SPEAKER_08 0:01

Hello and a very warm welcome to Friday Night F4, the official podcast of the Vera Tools British F4 Championship, certified by FIA. After the summer break, it's great to be back with you, and what a weekend to resume the battle for the British F4 Championship. The excitement levels have gone up a notch this week as the Championship takes its annual jaunt across the channel to take on the famous Zandvoort circuit in the Netherlands, home of the Formula One Dutch Grand Prix. Underlying its international status and appeal this year marked the third consecutive campaign that Britain's Formula 4 category has raced abroad, and year on year, the appetite of drivers and teams to compete on the international stage continues to grow. This weekend we'll see a record-equalling 32-car grid, and the opportunity to add their names into the pages of history. The Zandvoort Summer Trophy is a tantalizing one for all the drivers. It's been a fascinating season so far with eight different race winners and a total of 18 podium finishers from the opening 12 races of the year, and every team on the grid has picked up silverware at some stage this season already. Not for the first time I've been reminded how competitive the championship is this year. Yes, I know the each year. We talk about the talent across the grid and how tightly fought every race is, and we've had some runaway winners in the past, chased by a brilliant pack of so close but no cigar charges for the coveted title. They've been so close to that but not quite made it. But this year, dare I say it, the gap across the huge entry list is as competitive as I have seen in many years. At the halfway stage, that competitiveness has produced a captivating tussle for top spot in the drivers' championship, with JHR developments driver Lewis Werrell heading to Zanvoort as the one everyone is trying to beat. Now, after making a steady start to his campaign in the early rounds, the British Racer really lit up his title challenge with some terrific performances, and in just a week, he racked up three impressive wins at Snetterton and Silverstone in what many acknowledged as a very confident set of drives. Now topping the championship standings, he holds a nine-point lead and can expect a huge challenge this weekend from a very hungry pack, all waiting to close the gap. Heading the charge is Dries van Langendonker running motorsport. And with two wins to his name already, the McLaren development driver will be eyeing a podium in what will be close enough a home event for the Belgian. So too will third place man Ethan Jeff Hall. And huge congratulations to Ethan, who has recently been announced as the Motorsport UK Academy Young Driver of the Year. Really well done. Elsewhere, high-tech teammates Theo Palmer, Scott Kin Lindblom and Adam Al-Azari, who have been seen at most rounds at the front of the field, without doubt they will be worth watching as they aim to make top step of the podium for the first time this term. As will the highly capable chasing pack of virtuosi racing winners George Proudford Nolder, Joseph Smith and Jarrett Clark, and fellow victors Ethan Lennon at Roden Motorsport and Timo Youngling at JHR Developments. Throw into the mix podium finishers such as Tommy Harfield, Cash Felber, and Chiara Battig. Chiara no doubt still on a high after becoming the first wildcard driver to take pole position in the F1 Academy at Silverstone last weekend. It's not difficult to see why the fight for overall honours is as wide open as it is this year. Nestled in the Sand Dunes, it's a picture-perfect setting. And down the years, Zanvort has played its part in attracting some of the biggest F4 grids. And the circuit is the perfect proving ground for challenge drivers and the teams. Boasting seven corners across just over 2.6 miles, the layout combines fast and swooping banked corners with technical braking zones. And keep an eye on the famous first corner, Tarzanbacht, at the end of the strait, with a grey overtaking opportunity and one which demands respect. Arguably though, the highlight of every lap is when taking turn 14, the infamous banked final corner. Now, I won't try to pronounce it too difficult for me, but it sits at an incredible 18 degrees and allows the drivers to carry a huge amount of speed through into the strait in search of that perfect fast lap. So who will triumph in the Netherlands? Over recent years, the race weekend has seen some drama, biblical downpours, and blistering sun. But above all, some truly great racing. Your guess is as good as mine this weekend. As of with every British F4 race weekend, nothing is certain, and every driver on the pack grid could have their day out on track. Before that though, sit back and enjoy this packed edition of Friday Night F4. To hear the latest from some of the championship hopefuls and what's going on behind the scenes in the F4 Race Centre at Zanvoort. A great lineup this evening as we chat to Kiara Battig, San and Z Cole Hewitson, Dries van Langendonk, George Proudvernolder, and joining our gentee for this weekend Bulgarian driver Lubo Roikov. And no Friday Night F4 will be complete without championship manager Eve Lake Grange. So grab a drink, sit back for the next hour, and enjoy Friday Night F4, direct from Zanvoort. First up this week is Kiara Battig, fresh from a momentous weekend at Silverstone, which was a great point to start our chat. Well, Chiara, you've got a fascinating weekend coming up uh at uh Zanvoort, but I just wanted to touch on last weekend at Silverstone and your fantastic outing uh in the F1 Academy uh race there. You must have been really pleased with that.

SPEAKER_06 6:34

Yeah, I mean I think getting a podium as a wildcard has never happened. I mean we we broke a few records, first ever wildcard, topping free practice, first ever wildcard, topping quality, and the youngest. Um so yeah, I think it was an amazing experience. Uh surely got it that I got second. I think that's the worst place you really can get. Um yeah, first loser. But yeah, it has been an exciting weekend.

SPEAKER_08 7:00

Yeah, absolutely. How much do you think the uh the previous outing you had at Silverstone with the British F4 Championship helped you because it it was getting more used to the circuit that weekend, wasn't it?

SPEAKER_06 7:12

Yeah, well, I mean it kind of did change a bit, um, as the car is different, etc. Like you have you have different brakes as well as limited caster. Also the tires are different, so I kind of had to adapt to that all weekend long. And also the grip level changes were massive.

SPEAKER_08 7:31

Yeah, I I um I I mean I guess the the smile on your face says that that that was a challenge, but you make it sound so easy. Do you find it really natural, you know, switching between the the two chassis?

SPEAKER_06 7:42

I mean it is the same chassis, it's just like different different brakes. Um I mean it did go well because the first time I sat in the car, we were first, so I think we did we did well on that.

SPEAKER_08 7:55

Yeah, you certainly did, and your name's gone down in the the record books. I I suspect that uh you also got a few sideways glances from uh the other drivers saying, goodness me, wildcard entry and on poll.

SPEAKER_06 8:08

Yeah, true. Um I mean I know most of them from courting, so I think they did expect me to be somewhere up there.

SPEAKER_08 8:17

Fair enough. Well, uh a tremendous achievement. Congratulations, uh well done uh on that one. And now back to the British F4 Championship and the challenge of Zanvoort, which is a fantastic circuit. Um do you like Zanvoort?

SPEAKER_06 8:32

I mean it's it's okay. Tracks very very technical. Um it's nice next to the beach. A lot of sand today, actually.

SPEAKER_08 8:42

So by the beach and motor racing, that's a that's a great combination, isn't it? So um uh how have you done this morning? You've had a session this morning?

SPEAKER_06 8:51

Yeah, we had the we had the first session.

SPEAKER_08 8:53

How did you do?

SPEAKER_06 8:55

I mean it was okay. Uh we had we having we are having a few issues. But overall, like everything looks fine. It's just if we wouldn't have that issue, it would be fine.

SPEAKER_08 9:04

Yeah. I I mean the first uh corner, uh Tarzan Tarzan Hock, isn't it, at uh Zanvor, is a big overtaking place, but you have to treat that corner with great respect, don't you?

SPEAKER_06 9:16

Yeah, as well as T3.

SPEAKER_08 9:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 9:19

It's um yeah, everywhere, to be honest, the track's quite narrow. But you can overtake.

SPEAKER_08 9:27

And the last corner, which is the banked one, um, which means you you can look to take a lot of speed into the strait. That that must be quite exciting to go through there. I mean, are you flat through there?

SPEAKER_06 9:37

Yeah, you're flat easily.

SPEAKER_08 9:39

Wow. Relying on high grip levels.

SPEAKER_06 9:43

Yeah, it does grip up quite a bit. I mean we have a few more categories running this weekend.

SPEAKER_08 9:49

So Yeah, so laying down some some rubber which which helps with the grip. So how just looking back on on the season, um Kiara, I mean you you're beginning to stick your name in the record books and you're you're having a a reasonable season. How would you you view your performance over the season so far?

SPEAKER_06 10:05

I mean, I think we started off quite bad.

unknown 10:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 10:18

It surely looks better on paper.

SPEAKER_08 10:21

Yeah, I know indeed. And and you must have reasonable expectations for for this weekend as well.

SPEAKER_06 10:28

Yeah, I mean we we should be we should be fast, I think. On this track, it's just always important to actually use all the tricks uh the track grip. Because like there are T9 and T ten is very weird in this track where you just have null grip and you just pick up wheel spin out of nowhere. So yeah, but looking forward to race here. We do have a bit more sessions than usual, so that's positive.

SPEAKER_08 10:55

Yeah, that's that is a good thing, isn't it? And the weather forecast, I was looking at the forecast for the weekend. It's going to get pretty warm Saturday and Sunday, isn't it? Yeah, I mean we're next to the beach, so will you get any time to go down to the beach? I know you've got such a busy weekend with testing and your your media responsibilities and all the rest of it with the with the team. But will you get a chance to to go down to the beach? Build a sand castle, maybe?

SPEAKER_06 11:19

Maybe. Maybe.

SPEAKER_08 11:22

I mean we don't have a lot of sessions tomorrow, so Yeah, you might you might even get a chance to go swimming. It'd be chilly. It'd be cold, wouldn't it?

SPEAKER_06 11:31

Yeah. I'm actually quite afraid of the beach. You know, sharks and everything.

SPEAKER_08 11:37

Sharks?

SPEAKER_06 11:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 11:39

I don't uh there are no sharks off off the coast of of uh of the Netherlands, are there?

SPEAKER_06 11:45

I mean a bit deeper in the story somewhere. I think the water here is quite cold because it it comes from the ice on top of the so it might not be warm swim here.

SPEAKER_08 11:57

Well that's that's a good that's a new thing I've learnt about you, Chiara, that you're you're afraid of sharks. And quite right.

SPEAKER_06 12:05

What um they can bite my my leg off.

SPEAKER_08 12:09

Yes, yeah, and and we've seen some stories about that in the in the press recently, haven't we? Some people not in not in off the coast of um the Netherlands, mind you, down um down in the southern hemisphere, but we we have seen it. What uh what are you hoping for for the for the rest of the season, Carrie? Because we had the the summer break, you did the uh the Silverstone meeting, um, and now we're back into the British F4 Championship. Um I mean you're you're building on your experience from from the season so far, you're improving all the time. You must be upping your expectations of what you can appro uh what you can achieve this year.

SPEAKER_06 12:44

Yeah, I mean overall I think should spill it up to it. Um the the UK tracks are quite difficult, so I think it's always important to kind of step on it, step in and then improve session by session. I think that's overall the goal of this year is just to take as much as I can with me.

SPEAKER_08 13:02

Yeah, absolutely. And I are you finding any time to do anything else other than race? I mean, do you get a chance to to meet up with friends or keep in touch with friends and and do other things, or is it all 100% racing for you at the moment?

SPEAKER_06 13:16

I mean to be honest, at the moment it kind of is. Um I had like three I'm having three races July. And I think in May I also had three races, so there's not a lot a lot of time off. But yeah, I mean surely I do have time to get to visit some friends sometimes. At the end of the day, I'm I'm kind of having a job, so I have to stick to that as well.

SPEAKER_08 13:39

No, and that's fair enough. And have you got any support there at Zanvolt this weekend? Have you got family or friends supporting you?

SPEAKER_06 13:45

Actually quite a few few people from my family coming with me. The busiest that ever has been. Because actually driving up here from Switzerland is not that far.

SPEAKER_08 13:56

Yeah. No, absolutely. And are they all gonna stand in the same place on the circuit and wave as you go past? That'd be great, wouldn't it?

SPEAKER_06 14:02

Yeah, I mean, to be honest, uh I think I won't be looking because I'm driving, but it would be nice to see now the crowd. I think it I think it will be a bit different compared to Silverstone. I mean, the attendance was like nearly 600,000 people.

SPEAKER_08 14:19

That's a lot of people, isn't it?

SPEAKER_06 14:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 14:22

And uh I mean how uh that's an interesting point you make, Chiara, isn't it, about the number of of people who were there watching at Silverstone over that weekend. One of the important things that you you need to do as as part of your career as a as a racing driver is be in those those race meetings and getting noticed by teams and noticed by sponsors and and noticed by the fans. It's important that, isn't it?

SPEAKER_06 14:47

Yeah, I mean I think it's a very important part in in such an expensive port um sport, really.

SPEAKER_08 14:54

Absolutely. And getting close up to the uh the Formula One paddock and some of the Formula One drivers, that must just spur you on to want to do even better.

SPEAKER_06 15:04

I mean, to be honest, I was so focused on myself, so I didn't really even have the chance to look at no selfies.

SPEAKER_08 15:10

You didn't manage to get any selfies with any of the F1 drivers.

SPEAKER_06 15:13

No, actually not. They wanted one of me, you know.

SPEAKER_08 15:17

Did they? I'm pleased to hear it. That's fantastic. Can you tell us who it was?

SPEAKER_06 15:22

No, it was a joke.

SPEAKER_08 15:23

Okay, well, I would have I I would I would have believed it. I would have believed it. As a rising star, I would have believed it, Chiara. Um, lovely to talk to you. Um I'm glad the sun is going to be shining for you this weekend at uh Zanvoort. Congratulations once again uh on what you achieved at uh at Silverstone. But moreover, have a fantastic weekend in Zanvoort, Chiara. Next, I caught up with Sun and Z. And first we cleared up why everyone knows him as Alex. Well, Alex, really good to see you. Uh not long since you hopped out of the car from your uh first session. And uh for those people who might be slightly confused that I'm calling you Alex, not Sun. Alex is is what you you were called when you're over in the UK, isn't it? Isn't that right?

SPEAKER_04 16:07

Uh yeah, that's right. Um so my Chinese name is basically Sun and Z, but um my English name, most of most of my friends they are calling me as Alex, so it's definitely easier for everyone to call me Alex.

SPEAKER_08 16:22

Excellent, right. We'll continue with Alex then, uh which is uh which is great, thank you. So how was your session this morning?

SPEAKER_04 16:29

Um Yeah, it was alright. I mean just getting back to the rhythm because um since last time we were here, it's like a few months ago, so um, and also it's quite a hard track, so I would say we were a little bit struggling, but I think it's not a bad place to start.

SPEAKER_08 16:49

Absolutely. We've spoken uh a couple of times this season and uh which has been uh really interesting. Uh and I'm I'm I'm intrigued by how focused you are on improving all the time, and you're you're finding those those little improvements at every weekend, aren't you?

SPEAKER_04 17:05

Um yeah, definitely. Um because every time we I go on the track definitely just focusing on how can we improve the most, um just like chipping away the gap that we're we're having.

SPEAKER_08 17:23

Absolutely. Yeah. I and I is there any particular uh part of your the way that you race, your driving style, or the way that you approach each circuit, that that you focused on on most? Is there is there a particular area of improvement that is your priority?

SPEAKER_04 17:39

Um I would say definitely just trying to push a bit more because um my driving style is always a bit like um quite safe because I don't want to risk risk too much to um like if if I have an accident or crash then I feel like we were missing out a whole day. But that is also what I am trying to um improve now, just trying to push a bit more every lab every session, just make a bit more momentum every session.

SPEAKER_08 18:12

An interesting point you make there, Alex, uh because you you reference obviously not just losing uh race and testing and qualifying time, but also you know, there's costs involved in repairing damage, isn't there? And you're you know, one of your plans is to bring the car home in one piece uh after every session. Yeah, definitely uh Yes, you do you don't want to be faced with a big bill, do you?

SPEAKER_04 18:34

Yeah, definitely I would say just um keep keep the race clean, I would say it's the most important thing.

SPEAKER_08 18:42

So I I guess the the team are also encouraging you to to push that little bit harder, aren't they?

SPEAKER_04 18:49

Uh yeah, um definitely. My coach um James Higgins, he's always um telling me to push a bit more, just try to carry a bit more through every corner because if you don't try then you'll never get it.

SPEAKER_08 19:06

You have to take risks to find out how far you can you can push. So I mean I mean is it a case therefore, Alex, of you looking for say ten percent more from yourself at each round? Is it is that realistic?

SPEAKER_04 19:21

Yeah, I would say Yeah, you can say that I mean just on the I just focus on doing what I can do every single race and just do what I can do because sometimes if there's an accident there's a yellow flag that's a safety car, we can't control those stuff, so probably just focus on the driving.

SPEAKER_08 19:43

Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_04 19:45

Now it's a rookie I mean just um learn basically.

SPEAKER_08 19:51

Indeed. Um this weekend Zanvort, a lovely setting in the Sand Dunes. The sun's going to be shining, it's uh it's a fantastic location. And an interesting circuit as well. You need to concentrate for 100% of the lap here, don't you?

SPEAKER_04 20:06

Yeah, yeah, it's uh hard track, it's really tricky a few corners.

SPEAKER_08 20:12

I mean the first corner is is notable um because it's an overtaking place, but it's it's one that has dangers with it as well, doesn't it, if you if you don't get it right.

SPEAKER_04 20:22

Uh yeah, because um on the the main straight the track is not completely flat, there's like a curve on the straight. So if you break on the middle then you'll lock up and you could end up in a very bad position, so um you really need to be focusing on the line and when you overtake, just you try to get the position done and a very clean exit.

SPEAKER_08 20:49

Yeah. And I guess when you look at like the last corner, which is the banked corner where you can take a lot of speed, I think you're going flat through that a lot of speed into the main straight, you're you're looking for for the slipstream as well, aren't you? Looking for the toe round there.

SPEAKER_04 21:04

Yeah, yeah, definitely. It's a high speed track, so a toe definitely makes quite a big difference.

SPEAKER_08 21:11

Hmm. Just for people who don't, you know, uh perhaps understand how close or how far you have to be from the car in front, what sort of distance is the optimal for getting uh a toe around a circuit like this?

SPEAKER_04 21:22

Um I would say probably one colland, one and a half, because you you want to get the toe, but you don't want to like um being distracted by the car in front.

SPEAKER_08 21:32

Yeah, and and the dirty air that that comes you know at a certain point with that as well. At at a hundred and whatever it is, miles an hour, that's that takes a lot of bottle, doesn't it? I mean, maybe that's an area where you know you you have to take that little bit of a risk as well.

SPEAKER_04 21:48

Yeah, yeah, definitely.

SPEAKER_08 21:49

Well, I'm I'm in awe uh and uh have a great deal of admiration for those of you who race at a hundred and some odd miles an hour uh a car length behind looking for that tow. Um Alex. It's uh it's a a long season, it's an involved season. It's uh there's lots to do during the season, not just your racing, your testing, the gym work, I'm sure that you're doing all this of it. Do you get much downtime? Do you do you get any time to to keep in touch with uh you know with family and friends and go and do something away from the racetrack?

SPEAKER_04 22:18

Yeah, I mean definitely um work hard as on part, but free time is definitely important. Um I would say through the summer I was quite um I don't have so much to do, so I basically I just go gym and and um stay with my family just um in England just go around.

SPEAKER_08 22:41

Um basically just downtime, I was saying and what what are the things you get involved in? Are you not are you a goalthrower or would you play any other sports?

SPEAKER_04 22:50

Oh yeah, I do a bit badminton. Um that's the main sport I do um things that often racing.

SPEAKER_08 22:59

Excellent, great game, Badminton. I see a lot of people playing paddle now. Have you uh have you come across this? It's quite an interesting school track.

SPEAKER_04 23:07

I I try with my teammates once, I think. Um I don't remember which track it is, but it was the day before we were testing the win before paddle with Ethan and um that got excellent. Who won? Um we were just like playing each other because we didn't really try to be competitive.

SPEAKER_08 23:35

Racing drivers are incredibly competitive though, aren't they? Which I would I I bet somebody did win, but you're being modest, but uh but there we go. So um Alex, yeah, we're at the sort of halfway point of the season now. You'll you'll you know, you've already been very honest uh and open about uh about the way you're trying to improve and where you're trying to push a little bit harder. What um you know what are your expectations now for for the rest of the season?

SPEAKER_04 24:00

Um I would say just try to um still be clean on most of my race, just I don't want to get involved in too much accident and but still pushing hard. Probably I want to get in the top five rookie like because I feel like the pace is coming, so I feel like we definitely have a chance to um get involved in the front front rows.

SPEAKER_08 24:29

Absolutely. Well good luck with that. Yeah, and maybe a rookie podium this weekend.

SPEAKER_04 24:34

Uh maybe. I'll try my bass next week.

SPEAKER_08 24:38

I know I know that you will, and good luck with that. Um, Alex, always a pleasure to uh to catch up with you. Uh have a great weekend. New to the British F4 Championship this weekend is Bulgarian driver Lubo Roykov. He joined me to outline his challenge for this week at a circuit that is new to him. Well, welcome to the British F4 Championship, uh Lubo. Good to have you on board. It's going to be an exciting weekend. We'll look forward to that in a second. But as you are a new driver and uh a new name to uh to fans of British F4, tell us a little bit about yourself and your your background.

SPEAKER_01 25:13

My background, uh I started karting in 2019 in quite a weird way. Uh I went to rental carting with my friends on his birthday, and I think he beat me by one, two tenths, and I was really mad. So I started going every day, and in the end, I started to enjoy a lot. And also I had uh one guy from Bulgaria, Nikolai Vorbitselev, and he said to my parents that he saw talent in me, and then my mom was like, What? I'm not gonna allow him to drive. But then that's how it basically started. I just went to a local truck with professional cards, and I was really fast, and that's how I started carting.

SPEAKER_08 25:51

What a great story. That is really good. A birthday event where where you were beaten and didn't like it. That's superb. So your your mum didn't want you to race. Is that is that because she was worried that you you might get hurt, or yeah, yeah, she's still very worried.

SPEAKER_01 26:06

She can uh she cannot watch my races to be honest. She never watched my races fully. Uh she was always there, but she just scared for me, and she's still scared to this day.

SPEAKER_08 26:16

I could as a parent I can understand that, but uh obviously you have got uh the talent there to uh to race. Uh after the karting, um I mean I mean how how well did you do the doing karting and and what made the uh the decision to move up to single-seater?

SPEAKER_01 26:33

So I won a lot of races in karting. I in 2024 I won one WS the WSK Champions Cup, uh, then I won the Rock Championship, Rock Cup Italy, uh the X30 Championship in Italy, and then in 2025 I signed with Pro Racing, and they made the step to F4. They started giving me some opportunities to test, and it was going quite well. And uh this year we decided to do the full season in Italian F4 and also British F4.

SPEAKER_08 27:02

Ah, right, okay, good. Uh, there's a a lot of other drivers who've done Italian or Spanish F4 or or over in the UAE, haven't they? Which is uh which is important. So I I was scratching my head, and please forgive me if I'm if I'm being silly here. I I can't I couldn't bring to mind another Bulgarian racing driver.

SPEAKER_01 27:20

There is one that I think almost everybody everybody knows, and is Nikola Tsolov in Formula 2, he's leading the championship now, and he's the only other Bulgarian driver in Formulas with me.

SPEAKER_08 27:31

Right, given that he's leading Formula 2 championship, I should have known that, shouldn't I? Thank you for being so kind and uh reminding me I should pay more attention. Um now uh Lubo uh the F4 car, how much time have you you had in the uh in the British F4 car?

SPEAKER_01 27:48

In the British F4 car, I I just did my first session today. Oh wow. So not a lot. But I'm trying to learn as much as I can. Also in Zanvoort, it for me is a completely new truck with a lot of banking, which is hard to get used to it. But I think I just need to get a bit more of driving, and I think it can be a good weekend today this week.

SPEAKER_08 28:08

Wow, that's a heck of a challenge. New into the car and uh new to Zanvoort. That that's a heavy weekend for you, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01 28:17

Yeah, but I love the challenges and uh like that I have much more stuff to work on.

SPEAKER_08 28:22

Yeah, absolutely. So, how did you do in your your first session? I mean, were you pleased with what you achieved in that in that session?

SPEAKER_01 28:29

Could have been much better to be honest, but I I'm just struggling right now with the banking. I'm losing a lot there, but everywhere else is fine, and I I think I can start to improve from session two.

SPEAKER_08 28:42

Absolutely. The banking is quite something, isn't it? Particularly the last corner where it's it's something like 18 degrees uh uh of banking. But it it means you go flat and carry a lot of speed through there for um for the straight, don't you?

SPEAKER_01 28:55

Yeah, that's uh the banking you need to carry a bit more speed than usually because you uh you know you have the banking. But now I'm currently struggling at T3, the banking there is even more, I think. And I need to work on there a lot for now.

SPEAKER_08 29:10

A lot to think about for for this weekend. Um so uh you must have a a busy uh a busy life, uh Lubo. Obviously, you you are competing in Italian F4 and now you're getting involved in British F4. What else do you get up to? Is there any time for you to get involved in anything else?

SPEAKER_01 29:26

Uh I have no time to be fair. I haven't been in my house for three weeks already, and I'm always traveling. Uh yesterday I was in PowerCard for testing. Today I'm in Zambort, and next week I need to go back to PowerCard, so it's really busy for me.

SPEAKER_08 29:43

Wow, there isn't much time to uh to get on with sort of normal life, is there? What's your ultimate ambition, Libo?

SPEAKER_01 29:50

My dream is like I think most of every like most like the same like every driver is to be in F1. Um I'm trying my best, I'm working on it, also outside the track, and I need to focus now on the present because present makes the future, and then if everything is fine and I have a bit of luck, I think it's possible to that go.

SPEAKER_08 30:14

Absolutely. An interesting thing that you said there, which was that you're focusing on it away from the track, outside of the track as well. There is a great deal of work that goes on behind the scenes in terms of networking and meeting sponsors and being in the right place at the right time, isn't it? That takes up a lot of time and energy, but is essential if you're going to progress in the sport.

SPEAKER_01 30:36

Yeah, it's really important. Also, uh physical training. Every time when I come back from a race weekend or a test, I'm immediately starting to train the next day. And yeah, then I need to have meetings with sponsors, with my managers for racing about the week. Every time we need to do a short call for a debrief of the weekend, and yeah, also the training, and basically I have no time for myself.

SPEAKER_08 31:01

Maybe one day. Yeah, it's a Formula One. Maybe if you could become uh Formula One world champion, you'll have some time to yourself. Who knows? So we we know that your mum can't watch you race, but do you have any other friends or family who will be there with you this weekend?

SPEAKER_01 31:17

Yeah, currently my mum will not come this week because I have a baby sister and she needs to take care of her, but my father will come. Uh he's always been with me since the start. I think he missed one or two races. Uh, but only my father is gonna come this week, and I think he's just enough because he always understands me and I can speak with him about everything on the race weekend.

SPEAKER_08 31:38

Yeah, absolutely. And uh when you do get uh you know a little bit of downtime here or there, how do how do you fill that time? Do you have quiet time? Are you are you do you listen to music, do you play other sports? What do you do with your friends? I mean what what else can you get up to when you do have the time?

SPEAKER_01 31:54

If I have time outside of the track, I usually go to play paddo. Um I like it a lot. I also did a professional tournament. Um then I usually go fishing. It helps me relax a bit, forget about everything, and there I'm with my father again, and then I go out with friends. Uh they have a some of them have cars, and we're just driving the cars. And that's what I do in my free time if I'm not training.

SPEAKER_08 32:19

That that's interesting you mentioned paddle because some of the other drivers have uh have had a go at that as well, and it seems to be growing in popularity, uh, which is good. I can see I can see exactly where the relaxation comes from from the fishing. I mean, what sort of I mean are you a fly fisher per f fly fisherman or or what do you how do you fish?

SPEAKER_01 32:37

I fish usually spinning and then uh on the uh on the deep roads, like the ones you throw away, like very far away, and you just wait like carp, let's say, and then spinning I fish for pike.

SPEAKER_08 32:49

Ah, right, okay. Are you a good fisherman?

SPEAKER_01 32:53

Um fishing from a lot of time, so I think I'm not that bro probably I'm not the best, but I think I'm not bad also.

SPEAKER_08 33:00

I I think you'd probably be very good at uh anything you put your hand to, in all fairness. Um Lubo, uh as I say, a huge welcome uh to you uh to joining the British uh F4 and and you know, climbing in the car for the first time and tackling Zanvoort for the first time. What an amazing challenge. It's going to be really interesting to see how you do this weekend. Uh, but I wish you the very, very best. Have a great weekend at Zanvoort. Thank you very much. Championship returnee Cole Hewitson worked hard over the winter and has continued to improve this season. So it was good to catch up with him after the second test session. One of the things I I note about you, Cole, and we've spoken a number of times uh uh you know over over the seasons, is you do genuinely always try to find the positives, even when you've you've not had perhaps the best of sessions.

SPEAKER_03 33:49

Yeah, um I think there's always something you need to be happy about. Like, I mean, we're racing F4 cards around a racetrack, every kid's dream. So um you always gotta find a positive in a bad situation, and I think that would change the rest of your overview of like or your outcome of the day, not always being so bummed throughout the day, and that kind of ruins your driving, I think. Um so always just try to find the positives and work on the negative. So yeah, that's that's what I think.

SPEAKER_08 34:19

Good mental attitude is what you need, isn't it? Not just being quick, but you need to you need to run each race in your head as well, don't you?

SPEAKER_03 34:26

Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_08 34:28

Yeah, absolutely. Um we'll talk about Zanvoort in uh a moment, uh, because that's a challenge for this weekend, obviously. Um but how would you you sum up sort of the first half of your season, Cole?

SPEAKER_03 34:40

Yeah, no, um Donnington was quite cool. Um prior to Donington I had quite a big incident, so um it was nice getting back into the rhythm so quickly at Donington and being in the top ten for both race two and three. Um and then just staying consistent throughout most of the other rounds. Um obviously we struggled in brand for race one and two, but we got we did a really good job in race three at brand at Indy, which was quite cool, got a nice podium for the first two rounds of the season. Um but then I th I think it's just trying to keep consistency and getting points, um, just to keep racking up points, and I think that's the main game right now, just racking up points and staying consistent. But I I would say it's a good start. Um but I can always do better, which that's when I that's my goal for the second part of the season.

SPEAKER_08 35:30

Absolutely. I does that mean that that you put more pressure on yourself?

SPEAKER_03 35:36

Not I wouldn't say more pressure on myself, just more concentrated, and I've been working pretty hard in the offseason, so um yeah, I I I think it's just being really, really concentrated on what the job you need to do.

SPEAKER_08 35:53

Absolutely. We we touched on this earlier in the year, didn't we? About how you came back this year a a different person. Obviously you're a year older, but whatever you've done over that closed season has has changed your approach to your racing and and your general outlook, hasn't it?

SPEAKER_03 36:12

Yeah, um I don't know. I I I seem to be a a lot more calm and a lot more not stressed towards certain situations, but uh obviously there's I was still playing mind games with myself, but uh there's always uh there's always something that happens in the offseason that changes between a person, I think. As you said as well, them getting older. Um I think it's just maturity as well. Uh obviously I don't want to say I'm maturing myself because that just sounds a bit that's different to saying you're getting old, trust me. Yeah, but I think my maturity is a little bit better than last year as well, because last year I think I was a bit uh bit erratic.

SPEAKER_08 36:51

Yeah, well, no, and and fair play to you, uh Cole for being honest and open up front about that. And and I think I'd agree with you. You seem to have you seem to be a much better place this year, which is really, really good to see because you're clearly quick uh and and capable. So I'm I'm pleased to be able to uh to see that development, you know, it's a pleasure watching you drive. So um Zandfort uh is a challenge. Uh do you like the circuit?

SPEAKER_03 37:17

Well, I mean it's fun. It's scary, but it's fun.

SPEAKER_08 37:20

Which of the scary bits?

SPEAKER_03 37:22

Uh I would say three and seven. Turn three in like the bowl, or or I think on the track map it's turn four, but we call it turn three. Um and turn seven. It's a foss right downhill. And if you have a moment there, yeah, I'm afraid it's your uh your session or your day done. So I'm I I'm just uh keeping that in the back of my mind. It's only the first day, let's not do anything stupid.

SPEAKER_08 37:46

You see, and there's another example of of your new phone maturity, isn't it? In the old days, you might have just gone for it hell for leather. I think I did that last year, so I learned. Um now let's get a couple of corners. I know you've you've already mentioned uh again two of them. I mean, the first corner is an overtaking opportunity, a famous cause, a thousand bucks.

SPEAKER_03 38:06

Very good overtaking.

SPEAKER_08 38:07

Um but also a great opportunity to uh sling it off the track, isn't it? You've you've got to treat that with a great deal of respect.

SPEAKER_03 38:16

Um yeah. I would say if you have a little snap through there, it might be a little wide moment for you, but well, actually no. If you if you if you go for a pass in the middle of the track, in the m like it's quite unique this track, as there's a kink in the middle of the strait. So if you if you break on the middle of the straits, you're g you you're not stopping. So um I think that that might ruin your race if you try pass someone in exactly the middle of the track because it's it's crowned. So if you break, obviously your one tie won't have as much pressure as the other one. So you're just gonna lock up and go straight on. So I think I think that's something to keep in mind for passing.

SPEAKER_05 38:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 38:56

I'm not sure if I'm not sure if others know, but uh I haven't told anyone, so I'm I'm sure other people hear it on Friday night. Shh keep it.

SPEAKER_08 39:03

We'll keep it between us. That's alright. Right. By the time they listen to this, it'll be too late. Brilliant. So you've had some time off uh since we were at uh Silverstone.

SPEAKER_03 39:14

Um what have you been up to? Um I went to a place called Ibetha with my family. Uh excellent. Yeah, did you go to clubbing? Uh no, no, no, I was training. I was training. I was training uh I was running, I was in the gym. Is that the truth, Carl? You went clubbing, come on. I'm not gonna say anything on air, thank you very much.

SPEAKER_08 39:42

I betha, lovely. So you went with family, that's nice to get some family time, isn't it?

SPEAKER_03 39:46

And then uh spent the last week uh there with my mates Stanley and Leon Hedfors. So uh that was fun. Excellent. Um doing something cultural, obviously. Then I went to Thruxton Fortes and then went to Mombai for training camp with my dad. Oh really? Unfortunately you couldn't make it as uh my brother had a little incident from rugby.

SPEAKER_08 40:09

So he had to go home. Is he alright?

SPEAKER_03 40:12

Yeah, he broke his jaw, but he's fine.

SPEAKER_08 40:14

Okay. Oh well, fair enough. Um so you've been to Truxton, got some some uh some track time in at Truxton, which comes up next, of course. Uh and that's that's a challenge in itself. It's a quick circuit.

SPEAKER_03 40:26

Truxton's my one of my favourite tracks on the calendar, so uh I'm really looking forward to it. I had a really good fight with Tom Sperman last year there, yeah, as we were just shopping and changing uh positions together. Um but yeah, I I'm really looking forward to through uh Truxton.

SPEAKER_08 40:42

It's gonna be a good one, uh I'm sure, uh, and we'll watch out for that. So this weekend you're going to be aiming for a podium, aren't you? Exactly.

SPEAKER_03 40:51

I'm aiming for when, not a podium.

SPEAKER_08 40:53

Good man.

SPEAKER_03 40:54

Podium would be nice.

SPEAKER_08 40:55

And and and in terms of the rest of the season, we get to sort of the the business end fairly quickly, don't I? It's useful to get the points in the bag, and obviously the podiums that's in the wind that that you've mentioned. Um have you set yourself a new target for the for the end of the season?

SPEAKER_03 41:10

No, I strive the same target because as you know, the the the top twenty is very close with points, and if I get five points, I would be in what, tenth or ninth. So um unfortunately I I lost a few points from a little incident that happened at uh a place at Snetterton and uh I lost minus six points. So I I should be a lot higher than I actually am, but um I'm aiming to get those points back in more.

SPEAKER_08 41:36

Yeah, yeah. Uh that's an interesting one. When you you sit there perhaps on either on your own with the team or the family, and you look at the points and you think, okay, I lost six points there, and I've I could have gained another couple of points here and there. Did do you sort of uh average it all out and say, look, compared to the people who've been consistent all the time and have banked all of the points, you know, if if you account for the ones where I've lost and I know why I've lost those points, I I would be right up there and I'm doing just as well.

SPEAKER_03 42:03

Yeah, I I would I d I don't want to say anything, but I would be P what P6 right now on the championship if I didn't do all those silly things I did. So I I know I can be there, I can definitely be up there. Just I need to stop getting into uh bad situations.

SPEAKER_08 42:20

Sometimes the the luck doesn't go your way, does it? It happens to uh to everybody. Um Cole, always a pleasure to catch up with you, my friend. Have a fantastic time uh in Zanvol. It's gonna be a warm one, isn't it?

SPEAKER_03 42:33

Yeah, it's gonna be uh it's it's quite warm now.

SPEAKER_08 42:37

Well I think over the uh over the qualifying race uh and the races as well, the temperature's gonna push a little bit, which may be good, which is better than throwing it down, which it did a couple of years ago. Um but have have a great weekend. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Maybe that podium, maybe that win uh is waiting for you this weekend. But uh but for now, really good to catch up with you. Time now to have a look at things from the championship perspective. And as usual, I was joined by championship manager Eve Lake Grange. Well, Eve, good to catch up with you. And and I'm almost literally probably would have needed to have been running alongside you today with a microphone, wouldn't I? Because you've been incredibly busy in Sanfort.

SPEAKER_07 43:17

Yes, it has been rather non-stop, but um the sun's shining, so I can't complain.

SPEAKER_08 43:23

No, are you no you can't complain because it could be raining, which is not good. We'll talk about the opportunities in the sunshine uh in a bit, I'm sure. But um got a lot to get through. Um let's just hark back to gosh, it seems like a million years ago now. Silverstone and the bit that fantastic weekend uh of the BRDC trophy and uh George Pradford Nolder's uh historic uh win there. Uh that was a momentous weekend, wasn't it?

SPEAKER_07 43:51

Um, it really was. Um we thoroughly enjoyed it, I think. Um Silverstone bringing back the international trophy and picking us. you know, F4 to to be the ones to do it. Um we didn't really know what to expect going into it, but um it just ended up being an a mega event. I think everyone involved loved it.

SPEAKER_08 44:10

Yeah, they they did.

SPEAKER_07 44:11

There was a huge buzz around the the whole weekend and George was uh was a worthy winner and I know that you know given the international uh aspects of the championship uh I know that his win was picked up uh back home for him down under which is great yeah absolutely I believe he also had a little pet talk from Mark Webber beforehand as well so uh yes I heard that yeah we were but but no it was lovely to see George up there he was a thoroughly deserved winner I mean he had a great battle with Lewis um in those final laps but yeah I mean in general the the event um it was busy it was busy it was we had a we had an amazing grid walk um which we we it went out on our live stream and honestly I mean I'm not gonna say it was quite F1 style but it was definitely close.

SPEAKER_08 45:00

I I think it was close you know and I know how much how much uh thought went into that and and you know we we we can share an insider with with the listener can't we in that you know it wasn't certain how many people would turn up whether the weather would be nice what it would be like but it was fantastic.

SPEAKER_07 45:17

Yeah it really was I mean yeah we did joke beforehand about whether we were going to have to invite some long distant relatives along to fill it up but they absolutely were not needed quite the opposite to be honest. So yeah it was it was it was great to have the support from the fans um it was great to see everyone there. Absolutely it was tremendous uh now that's all in the past um so we'll talk about Zandvoort in a second um but the midseason break which isn't really a break for anybody least of all you is it it's a bit of a misnomer that one that was almost a groan wasn't it um yeah it I mean for for the championship it is uh midseason break is when we send our engines away to be equalised so they've all been um off receiving that treatment um and the I think the teams and drivers uh dare I say we all try to have a little bit of downtime um but otherwise it's sort of out testing keeping people keeping the drivers busy um I mean in terms of the team is in our F4 team we also um we're quite a few of us working at the uh the British Grand Prix at the weekend so um yeah it's been when you say break it implies we might get time to put our feet up but it's been quite the opposite but you know it's that is the world of motorsports yeah absolutely when when you say working at the British F1 Grand Prix is that is that right or are you just saying that we were you actually working or were you were you jollying?

SPEAKER_08 46:46

No we were absolutely working um yeah absolutely working I promise that's not a bad gig that's not a bad gig though that one is it goodness me marvellous okay fantastic so we know lots been going on uh and as you say some of the drivers have have had some time away um uh there's a secret in this uh this evening's uh edition as well one of the drivers that I've spoken to may or may not have gone to Ibiza but they won't say if they went clubbing or not it was supposed to be a training week I think training with a glow stick might have been am I too is that is that old now is it on my show my age if I mentioned glow sticks.

SPEAKER_07 47:25

No I think no I think they cut I think they've come back around. That's even worse actually saying they've come back around makes me feel even older so Zanvoort fantastic setting um by by the sea in the dunes absolutely glorious it's uh you know it it is tremendous uh Zanvoort on the calendar again um because it's popular but uh but also is part of the international nature of this championship yeah absolutely um F4 championships are allowed one one away day um and we we've been coming to Zanvoort for God can even tell you how many years it's been but enough because we enjoy it we come back every year um we're joining the summer trophy um this weekend which is a big event for them so actually the the atmosphere uh it's busy it's you know it's busy already um so it's shaping up to be a really good weekend and you know compared to previous years where it has perhaps not been quite so delightfully sunny it is beautiful so yeah it's setting up for a really really enjoyable weekend for everyone involved.

SPEAKER_08 48:28

It is it is and for anybody who's never been it is genuinely nestled in the sand dunes you can see the sea can't you?

SPEAKER_07 48:35

You can see the sea yeah and if the wind blows a bit too strongly you know you get might get a bit of sand in your face it's yeah it's it's great.

SPEAKER_08 48:42

It's on that basis have you been to the beach yet? Um I drove past it so that as close as I've got to it but uh it's um it's on the list you know if if bar barring any oh actually no I don't want to jinx it let's let's just pretend that I'm not gonna go to the beach and then it'll be a lovely surprise if we actually make it okay I'd like well let's let's keep an eye on the social media to see if you build a same castle that way I'll do an F4 model shall I oh now that would be stunning in sand if you could do that I'll that would be brilliant I'll look forward to that now um Lewis Werrell comes into this weekend with a nine point lead after a a couple of absolutely cracking weekends at uh Snetterton and Silverstone three wins and all of a sudden it it seems like he's lit the blue touch paper for his season doesn't it oh it does and it it's been great to see to be honest and I think that is the great thing about um British F4 is that you you know it doesn't take much to to turn things around or like you say start things.

SPEAKER_07 49:48

What is this round five we're heading into and it just feels like it's still anyone's game and everyone's still got their chance to shine um and yeah I hope Lewis is enjoying his moment because yeah it there's definitely people hot on his tail.

SPEAKER_08 50:03

Yeah absolutely and and you make a good point there about the fact that um anybody can achieve almost anything this year. One of the drivers I spoke to earlier said look you know I dropped a few points earlier in the year but if I gain five points now that makes a big difference because the top 20 are not separated by you know hundreds of points or whatever it is and that just we've spoken about it haven't we about how how competitive and close it is this year with the talent that's in the championship. More so than perhaps in the past few years. We've had stars you know and and runaway winners haven't we in the past but this year gosh it's close.

SPEAKER_07 50:39

Alright Phil it definitely this feels like I've been doing this a long time and this definitely feels like the one of the one of the closest championships we're going to see which I think just makes it it makes it all the more exciting to to know that you're sort of getting it from the beginning and you just don't know you can't call it.

SPEAKER_08 50:57

No you can't and and it's epitomised the stats don't lie 18 different drivers on the podium which I know puts a smile on your face um because that's you know and you've got a 32 car grid uh this weekend I it we've said it before haven't we but doesn't it just talk to the importance of this championship on an international level I think it does.

SPEAKER_07 51:23

It's something that we've worked incredibly hard for um and I think British F4 is just so deserving of the success it's seeing at the minute all the the teams uh you know that have worked alongside the championship and put everything into it I think we're all we're all reaping not reaping the rewards but you know what I mean like we're all proud to be able to stand here and be a part of a like you say a 32 car grid seeing it so competitive being it not not being able to call a winner um and and each driver managing to achieve you know a form of their own success. So yeah I think it's a great it's a it's a great little championship and I'm I'm proud to be a part of it.

SPEAKER_08 51:59

Absolutely and uh and so say all of us it's absolutely tremendous this year. And I think in all fairness I I don't think anybody would deny you a glass of something cold on the beach this evening.

SPEAKER_07 52:12

Thank you I shall take that follower's permission and don't forget to do your sand cattle.

SPEAKER_08 52:17

Eve as always an absolute pleasure have a great weekend.

SPEAKER_07 52:21

Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_08 52:22

After leading the championship and being the man to beat Dries van Langendonk finds himself chasing the title lead this weekend. Here's what he had to say.

SPEAKER_02 52:32

Well Dries Zanvoort is uh waiting for you uh this weekend I know there's been some uh some testing going on a little few frustrations uh because of uh curtailed uh testing time but still plenty of track time uh available it's gonna be a pretty intense weekend isn't it uh yeah for sure I think this is uh quite an important one just to get ahead of yourself after the break um yeah I think a lot of drivers will be hoping to score big big at this weekend um challenging track as well with all the banking so um yeah I think it's gonna be the interesting one a lot different from uh all the UK tracks that we've been to so um yeah we'll see a series quick round it now uh for a chunk of the first half of the season you were the man to beat you were the one everybody was chasing but things the tables have turned uh a little bit in the last couple of rounds and you're now in the chase aren't you um yeah for sure I mean I think obviously Donington was pretty good I think took heavy as well in race three um which I I don't think impacted me but um definitely didn't you know give us as much points as we would have hoped to come away with after Donington. Um but then again the rest of the weekends I think in Silverston in general we were off pace as a team um just struggling with you know the balance and all the heat that was at Silverston and then again both Bransatch and Snetterton I think those two weekends when we had the car I don't think we maximised um as a team um and yeah for example in Bransatch when I was really quick on Wednesday when it was sort of 20 degrees maybe and then it gets really hot on uh on the Friday and uh Saturday when we don't really put put it together um with what we do for the free practices and the qualities I think um yeah those were two big issues for Snetterton and um and Brownsatch like I said where we didn't really maximise and obviously Lewis and uh Ethan scored quite decently uh especially Lewis in um in Snetterton and Silverston so um yeah a few things are we we could have done better for sure um but I I hope we can you know try and find some momentum again after summer break and I think you know we still still have that pace there we just need to put everything together and um yeah just keep our focus throughout the weekend.

SPEAKER_08 54:57

Yeah without doubt you have the pace and the ability and I think it's it's probably fair to say that at the beginning of the season you were one of sort of probably two or three names of of drivers who were being tipped to to win the championship. I mean were were you aware of those sort of conversations and and did that sort of add any pressure uh for you?

SPEAKER_02 55:17

Um yeah for sure I think there's always going to be the element of pressure when people expect so high of you um especially when you're the one to chase all weekend long it doesn't make it easier going into quality or the race weekends. But yeah for sure it adds a level of pressure um I've been trying my best to sort of keep my head away from that um and just try and do the best I can um but yeah there's definitely a level of pressure coming from that uh as well like obviously the last few weekends have been a bit of struggle but then again it hasn't been a total disaster like still got a win in Brandsach got a few podiums in um in Silverston uh sorry Snetterton and then uh D obviously bad weekend in Silverstone but it wasn't you know horrendous but when people expect a lot from you it's obviously gonna be look a lot lot a lot less um impressive so um yeah I think obviously it has a level of pressure and I try to keep my head off it as best as I can then try and get back to a level of what I was like in Dollington and uh earlier part of the season. Absolutely so we've just had the summer break but I'm not so sure that it was a vast break for you was it what did you get up to um obviously some tests and um yeah I mean we had a collective test in uh Fruxton um and for the rest I just tried really to chill out. Um I spent a lot of time on my sim at home um and also it was nice weather in Belgium as well so um yeah I had some quality time and um yeah just tried to get my head off things uh especially after those three rounds so um yeah just a bit of a um regroup of everything and try and get some you know clear clear my head out a little bit.

SPEAKER_08 56:58

Yeah absolutely I mean I sp spending time on the sim is still sort of racing related. Do you manage to get away from from racing, catch up with friends and do things that are not racing related?

SPEAKER_02 57:09

Um yeah not really I mean I don't really have a lot of friends in Belgium obviously I've spent barely any time in Belgium um I'm always sort of on the road so um yeah it it's it I don't really get my head off racing but then again I try just I've got two very lovely dogs so I just try and spend some family time mostly um and then on the same obviously I have some friends but then again they're racing drivers as well so um yeah it it is difficult but um yeah I just try and spend some more family time.

SPEAKER_08 57:38

Yeah yeah I mean having the dogs must be great as well because they'd have no idea that you're a top racing driver and therefore they just they just do things with you don't they animals are great for that.

SPEAKER_02 57:49

Oh yeah for sure I mean they're they're two very lovely dogs I uh love them both very much so um yeah it it's it's just great to spend some time with them and uh obviously they're always extremely happy when you're home uh especially uh for me when I'm away a lot of the time to just see them when I'm coming home is always always a nice feeling and uh yeah it just it's just a nice way to spend some time um some family time and yeah I think it's just yeah very lovely to have them.

SPEAKER_08 58:16

Now you've already mentioned uh that you need to sort of get back to winning ways and podium ways. I I suspect therefore that your aim for this weekend is podiums as a minimum.

SPEAKER_02 58:26

Uh yeah for sure I mean for this weekend I just want to see some some pace again um just to see some yeah consistency and some some level of uh performance again like I know we have um and we have showed just need to put everything together as a team and um yeah I hope I hope I can get back to winning ways and yeah obviously EP1 is going to be my aim but I just want to see see some level of pace and be competitive. And I'm sure you will be uh back to uh to but Donington's been your marker isn't it that's what you're aiming to get back to uh yeah for sure I mean I think in Donington we had great pace um we had a bit of an issue in race three as well which didn't really help I don't think I should have been in that situation where where I was in the crash with Palmer as well. So um yeah I mean for sure Dollington is the aim I think the pace we had there was yeah unreal really just um yeah everything sort of came together and I've always been quite strong around Dollington um and the other tracks but it was mainly just in Dollington everything came together and we executed everything really well.

SPEAKER_08 59:32

Excellent well Dries the best of luck for this weekend. I hope everything comes together for you uh as well and uh I know you'll be doing your uh very best so have a fantastic Zanvoort.

SPEAKER_02 59:42

Yes thank you very much.

SPEAKER_08 59:44

Back at Silverstone George Proudford Nolder made history winning the BRDC International Trophy. Now he's looking forward to the challenge of Zanvoort. Well George the last time we spoke you had a big smile on your face and you were holding the international trophy the BRDC International Trophy at Silverstone is that still bringing a smile to your face Yeah definitely I think it's sort of yeah like getting the first win was you know I think something I've like always always like just always like look forward to and like oh just you know think of the day that I I win a race really um just every time there was like a a hard situation or a race that didn't go our way just sort of thinking like it's gonna be worth it when we when we win a race you know massive dream come true.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:34

I mean if you'd told me like three years ago I'd win a British F4 race with a grid as hard as it is I would be over the moon really. Yeah no I think just just an amazing amazing day I'll I'll remember that one for a long time definitely. I'm sure you will and and it was a heck of uh a final few laps wasn't it it was proper close and and hard fought racing yeah definitely I think um you know credit to Lewis he he drove a really really good race was absolutely rapid um I think he was definitely quicker than I was um especially in the second half um but yeah I think he drove a really good race it was it was a fun race like it was very clean but hard um but yeah just managed to to hold on to it at the end but it was a a good way I think to to win my first one I think got to like show show fully what I'm capable of rather than just driving off into the distance I had to had to really really work for it. So yeah definitely really really good first race to win.

SPEAKER_08 1:01:41

I certainly was and it was a fantastic showcase for the British F4 Championship as well so uh so well done to to all concerned and uh I understand that uh you might have had a whisper in your ear from a former F1 driver uh that weekend yeah yeah it was um Mark Weber just before before the race um yeah we had a chat and no it was good I think he's I've always looked up to him I think he's just attitude to to life really um is is really good and uh just respect it honestly um so no that was cool cool to meet um someone I look up to that much um yeah just amazing amazing day he sort of gave me confidence obviously we had made a mistake the day before um stalling at the start but so no we all just came together really the the whole team and Mark with the advice and you know it just it all came together and we managed to do it all of a sudden. What did he say to you?

SPEAKER_00 1:02:42

What advice did he give you um it was almost a little bit more like sort of just in like racing life in general because obviously we're both from the other side of the world and we both came over to to Europe to race we both sort of did a similar thing at similar ages and stuff. So almost like just little sort of things on it was good to sort of have someone who like recognizes sort of what it's like and yeah it can be hard not seeing some of your family and stuff for long periods of time. And yeah just like little things like that. But also with the race sort of just how to manage when when you're starting on poll with sort of a race that big with the the name of you know the what was at stake um yeah that being the BRDC International Trophy um just of how to handle that that pressure and yeah just sort of how I should go about the race. Absolutely well it was an an amazing performance even more so and I think I said this to you at the time with the you know the unfortunate incident with the the the previous start you you managed to overcome that uh and win in style so uh I know everybody said it to you at time but I'll say it again congratulations for that moving on uh Zandvoort now an interesting circuit because it's technical and it's quick uh and it demands a lot of concentration how are you going to tackle that this weekend yeah for sure I think it's a it's definitely a very very different circuit to to all the others we race um yeah it's like a lot of elevation change some weird corners like turn three for example with all the banking um that can be very very tricky I think overall it's a it's a very fun circuit like I I do enjoy it a lot um also quite a lot of like risk involved I think there's a few places where if you get it a tiny bit wrong and just drop a wheel onto a curve or something you can you can have quite a big crash so I think you've definitely got to gotta be locked in and making sure you're you're on on the correct line and not making any mistakes but no I'm looking forward to racing it I think it'll be I think it will just require consistency really just no don't make any mistakes really yeah and making mistakes is uh is easy to do isn't it at Zanvoort I mean in the in the testing that you've had so far we've seen uh a number of people getting caught out uh at different parts of the circuit but overall uh the time the seat time that you had at Zanvoort so far has been useful to you you've been you've been learning the circuit even more yeah 100% I think um yeah my engineer Fernando's been great with giving me you know advice around it I think sort of a circuit I seem to be like really really strong through sector one and three but two I can struggle with a little bit more um but no it's helpful with the the two teammates I've got there they're both quite strong through places that I'm a bit less strong and then vice versa so it's good having us all push each other. Yeah um but yeah no I'm I'm looking forward to this weekend I think it'll be good.

SPEAKER_08 1:05:52

Marvelous now you've already mentioned of course that you are on uh you know the other side of the world from where all uh the family is but of course they'll be able to watch Watch via the uh the website and keep up with the the timing this weekend. Who've you got supporting you in Zanvort this weekend?

SPEAKER_00 1:06:08

Um yeah, so my my mum, my brother and my sister are the like people in my family that are that are like with me actually in Zanvort. Um yeah, dad back at home, um and yeah, obviously all my friends from school and stuff on I'm sure they'll be watching and friends from go-karting as well. Um so no big thank you to th to them for for staying up like you know till 2 a.m. or whatever whenever the race is. Um because yeah, I I know a lot of them do. Um yeah, I think no uh looking forward to it.

SPEAKER_08 1:06:41

Yeah, it's gonna be it's gonna be very good. And I know that uh after your um BRDC international trophy win, I know that the media over there picked up on that as well, and uh and we're interested in in your win. So I I guess your your fan base back home is uh is not only solid but growing all the time, I would suspect.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:00

Yeah, for sure. I think definitely got like a lot of you know messages and support and you know a lot of different things about you know after I after I won that race, but I think it's definitely like a very cool like story and situation um you know that we've got going. Like I think um yeah, also my my driver coach um Ben, who I raced genetics like in his team with last year. I think we we've come for sure like a long way. Work worked so hard for to win a race. Um yeah, and also my family, also like half of us are half the families on the other side of the world for for the year. So no, I think it's a really, really cool story, and yeah, just glad it's it's going well.

SPEAKER_08 1:07:46

Absolutely, it is going well, George, and I think you're uh uh quitting yourself extremely well. Um have a great weekend uh at Zanvoort. It sounds very much to me like uh you're up for it and and can't wait to get going. And uh I wish you the very best of luck. Cool, thank you. And that rounds things off for this week. Drivers and teams can now get down to the business of qualifying and racing around this historic circuit. My weather app is suggesting a lovely sun-drenched weekend, with temperatures settling nicely in the mid-20 degrees centigrade, and at the moment, no chance of rain. Qualifying for the Codola Watch's Pole Position Award takes place on Saturday morning at 10am local time, and for the first time will be streamed live on the British F4 YouTube channel before Race One gets underway later that afternoon at 10-2. Two more races, the reverse grid contest at 9.40 and feature race at 1.35 will then play out on Sunday. All times listed above are local Zandvoort Time CEST. And for fans wanting to watch from around the world, every racing lap from Zandvoort will be broadcast live on the British F4 YouTube channel across Saturday and Sunday. If you missed any of this week's podcast, want to recommend it to a friend, or simply enjoy it again, why not? You can visit the British F4 website and the podcast Listen Again feature. And join us again on Friday, the 23rd of July at 6 pm, when we will be at the Hampshire Speedbowl, better known as Truxton. My thanks to all our guests this week and to the Friday Night F4 team in Zanvoort, Evelake Grange and Ben Bunel, and to producer Matt Jones. Friday Night F4 is a create media production for the Vera Tools British F4 Championship, certified by FIA. I'm Steve Taylor, thank you for listening.