapping just 0.011s off pole position in qualifying – despite recording only a single representative lap amid traffic struggles and untimely red-flag stoppages.
After coming home a solid fourth in Race 1 of the triple-header meeting, however, Granfors was involved in an unfortunate three-car incident on the opening lap of Race 2, ripping the front left suspension off his Fortec machine and pitching him into instant retirement.
Post-race inspection later exposed terminal damage to the car’s monocoque, requiring withdrawal as per safety protocol. Granfors, consequently, was forced to sit out the last remaining race of the weekend, and of the 2021 campaign.
“It was obviously a shame to not be able to complete the weekend, and it was all very unfortunate as the clash itself was actually not that severe,” says Joel Granfors. “However, it damaged the tub and we had to withdraw the car. It was clearly not the way we wanted to end the season, but there were plenty of positives this weekend in terms of our raw pace, so I think we can keep our heads high.”
After winning the 2020 Aquila Synergy Cup and Formula Nordic championships in his native Sweden, Granfors has set out on his first international adventure this season in British F4, scoring one win, eight podiums and setting four fastest laps across a 30-race campaign.
He has also established a new track record at Thruxton, and wounds up 91 points behind champion Matthew Rees in the final standings.
“All in all, it has been a good year, and I have learned a lot,” Joel Granfors sums up. “There have been ups and downs, but I think that’s normal and part of the learning curve. This is the first time I’ve worked with a team other than my family’s, I’ve moved to another country, and I’ve begun to understand so much about the sport. I want to say a big thank you to all the guys at Fortec for having me this year – hopefully it’s the start of much more in my career.”
Granfors ends the season as the top Fortec driver, with the Daventry-based squad taking second place in the teams’ classification.
“Joel has shown extreme professionalism and maturity in his first season in the British F4 championship,” says Fortec team manager Oliver Dutton. “From calculated overtakes to consistent race pace, Joel has shown everyone in the paddock he is a force to be reckoned with. I’m excited to see what comes next for Joel and I know his sheer determination and devotion will see him have a successful future in motorsport.”
As the curtain drops on the British F4 campaign, the focus is now shifting towards 2022 and the next step in Joel Granfors’ career. Further information will be provided in due course.
RESULTS
F4 British Championship
Rd. 10 | Brands Hatch GP
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
F4 British Championship
After 10/10 rounds
1: Matthew Rees (GBR), 331 p.
2: Matias Zagazeta (PER), 306 p.
3: McKenzy Cresswell (GBR), 305 p.
4: Joel Granfors (SWE), 240 p.
5: James Hedley (GBR), 226 p.