The Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA
The Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA is the first step for aspiring young drivers making the transition from karting into single seaters. The series entered an exciting new phase in 2022 with the second generation Tatuus T-421 chassis – featuring the all-important halo safety feature – and Abarth engines.
Wera Tools British F4 will continue to be the premier UK single-seater series for drivers looking to progress their careers with ambitions to follow in the footsteps of former British F4 champion Lando Norris and reach the pinnacle of the sport – Formula 1.
Since 2022, Motorsport UK has organised and promoted the championship, which features leading teams and at a competitive price enables drivers as young as 15 years of age to race on some of the most challenging and renowned circuits in the world. As the championship is certified by the FIA, 12 Super Licence points will be awarded to the overall champion to aid their progression through the single seater ranks.
British F4 offers real prospects for progression of young talent into the international scene and the championship’s 30 races, held over ten rounds, will continue to be showcased on the high-profile support package of the British Touring Car Championship, which features live free-to-air TV coverage.
The Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA
Listen Again! - Friday Night F4 Podcast - Croft Circuit 4th September 2026
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Welcome to Friday Night F4, the official podcast for the Vera Tools British F4 Championship, certified by FIA, as we roll into Croft Circuit near Darlington in North Yorkshire. And I'm delighted to be back with you after my sunny sojourn in Andalusia. Yes, I had a lovely time. Thank you for asking. Did you miss me? Of course you did. And of course, my thanks to the brilliant Laura Cook for keeping my seat warm. I did watch the whole weekend of events from Donington Park on the F4 channel and the TV coverage. And what a weekend that was in front of a packed track side crowd. This coming weekend sees Croft make a welcome return to the British F4 calendar, especially as it was, believe it or not, back in 2023 that we last visited this popular North Yorkshire venue. So now just nine races remain this season, and with a meager four points separating the top two in the standings, the fight to be crowned champion is reaching a critical stage. Every point, every fastest lap, every overtake, every missed gear, missed apex, and every thousandth of a second matter. As the 2026 season, the race to the overall title, the Rookie Cup and the Teams Championship reaches FIFA pitch. It's been an incredible season so far, with 12 different drivers claiming victory, and 19 drivers have been outright podium finishers. It really does highlight, I think, the depth of talent on this year's grid. As of 2026, it's certainly putting on a heck of a show. And a contest that will go down, I'm sure, as one of the best in recent years. All eyes are guaranteed to be firmly fixed on the top two this weekend, as Dries, Van Langendong, and Lewis Werrell look to maximise their points hauls and strengthen their claims to be 2026 champion. With just four points separating them, it will be down to the tightest of margins of both success and error that could end up defining their season. And while Van Langendonk had to watch from trackside at Donnington after picking up a one-event suspension for accruing too many penalty points on his race licence, Werrell capitalised as best as he could by tallying two podium finishes. With Van Langendonk back behind the wheel this weekend and bidding to maintain his recent form and stop him, the stage is set for an epic battle. Meanwhile, there's plenty going on behind the top two. High tech Theo Palmer has starred on many occasions this year and sitting third in the standings where he's within striking distance of the championship pace setters. The Sadies F1 Jr. Ethan Jeff Hall will also be one to watch out for, along with George Proudford Nolder and Scott Kim Linglon, who will be keen to continue reaching for after good showing's last time out. Three more race winners also feature in the top ten. Ethan Lennon, Adam Al-Azari, Jabba Alstabar is joining them in the battle to progress up the order, as well as the always impressive Tommy Harfield. Given the high calibre standard that has been set by this year's International Field of Formula One hopefuls, it's not out of the realms of possibility that records could tumble over the course of this weekend. Meanwhile, we have another bumper podcast for you this week. So sit back, grab a drink, and enjoy Friday Night F4 direct from Croft. First up, Eve Lake Grange dropped by for a behind the scenes update on the championship. Well, Eve, here we are at Croft, North Yorkshire. Not as far north as Knockhill. No. It's a lot of miles on the car to go to Nockhill, isn't it? Not as many to come up to North Yorkshire, but still lovely to be here. Great uh setting uh here at uh Croft. We're looking forward to a good weekend. Um just briefly, Donnington Park, the Grand Prix Circuit. Wow, what a weekend that was.
SPEAKER_04It was a pretty exciting and eventful weekend, shall we say, yes.
SPEAKER_02It was, and uh and if not that I want to to rub it in, but I watched it while sat by a pool in the hills of Andalusia in Spain on the uh the channel and the TV coverage. So did I mention it? Yeah, it was really good, isn't it? And I mean obviously with uh with Dries Van Langendonk sitting out that weekend, Lewis Werrell made hay, didn't he? And it's like four points between them now. So that is is really good. Um now I know you have been so busy behind the scenes because you don't just concentrate on this year, do you? You have to look at next year, and I'm sure you've even got a calendar and an eye on 2028, haven't you, for things going on there. Um, talking of calendars, are we close to having a calendar for 2027 yet?
SPEAKER_04Um yes, I think I can confidently, sort of confidently say that. I think um, yeah, 2027 planning has been happening for a while now. Um obviously a calendar is then is the main thing so that we can build the rest of it out. Uh lots of moving parts though, um, and sort of lots of waiting for things to fall into place. So um I would say we're fairly close to having one in which I'm pretty excited about, I think I can say. Yes.
SPEAKER_02I've got the advantage of looking you in the eye, and there's that little glimpse in there. Are there any surprises in there? Can you tease us with anything?
SPEAKER_04I don't know whether it's surprises. I think we just always try and pull together what we believe to be a strong calendar, both for the viewers and for obviously the people competing. So I think that uh every year we try and do something that's better than the year before, and I think um it's good that we've got that variety and and the options open to us to build the best calendar that we possibly can. It's just uh I wish it was as easy as it sounds when I say it. Um but yeah, I'm I'm I'm excited to try and bring the best calendar to to the 2027 grid as well.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. Um I'm gonna push my look here now. Is that gonna include going across the channel or underneath the channel?
SPEAKER_04Um as in are we going overseas? Yeah. Uh I'd like to think that yeah, every year, every year we would like to have an overseas round included in our calendar. So let's say yes.
SPEAKER_02I am never gonna play poker with you in Black Page because you give nothing, you've got no tell. Which is good. Um I'm sure that all the teams, if we were going to uh to go overseas, uh, will be looking forward to it because that's been a major part of the calendar. How exciting! Well, hopefully, before uh too long we'll know what those dates are going to be. Uh fantastic. Now, uh what else is happening? A little bit tells me there might be some some changes going on with uh Motorsport UK and and things like that.
SPEAKER_04Um it's more of I guess an evolution of of what we've been building on for the last few years. Um obviously there are other F4 championships um out there, and I think uh alignment is the word that I would use, and I think uh Motorsport UK, along with the championship and the FIA have been doing uh a lot of work behind the scenes to bring greater alignment so that you know I think the idea being that drivers, you know, they're young drivers coming out of karting potentially, um, or Jeanette juniors or whatever, and it's that you can turn up to a championship and you can expect the same thing whether you're in Italy or Spain or Germany. Um, because I think that helps with the the learning experience, you know, you you want to make sure that everyone's on the same page kind of thing. So to the best of its abilities within the UK, um, we've been doing a lot of work to to to yeah to try and make that happen. So again, I think that's I think it's an exciting move, and I think it's uh something that the the drivers and the people competing in the championship as in the teams will appreciate because um yeah it it just means that everything is is better aligned and yeah.
SPEAKER_02Right, which which makes perfect sense, doesn't it? Because drivers and teams and sponsors need to plan. They need it it feels like all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle are now going to create one picture um in terms of a career progression rather than than trying to yeah, that that makes sense.
SPEAKER_04And I could well I think as well that you know as a championship, you know, we do the autograph sessions, we do all the things that we try and I guess like give them the sort of F1 experience, but at our level. So I think just bringing that into the bigger picture as well, hopefully the drivers will benefit from that in terms of what they learn and take onto the next step.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, which is incredibly important because they have to be the focus, don't they? I mean, you can do whatever you want elsewhere, but if you don't focus on the drivers that are, you know, the key part of the championship, we don't have a championship. That's exciting, excellent. Oh, I can't wait now for uh for that information to come out. Um, and you're awards planning already, which means you're probably looking at frocks for the event. Oh. Oh, should I say that? Is that a is that not a good thing for you to say? We've got to look for a frock.
SPEAKER_04I sad sadly, I'm I'm one of those ones that suddenly goes, oh no, I need something to wear. Um no, awards planning, I mean, that's obviously a bit of the fun pie, isn't it? We like to we like to get to that bit and reward the people that have worked hard over the season. And and you know, is it's a it's a big moment for everyone when you get to the end of the season. I think you uh the awards are a nice close to it, because you know, you could just leave and be like, see ya, but I think it's nice to to recognise that um the hard work that everyone's put in, regardless of whether they walk away with the championship or not.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely. It's always easy for the chaps at those events, isn't it? You go and h go down to wherever it is and hire a dinner suit and a and a bow tie and a bit of elastic. But all of the the women who go make an incredible effort. So I wasn't, if anybody's got annoyed at my comment about frocks. Can you call like they call frocks anymore? So how old I am.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, they um just a dress.
SPEAKER_02Just there you go, you see. I've I've been dragged into the 21st century. Absolutely, mate. Well, uh, I'm sure it'll be a fantastic evening uh as well. And you like a really nice way to sort of say cheerio to the ones who are moving on, and they will go on up in their career and and uh see you next year for the ones who are coming back. Yeah, fantastic. Um now we're here at uh Croft for the first time since 2023. Nice to be back, isn't it?
SPEAKER_04Isn't it lovely? And the sun is kind of peeking through, and the grass is green.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, oh green grass. Um the flags, uh look just looking behind you now. Uh we always get a decent breeze here at Croft, aren't we? Which is interesting when I talk to the drivers because of the nature of this circuit um can uh unbalance these uh these cars. So that's an interesting one. Um but our 350th race on race two. Do you uh can I ask, do you go back to the first one? You remember the very first one?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, that makes me sound really old too. Uh yeah, I did the um yeah, I've been I've been with the championship since the start. So uh yeah, so this will be I guess my 350th. 300 yeah maybe I should get a cake as well.
SPEAKER_02Oh there you go. Yeah, I mentioned that to Colin.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_02It'll be a little chocolate muffin with a candle in everything to Colin.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, it's it's an incredible achievement for the championship. I mean, you know, it's a milestone, it's not like a um but yeah, it's it's great that we've uh and just the growth you know, again, me being here from the start, just the the amount of growth and how successful and you know exciting the championship now is, it's it's been an incredible journey and it's I think it's a proud moment for everyone involved now, but also everyone that's built up to this point, I think, to see it, see what it's achieved in that time and can go on to achieve more, I think.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely, and all of that, over those 350 races, I mean, you have helped shape the championship. You know, I mean you sit there and think, yeah, actually that's that's my legacy, and it's gonna be a very proud, proud thing for you.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, I mean I'm incredibly proud of the job that um that I have been lucky enough to be able to, you know, call it my job. Um but yeah, it's uh it's very much a team effort, and uh yeah, I think we can all stand and you know be proud of the moment.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_04And then immediately look forward to to the next hundred.
SPEAKER_02So uh I mean okay, uh it's getting down to the wire now. Uh there's been some incredible, so is it 12 drivers have won, 19 drivers on the podium? There's there's four points between Lewis Werrell and Dries van Langendonk. Then, you know, there's Theo Palmer, we've got another chasing group in there. Every single point DNF, thousandth of a second, is gonna count this weekend, isn't it? As we get right down to that close. And I'm I'm wondering who's gonna win here.
SPEAKER_04What win overall? Yeah. Oh, it's way too close to call. I think we're gonna have some uh I think it's gonna be fairly down to the wire.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. Absolutely. Eve, really good to see you. You're looking radiant this weekend. No, thank you so much. As ever. Um enjoy Croft, and I know you're gonna keep the rain away for us.
SPEAKER_04I'll do my very best.
SPEAKER_02Good to see you.
SPEAKER_04Alright, thank you.
SPEAKER_02Next this week, I caught up with XL Team Principal Dan Hart to delve into the process of drivers moving from karting to F4 and his role in pulling a championship team together. Well, Dan, good to see you here at uh Croft. Um I can't believe we're so far at the end of the season now.
SPEAKER_01It's nearly all over. Yeah, it's uh yeah, it's been some season. Um in some ways it's gone very fast, in other ways it's uh it's been a long year, but it's uh yeah, it's been good.
SPEAKER_02So what have been the contributing factors to it going quickly and it not going so quickly? Which usually means one of the good bits and the bad bits.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I think from from going the speed through the year has been relentless, you know, with the preparation in the workshops to test days, you know, uh also test programmes of new drivers for next year and also very, very fresh drivers out of carton. Um so there's also that programme as well as uh you know British Air For prepping for that and also the race event. So before you know it, you sort of four, five, six, seven weeks back to back, and suddenly there's we arrive in September.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. It's frightening, isn't it? And uh you know, not uh not that many races to go before we pack up the trucks and start thinking about next year. Um just going back to the point you made there about uh you know the the process of of drivers particularly coming out of karting. I mean we've got you know Tommy this year who uh who came out of Ford Fiestas or something, didn't he? But generally the the journey is karting into uh into F4. Uh what's that like when you you see those drivers for the first time who you know have got the opportunity and the backing to be able to come and sit in an F4 car, yet all they've done is karting before. You must look at them and start weighing up. You're smiling. So I think I'm on the money here, aren't I? Well I mean, what's the the bit the when they make that jump? Because it's a big jump, isn't it? Uh you know, what is going through your mind?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I I you know I remember from from my jump from from karting when I raced myself into cars, you know, it's it's a daunting first day. You know, you've got a lot of information being being given to you, you've got a lot to take on. Uh it's a completely different process. Um you know, and I think if they're prepared well enough in karting and they've been through the higher levels of karting as well, that benefits them. You know, they they're sort of slightly more professional, they understand a lot more the processes of how big events work. They understand that the the work level they need to put in is extremely high to be the best that they can be, you know. Um so yeah, I think you kind of get a good feeling initially before they've even sat in a car, you get a good feeling, you know, and how their their attitude is, uh how their work ethic is initially, you know, when they're coming in and they they want to ask the right questions and they want to know a little bit more about certain bits on the car, and they're you know, they're keen to get on the simulator. That shows a good, you know, straightaway that shows a good uh work ethic on where they're when they're gonna go. Can you spot the talent that early? Yeah, I think it's quite easy to spot somebody who's certainly in Kartin you can spot who's got speed, you know, natural speed. Um there's a lot of people in Kartin that are also fast, but they've had a lot of input, a lot of track time, coaching, a lot of work put into them, and you can also see the kids that have not had a lot, but they've got natural ability. So that kind of gives you a good indication on again when they move up the categories on you know how they're gonna apply themselves and what work level they're gonna put in. Um so you you can kind of get a good idea from karting, you get a good reference as to you know what they're capable of.
SPEAKER_02You said you you did karting and then we drive. Did somebody spot your talent?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it was so it was a little bit easier than with the cart inside. Um so yeah, I was you know, I had a lot of uh a lot of teams, factory teams and that that I was sort of racing for. So I you know I was quite fortunate in my karting career to um to earn quite well and and do quite well with factory teams uh at the highest levels. Um and I also feel the jump into single seaters was potentially a little bit easier um with regards to to budgets. I think it was you know a little bit more comparable. Now it's uh like everything in life, you know, the costs are are going up in various areas that ultimately reflect the budget of a car race.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely. Uh I mean all motor racing, you know, is expensive. I mean you go to club racing, I guess it you know, it becomes when when you're you're mate, you're your mechanic and you drive the car on the back of a truck pulled by a Land Rover, it's a little bit different, isn't it? But this is the beginning of a big journey, and so many of the drivers want to go to Formula One. Uh the whole business side of motorsport now is an integral part of the life of a driver, isn't it? It's not just about being quick and learning the racecraft. You you've got to have your sponsors head on and you've you've got to be an all-rounder, haven't you?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, especially when you get to the higher levels of motorsport. You know, you've got to be you've got to be good with people, you've got to have good, be able to create good connections, you've got to be able to apply yourself well enough in interviews with sponsors, with potential backers. You know, at the end of the day, as a as a driver in that area, you're professional, you've you know, you're the kind of face for some companies, you know, you're the one that's realistically what they're looking at to bring them some return or bring them something back. So you've got to be good with the people and um and be able to have a good face even on the the times when it's tough, you know. Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_02And from from your perspective and the job that you do, you have to be a sort of surrogate parent, a manager, a coach, a mentor, you know, a shoulder to cry on, don't you? I mean that that in itself is a is demanding of you as a as an individual.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it is. Um, like you say, you you have a team of drivers. Um you could, you know, you could have a team of drivers that are finishing first, second, third, and fourth, and ultimately you might have somebody who's a little bit upset with the result, you've got somebody who's ecstatic with a result. So you've got you've always got a mixture of emotions that you've got to deal with in a weekend, regardless of the result. You've you've got people that are happy, people that are upset with their result, and so there's there's a lot of um yeah, a lot of different emotion you have to apply and deal with, um, a lot of different stress values. You have the ultimate highs and the ultimate lows in in one weekend sometimes. So and your diplomacy skills, I suspect, are highly developed now. Yeah, it it does develop over the years of being in motorsport, that's for sure.
SPEAKER_02Um parents get involved heavily in this championship, don't they? And I mean, I you must you know have the occasion when you see a parent walking down the paddock, no names, no pack drill, but who who just beckon you and sound like a word. I mean, that's it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it it does happen. I think I think a lot of this comes from also the karting side, you know, because obviously coming into F4 and the junior categories, it's their first kind of step into that big world of car racing. Um you know, uh in karting, they're still relatively heavily involved, you know. They they still have a big presence around the team and they still have you know quite a bit of a say in some things. And I think when they step up into this, it's a very different world. You know, it's uh you know, it's it's one of those things, it's it's it's hard to kind of put it across, but you know, it's like you know, you wouldn't kind of go into their field and explain how they need to do their side, and it's the same this way around because it becomes super professional when you get to this level.
SPEAKER_02And and there's stresses uh attached to that and uh you know, and pressures, aren't there? Because I mean there are some drivers who come from uh a background where there is sponsorship and and money available, and and other drivers where the family of, you know, I'm known in the past parts where they remortgaged a house to be able to go racing, and that brings with it a level of stress on really young shoulders.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and I think that's a good indication from the transition from carton into the early years of junior category, you kind of get that feeling on how they're gonna manage that because you know, drivers when they move into this, they've they've got a lot of stress to deal with. You know, there's some drivers it plays on their mind heavily the budget side of things, you know, what's being spent from a family side.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Uh you've got some drivers that don't really focus on that too much, but they might have other stresses with, you know, being pushed in their academic side of things that they've got stress with, you know, from school and from studying. So yeah, there's a lot of a lot of different stresses that the drivers have to deal with that's kind of pushed from parents, but some sometimes in different different directions, you know.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I do forget sometimes when I'm talking to them how young they are.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_02And they've got, you know, just incredible. I don't know how I w I couldn't have dealt with it at that age. So let's while we're talking about drivers, let's um go through your roster. Um they've all had uh good and bad seasons in in parts. I mean let's start with Jabba. Um because at Truxton that was an amazing uh day for him, uh wasn't it? I think he was the first Arabic driver to to win uh you know uh in in the championship, which was brilliant and he was giddy and his his you know his support here was incredible.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it was fantastic to see, you know, especially from us as Excel uh and also me personally, you know, I I was there for for Jabba's first day in a go-kart in November 2023. Um you know, so I was there for his first day with us, and then to be there that day when he you know got our first overall pole position and our our first uh feature race win was was quite special, you know. To to stand on the podium with him was was was really really nice, you know. It's you've seen that transition, the hard work he's put in, the effort he's put in, you know, he's had a lot of catching up to do, you know. It was a tough start to the year with obviously the the situation that was happening in uh in the Middle East. So we had a lot of uh test days that were missed because of not being able to travel, he could he couldn't travel away. Um so we missed a large chunk of our winter prep, uh which ultimately you know hindered the first bit of his year. Um he's put in an exceptional amount of work on the simulator, fitness has you know is has been a huge part of uh his development as well. You know, that's kind of helped his mindset, helped his you know calmness. You know, it's all all been put together and eventually it started to show, you know, we were we were very fast at Silverstone, at Zanvol we were we were very, very quick, and then it's just been a gradual step up and to do what we did at Fruxton was incredible, and then topped it off again with another win at Donington's.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely. I remember going back to uh to Truxton uh when I interviewed him, yeah. I was I was so touched by the fact that he he couldn't take it in. He'd like, yeah, I'm here, and he do you know what I mean? It hadn't quite sunk in, which was which was really really interesting.
SPEAKER_01It's a special moment for a driver, you know, when they when they get their first win in in formula, you know, they put a lot of work in. So when they get that first poll, that first win, it's special for them.
SPEAKER_02It is. Um Cole Hewitson. Um I like Cole. We we have a uh he's got a great sense of humour, hasn't he? Yeah, and I I've always been impressed with him because things haven't always gone right for him. And and I think he, to me, he knows where the bits are that he's he's he's got to improve all the time. But whenever we chat, he's always like, okay, it hasn't really gone very well, but I'm positive that I'm gonna be able to get on top of it. And that that seems to epitomise his approach, uh really. Is that fair?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, he's got he's a very fiery character, and I think he's he's uh he's got a good um positivity. Like he he always he always sees a you know after you know he might have a few moments of of being a little down, but he always uh sees the positive side of things, you know, and he's more than capable of of being at the front. You know, we we've shown that in in tests, we've shown that in some of the races, you know, he's capable of making the the jump from you know further down the grid than he should be, up into the top ten. And he's more than capable, and uh he knows that, you know, he's he's not uh he's not a weak-minded uh kid, you know. He's he's he's got a strong head on his shoulders and you know he's he's he knows what he's capable of, which is what I think helps him out when it's going tough. You know, he's not had the best of luck this year and various things against him. So it's been uh it's been nice to see that positivity every now and then when he needs it.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. Uh and Mate and and Jackson, both really nice people, really keen to improve, and I guess they've been working hard behind the scenes to just incrementally you know make positive changes throughout the season.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, they have. They've you know they they do work hard. Um Jackson as well, he he come from a you know a very different background um doing you know the the fat carting league, um which is uh you know a different different aspect of entering into single seater. Uh and it's good to see him, you know, he arrived at the beginning of the year again, his car knowledge level of car experience was was zero. Um so it's you know starting from a very low level of of knowledge to to sort of understanding things, you know. Now he's starting to show bits of speed, he's got the capabilities, you know. In in races, we've we've been top three, top four fastest throughout race situations. Um he always makes very good progress in the in the races as well. He always has a great start, he's he's very calm on track, he's not been involved in any incidents so far, so he's he's quite smart with with racecraft at the moment. Um just a few little little bits with him and Mate, really just trying to get the the qualifying put together, you know. And I feel like sometimes with some of the younger drivers and younger mentalities, it's uh it's more of a mindset thing when you come to this uh qualifying. You know, you've you've got a bit of a bit more pressure on you. Uh a lot of the drivers understand that qualifying is a huge part of how the rest of the weekend goes. So I think pressure on their shoulders, sometimes little mistakes or not quite in the right position, and you know, just once we get that sort of finesse, yeah, I think we'll see them up towards the top ten then.
SPEAKER_02You know, absolutely. Let's hope they uh all four uh of your drivers have a good weekend here at Croft. Um, just finally, from an XL team perspective, um, how's the season gone? Have you been happy with the way it's it's gone?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, uh it's been a good season, it's been been strong. You know, internally we've got a fantastic group of guys, you know. We we've got a a strong, strong base, which is important, you know. A lot of a lot of the work is done workshop side, you know, you turn up to the events like here, we're straight into FP, so everything's got to be got to be tip-tops. You know, we've we've been very strong on that, that's been a big, big step. Um, and yeah, the drive, the progress with the drivers has been good. You know, we've had a you know a team of rookies which is is never the easiest, but it's also you know quite um quite nice to see when you get that first poll, that first win, and you start scoring your first points and Jackson's scoring his you know his first podium at Donington, rookie podium, you know, that that progress through the year is all we can ask, you know, as as a as rookie drivers, we can only ask that it's just progress, keep working and keep trying to bring bring some results into the team and individuals.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. It's that time of the year when I ask everybody, do you know what's happening for 2027 yet?
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yeah. Yes, thank you very much. Much of the nice of the same. Yeah, um for sure we will. We've you know, we've we've already got um you know a few drivers that are that are quite keen to join. It's um it's gonna be a lot of preparation over the winter, a lot of testing. Um and yeah, just trying to you know continue the development with some of the younger drivers. Um, you know, we've we know we've got a fast car, we've we've proven that this year at many of the races. So we're very we're happy with that side of it. It's now let's get the drivers developed over the winter and and try and hit the ground with a bit more, you know, a bit more experience behind them guys.
SPEAKER_02I think. Plenty to do this weekend. I know you've got a dash because uh because you're busy, uh, but good to see you and uh have a great croft.
SPEAKER_01Thank you very much.
SPEAKER_02Daniela Sutton has had a steep learning curve moving from Fiesta's to F4, but made steady progress. And while she tucked into lunch, I discovered her love of soup. Daniela, I'm so glad that you've um uh joined me uh here in the the F4 race centre, and you've brought your lunch.
SPEAKER_09I have brought my lunch.
SPEAKER_02That is very impressive. Now you were telling me this is chicken and mushroom soup that your dad has made.
SPEAKER_05Prepared with a miropoix.
SPEAKER_02Prepared with a miropoix. That's very, very good. U you just don't have five minutes to yourself on these weekends, which is why while we're we're sort of having lunch together, aren't we? Which is really good. What's it taste like? Is it good?
SPEAKER_05Yeah, it's really good.
SPEAKER_02Excellent. Do you cook?
SPEAKER_05I do cook.
SPEAKER_02Are you a good cook?
SPEAKER_05I'd say I'd hope I am. I'd say I am.
SPEAKER_02Have you got a signature dish?
SPEAKER_05Oh, I don't really have a signature dish, but I can make a really good Sunday roast.
SPEAKER_02What meat? What sort of meat do you use in your gammon. Gammon? Oh, okay, right. And what now, the the critical bit here, this is forget the motor racing, this is really important. Roast potatoes.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_02How do you do your roast potatoes? Because everybody has their own special way of doing it. How do you get that crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle?
SPEAKER_05So I don't really like roast potatoes, unfortunately.
SPEAKER_02No.
SPEAKER_05Um but what the way that my dad taught me is you kind of um boil them slightly, cook them slightly, and then take them out, and then you like fluff up the outside with like a colander and um a grater, and then you put them in the oven with like um like an OXO cube like dusted over the top or something.
SPEAKER_02Oh okay.
SPEAKER_05Um and flour as well over the top, and then it gets the crispy outside with a fluff inside.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, so there's so many different ways, isn't it? Should we use beef dripping or duck fat and oh brilliant? Well, that's suffice to say the smell of the smell of your soup, and I was talking about roast potatoes has got me has got me dribbling. Now, we better get on with this, otherwise your soup is gonna go cold. Um you've had a big learning curve this season, haven't you? Um we're we're heading towards the back end of it, and things are getting better for you, and and you're you're very much finding your feet in the championship. How's it gone?
SPEAKER_05It's been it's been a good season, I think. Overall, it's been a season of learning, um, and I've really enjoyed it, and that's the main thing is to take the enjoyment out of it.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. What was the biggest you know uh learning curve for you jumping into the the F4 car?
SPEAKER_05Um I'd say just learning that like the driving style of the F4 car is very different to what I was doing in Fiesta Juniors. So if we had a side in Fiesta Juniors, you could just power through it really. Um but in this now, um each input is so like you have to be so intricate with the each input that you make in the car because it can change the behaviour of the car very quickly in the F4. Um so learning the driving style and technique of driving the F4 and driving it quick has been the biggest learning curve.
SPEAKER_02Right. So, how have you changed in your approach to your racing since we first spoke earlier in the year?
SPEAKER_05Well, I think earlier in the year my my approach was to still um just take this year as a learning year and then next year push for resorts. Um obviously it would be great if I could push for some good resorts um into the latter end of this year as well. Um but my approach has stayed quite similar, but more of a just go for it and just go out and enjoy it rather than put so much pressure on myself, I suppose.
SPEAKER_02And how do you do you feel your racecraft has developed?
SPEAKER_05I'd say my racecraft has developed um quite a lot. Yeah, because the the racecraft in Fiesta Juniors, you can be right on someone's bumper and you can you can push them down the straight, you can bump draft them in this, wouldn't end very well. No, um so uh and you can go for like late dives and lean on other cars and stuff in this, it just doesn't work. So um I'd say my racecrafters um developed quite a bit, and it's been difficult to develop my racecraft um because it is so different. Um but when I've been on like the sim and simulator racing, that's really helped.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Has there been a circuit or a race weekend this season where you've um you know got home and thought I've done well there and pleased with with the efforts I've made?
SPEAKER_05Um I'd say Thruxton and Donnington, the last round just gone. Um because they they both kind of was when my racecraft started to like build into it more and my pace started to come a bit quicker. Um so I'd say Thruxton and Donington just gone. Um probably not too not too bad. Obviously, race three at Thruxton wasn't wasn't the result we wanted, but um yeah.
SPEAKER_02Conversely, therefore, there must have been times when you've they've they've been packing away the awning and you've thought, well, that's a weekend of my life, I'm never gonna get back. I mean, uh have those been the learning curve bits for you.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I suppose so, but I I can't really think of it like that because it's such a privilege to be on the grid, anyways. So any weekend, any weekend in the car I'm so grateful for because I didn't think we'd even make it onto the grid for this year. Um, but thank you to all my partners and everything else for helping me get on the grid this year and my parents working so hard and behind the scenes. Um but yeah.
SPEAKER_02You mentioned the parents, and and lots of the drivers will have parents who uh help them with their racing either financially or or or with other support. Does that add an extra pressure to you every time you get in the car?
SPEAKER_05Uh I suppose so, but also in some ways not. Like my dad is um like my mentor in a way, um, because I don't really have anyone else apart from um we bring in a driver, a driver coach usually every race weekend. So Ashmiller and Alex Force has been working, they've both been working interchangeably with me. Unfortunately don't have them this weekend because they're both busy um with racing elsewhere. Um but like apart from both of those, my dad has been my only mentor since karting really because um we didn't have the financial um privilege that some drivers on the grid do have. Um so up and down the grid there's parents really fighting for their kids or child to be on the grid, um, and there's like myself and there's other children that just have come from a wealthier background that could um fund it themselves, and unfortunately being in from a um a working class background, my dad's a HTV driver and my step-mum's a receptionist, it um it takes a lot of hard work to be here.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely, and I and I'm I know I can tell by the look on your face that you're extremely grateful for that, and uh and it's good that they're they're there with you on that journey as well. Um, so Croft this weekend, just uh looking out of the um F4 Race Centre window, and you you've been out this morning for uh for free practice. The wind is a blowing uh gale. Um and it really affects the balance here, doesn't it? Because we've got those two uh two pretty much long straights going each way. Um what it's been what's it been like out there for handling?
SPEAKER_05Um it's not been too bad, I don't think. In that session it wasn't too bad. I could feel the wind pick up towards the later end of that session. It felt so um that the wind direction had slightly changed, perhaps. Um but yeah, there's gusts of like 40 mile per hour winds or something like that, is what my engineer said before we went out. So he was like, if there's a snap, just power through it, it should be fine as long as the car is settled. Um so it's it well, it wasn't too bad, I don't think, out there. Like sometimes I'd go through um the S's after tower, um, and I'd feel a little bit of a gust as I'm turning into those, but you're flat through there anyway, so the car's quite settled. Um but it I don't think it was too bad.
SPEAKER_02Flat through there, car quite settled, and a 40 mile an hour gust. I've never driven one of these cars and I'm I'm shaking thinking about it. I mean, you're obviously comfortable in the car because you've just described that to me really calmly. And is it is it within you that level of control and knowing that you have that ability to deal with that that enables you to quite literally power through it?
SPEAKER_05I suppose that's what separates like uh good drivers from the best is the best, like Max Versappen, Lewis Hamilton, Antonelli now. Um they all, and even the drivers on this grid will be the best. There will be at least one person I would think so from this grid now going into Formula One in the future, or I'd hope so, and I hope that's that's me perhaps. Um but I suppose that separates the best from the the good. Everyone on the grid this year is it's such a tight grid, they're all really good. Um, but the best ones know exactly what their input is gonna do to the car um and exactly how to handle the car, they know the car like the back of their hand almost.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I I I was trying to think back to the last time that we had as many women on the grid uh in British F4, and I I think this season we we've hit a peak. Um how how has that been? I mean, do the girls all club together? Do you or or you know how has that worked? How's that dynamic worked?
SPEAKER_05A lot of the teams, because obviously we're so busy. Um I'd say a lot of the teams kind of stick to themselves. Obviously, I'd say the boys probably get on better like integrating than than perhaps the girls, but I'll see I'll see the other girls in the paddle, like Kiara and everything else, and say hi to them. Um like maybe some like quick small talk, but nothing really much than else than that. And do you not gossip?
SPEAKER_02The boys gossip.
SPEAKER_05I don't know.
SPEAKER_02I They definitely gossip, I've heard them.
SPEAKER_05Oh yeah, during the sign-in sessions, there's some interesting things said behind the scenes. It's like okay, we are literally standing in front of fans. Um so sometimes I'm just like just close my ears off and just focus on the signing. Anyway, um, but yeah, um I get on quite well with Alba when she's raced with Chris. Yeah um and um yeah, it's good to have another girl in the team, I I think as well, like Alba, especially she's in a phone academy as well, so kind of to look up to in that way. Um but yeah, I get on quite well with my teammates. I kind of don't really see it as sticking with girls or sticking with boys, they're all just racing drivers in my head.
SPEAKER_02Good answer. Um, we're at the sharp end of the season now, the back end of the season, the business end of the season, some people will refer to it as um, where it begs the question uh what happens next season? Do you know yet?
SPEAKER_05Um hopefully it will be another year in F4, but it's gonna take a lot of hard work over the off season. Um, of course, to be able to secure a seat for next year because the seats are so sought after.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. But if you do come back, you'll have that year of experience and there'll be other rookies looking up to you uh with your experience. That's um that's something to look forward to, isn't it?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I suppose so.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. Um just finally, what are you hoping to get out of this weekend? How is free practice for you, uh first of all?
SPEAKER_05So I missed the um two test days that they had here a couple weeks ago, um two, three weeks ago, whenever it was, um, because my car was being repaired from Throckston from Race 3, like we briefly mentioned. Um so I unfortunately I had to miss those two tests, but 1.3 off in the first session, especially a technical, fast-paced circuit like this, I don't think that was too bad. And um if I gained what, like five tenths on myself, that would have put me 20th. So um that shows how tight the grid actually is this year.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it is incredible, particularly when you think about uh brands hatch national. I mean you're talking to all the cars that were.
SPEAKER_05I think I was three tenths off of brands and it or four tenths something, and it put me like what twenty-fifth on the grid or bonkers.
SPEAKER_02But just goes to show how competitive this season is and you're part of and uh you know the the class of 2026 that I think are going to be uh be well remembered. I think I've taken up enough of your time and I can see that your soup is going cold. It's still all right though, isn't it? I do. It looks fabulous. You do love soup. Right. If anybody's coming down to the autograph session, bring bring Daniel's soup. Yes. That'd be great, wouldn't it? That could be a thing.
SPEAKER_05Yeah. I got brought um Cadbury's Marvellous Creations at the last round, um, chocolate, because I mentioned it in the um uh pre um briefing question that Ben asked.
SPEAKER_02Ah, well, there you go. Now what here's a tip for next year get on to all the big soup companies and see if you can get them as a sponsor.
SPEAKER_05Okay, yeah.
SPEAKER_02And then they could use that to give away samples of their soups to all your fans.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, exactly. Heinz, I'm coming for you.
SPEAKER_02Excellent. I'm gonna put I'm gonna you've marked their card. Have a really great weekend. Good to see you here. Thank you. Another driver showing great improvement and developing racecraft is Scott Kin Lindblom, still on a high after a successful Donnington Park. He joined me after free practice and revealed why his mother gets nervous as a road car passenger. Well, coming to me straight after free practice, Scott Kin Lindblom, good to see you, Scott. We're not calling you the late Scott, are we? Because you you you are good, you got here eventually. But you're so busy. There's so much to do on a race weekend, isn't there?
SPEAKER_06Yeah, I mean, yeah, that's how it is, really. I mean, um obviously a lot of preparation going into it. Um and now obviously we've been checking data for for a very long time, to be honest. Yeah. So I was uh I was so busy with that, so I I came in late, but um yeah, no, that's how it is.
SPEAKER_02It is, and and you're you're allowed to be late after the Donington park that you had, because I'm I missed it. I saw it because I was watching it while I was away. But that was a pretty good weekend for you.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, no, for sure. Um we had we struggled slightly in quality to be honest. Uh the first first new new set on um news high, obviously. Um it it it was quite decent. Um I think we were we were P2 at that point, but then obviously on the on the second run we couldn't really impure improve, so that was a slight disappointment, but obviously uh we were within uh the top 12, so as long as we were starting up uh up the front in race two, it was still an okay quality, so yeah, no, it was decent. And obviously the races came to me, uh especially race two and race three.
SPEAKER_02Uh did it feel like a sort of uh a bit of a wait this season for for that level of success over one weekend to to come to you? Because you you've had a bit of frustration on it at times, haven't you?
SPEAKER_06Yeah, yeah, it's been it's been a long time for it to come for sure. I've been uh I mean I as as long as it it's arrived now for sure and taking home the the P1 trophy is uh super nice feeling. I mean uh obviously now when I when I have that feeling. Feeling in the when I built up the confidence and uh now I I I have a good feeling in in the car and in the team, and uh yeah, I think we can go for for more wins now.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. So, what what made the difference for for Donington? I mean you you've been improving and improving your race craft your racecraft, your times, the consistency, uh car control, all of that has been improving. So, what was the the little click of the fingers or the or the button that went off that made Donnington that much better for you?
SPEAKER_06I mean, I think it's it's it's a combination of everything to be honest. I mean, the whole season over, all we're improving uh little bits every every single race, and uh yeah, just getting faster. I mean, every race, it's it's just a combination of everything coming together. Um, and then obviously that that race too, we we we put it together very well.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_06Um obviously we we made some few changes on the car here and there to to adapt and uh we did it we did a good job for sure. Um so yeah, no, I'm really happy with that race that it came together as well as it did.
SPEAKER_02Have you have you been generally pleased with with your development this season?
SPEAKER_06I mean yeah, yeah, I think we've we've gone better every round, obviously. I think the racecraft has been really well this season for sure. Something that we have been working on is getting getting the the quality pace to um be as good as possible, obviously, and especially in F4, it's it's very important quality. Um so yeah, I mean the whole season I think has been been been a decent decent season uh uh uh anyway. Um just a bit of up and down, but I mean we we got a lot of podiums, so I'm really happy with it.
SPEAKER_02No, absolutely, and and obviously the hopefully the trajectory is continues to be uh on on the up. Um what's life like for you outside of the race weekends? I mean we've had some gaps this season, haven't we? So obviously time to get home, see friends and but what is life like for you away from motorsport?
SPEAKER_06School for other moments, a lot of school, yeah, for sure. I just started now um in a new school. Obviously, I I don't know the English grid the English grade system, but um I just started a new school now and it's more responsibility for for the the students um for whenever you have tests etc. All this so main part of that is just adapting to to school when I'm at home, then obviously just resetting, obviously doing a lot of sim work at home to to prepare for the race weekends. Um but then obviously during the summer break it was it was a quite a nice time.
SPEAKER_02What did you get up to? What did you do?
SPEAKER_06A lot of paddleboarding.
SPEAKER_02Did you? Right, okay.
SPEAKER_06Enjoy that.
SPEAKER_02Are you good at it? No, not really, no. Spent more time in the water than you did. Yeah, I did, yeah. And and are you uh do you play any other any other sports? Are you a sports uh general generally good at sports?
SPEAKER_06That's I mean, that's a question for for the people around me, but um uh I would I mean I I I did play football when I was younger, um, but then obviously I stopped because the racing took over so so much and I I was barely even at the the practice. So yeah, no, I think mainly it's been football. I played a bit of tennis, uh played a bit of paddle, but obviously I I I I now I started with something like paddleboarding just to do on your free time, just to be to be relaxed. Yeah, uh that's back home. Yeah, yeah, exactly.
SPEAKER_02So what does home look like for you? I mean where whereabouts do you live? Are you are you in the middle of a town, a city, are you out in the in the sticks? What's it like at home?
SPEAKER_06Uh uh so I live on the on the countryside. I have I have two two small towns, um about 40,000, 50,000 people, which is I have one to okay, if I if I if I say I have one, if I turn right, I go 25 minutes to one of the towns. If I turn left, I go to 25 minutes to the other town. Okay. So I live like quite in the middle but on the countryside. So it's quite a nice town with about two, three, three thousand people, and uh you know, it's quite nice. I have a lake for like a hundred meters away from my house, so yeah, it's quite nice.
SPEAKER_02That's okay. And I I presume those towns are where you where you meet up your friends and there must be you know restaurants and cinemas or whatever. So you go. Yeah. What about transport? Because obviously you drive uh you drive a racing car. Um are you are you able to drive a car at home?
SPEAKER_06You you can, yeah. If you're 15, 15 to 17, obviously now I can also I don't know how do you call it, you know, you drive with a parent and this I can do that, but obviously I have to be with a parent. Um but you can drive when you're 15 in Sweden on a moped or a a car that goes about 30 to 50 kph.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_06Um but obviously you have to take a license similar to a driving license. Um but it's for tractors. So for tractors, yeah. So yeah, it's but I I didn't do it because uh I didn't really have time. Okay. Have you done have you done much driving on the roads? Yeah, no, I have I have I've done some with with my mum especially. My dad didn't actually get a uh the the police didn't confirm it though because he just lost his uh his his license last year. So they went, nah, we're not giving it. But yeah, my mum is really stressed out when we're driving today. Are you not good on the roads, or does she think you drive too fast or what I think I'm good on road, but I don't really know. I I think it's more I don't really know. I I think I mean I I I've told her like I'm a racing driver, you know. I I know how to control a car, but I think what makes it is I don't really know any driving rules.
SPEAKER_02So that's quite a big part of it, isn't it? Safety if nothing else, because this car's coming in the other direction, yeah. And you always have to look out for the other people on the road. Every in a race car they all have to look out for you, don't they? What you want to do?
SPEAKER_06Yeah, it's it's it's a bit it's a bit weird because when I'm driving on the road, obviously you have all the cars coming in different directions at you. It's not really the same as a racetrack, so that's why if I'm stressed out when I'm driving on the road, that's what is yeah. I have cars coming at me, especially when it's a big truck.
SPEAKER_02So I've got sympathy with your mother. Absolutely brilliant. Um, Croft this weekend uh is quite a technical circuit, two very fast traits, some some quick, fast corners as well, some heavy braking areas. Uh the wind is is up and will be all weekend, which can affect the balance. What have you learned from free practice?
SPEAKER_06Uh obviously we've only done one FP so far. I think the track is very, very different to the other tracks on the calendar. Um it's it's very, very bumpy, uh, especially, and obviously the wind makes a massive difference. It may it can make the car a bit inconsistent here and there. Um obviously the track is quite green at the moment. So yeah, I mean it's just about focusing exits, to be honest. Uh just trying to be as consistent as possible, even with the wind.
SPEAKER_02Can you continue your podium successes as we go?
SPEAKER_06Yeah, yeah. We're at the official test here uh a couple of weeks ago before Donington. I think we were we were P2 overall. So I think I think if we if we get it together well, we can we can for sure go for a win and a podium.
SPEAKER_02And a podium, excellent. Well, notwithstanding, give my regards to your mother, and I do feel for her with taking you out on the road. But I hope you have uh a uh a fantastic weekend here at uh Croft. Thanks for dropping in. Thank you. Jackson Walney celebrated his first rookie win last time out and is looking to capitalise here at Croft. I also heard about his newfound love of Indian food. Well, Jackson, thanks for uh popping in to see me. And I will talk about free practice in in a second, but um you you must still be on a bit of a high from your uh your rookie success uh last time out. Is that good good momentum for you coming into Croft?
SPEAKER_00No, yeah, it felt great, yeah. Um I mean the weekend itself, like we had a lot more pace than we usually did. So it was it was a good step forward. Um I think there's no reason that shouldn't carry over to to this weekend.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00But yeah, it was cool to skin the stand on the podium.
SPEAKER_02Fantastic. Well you're still smiling, obviously thinking about it, which is really, really good to see. Um now jet let's just remind everybody um that your uh journey to F4 has been slightly different, isn't it, through the through the FAT brand? Just talk us through that again.
SPEAKER_00So um yeah, I wasn't even really planning on anything open wheel just because of like how the the funding was going. Um but yeah, I kind of got lucky with the timing and yeah, the fat the fat carding leaks started up uh last year, um early last year, and we were like, ah, what else are we gonna do? And um yeah, I hopped in um and managed to to clinch the spot. So it was perfect timing, perfect opportunity.
SPEAKER_02That was you and the family pack your bags and head for the UK.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, no, I dude, it happened so quick. It was like they told me like a week before, or no, it was like I had like three days. Like they told me, and they're like, all right, you gotta be here three days, you're on track.
SPEAKER_02I was like, this is this is intense, but yeah, that must have been quite quite interesting, wasn't it? You get here, you uh adjust to the weather, the food, the culture, all the bits that go with it, and then have to get in a race car.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, literally. No, I was like right out the gate. It was crazy.
SPEAKER_02How have your impressions of uh the UK changed uh in the you know so far this season?
SPEAKER_00You know, at at this start, I wasn't I wasn't loving it because it was always it was just rainy, it was cold. I was like, oh, this is brutal. Like this if this is what everyone says it's gonna be like. But over the summer it was way better. Like I don't think there was like any rain. It was like always nice weather, it was always good. Um It's been getting better. Like you just get used to it and you kind of like start liking certain things that you didn't before.
SPEAKER_02So like what?
SPEAKER_00Um I don't know, I used to not like I live like kind of out countryside, like outside of Oxford. So I used to not like that because I came from more of like a a dense place in the in the US. Like I was Is it Chicago? You're you're basically like right outside of Chicago, so it's like just the way everything is, like the towns you live in, it's just like so much closer together, and I was like everything was like slow out there, and I was like, yeah, I don't like this at the start, but you kind of start to like it.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. So you you're you're fond of Oxford now.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Or or more fond of Oxford, that's quite a lot. I understand I I was away for Donington Park, but I understand you took part in a in a food-based challenge. Because food in the UK with the international drivers is divided opinion. I mean, ask about steaks, and obviously the Americans are all saying, we're not sure about steaks. Then somebody else saying, Oh, I really like the steaks here, quite good. And uh the food is uh is one of those cultural things which everybody talks about at some point, don't they?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, of course.
SPEAKER_02And uh what have have you got any likes, dislikes, or found stuff that you don't I'm not eating those again, but actually when I move away from the UK, I'm gonna miss that.
SPEAKER_00Um, you know what? The first thing that hit me um was steaks. Like I used to be like a big steak guy when I was at home. So that was like I would always, if we ever went out, we go to like a steakhouse. We came here and they are so different. I don't know what it is, I don't know if it's the cut, how they cook it. I just I was not messing with it. Um I still don't, but that was the first thing. That's like the biggest difference. Everything else, I mean I guess you kind of start to like Indian food, especially with like how popular it is here.
SPEAKER_02So you don't get that so much in the in the States?
SPEAKER_00No, no, not as much. It's like it seems like very strong here. And it it's good. I like it. I started to like, I mean, just because of how much there is, you just start to eat it more. I think it's pretty good. Um their snacks are a little weird. You know, like everyone's like, yeah, they're just so bland. Um, but it's probably because they're like actually good for you in the US is just like poison.
SPEAKER_02Uh there'll be there'll be parents wringing their hands now over that and their kids saying, Well, they're much uh the snacks here are much healthier than they are in the States. And you did the little challenge at uh Donnington Park, you and some of the drivers. What you had to taste some things and gives you what what were you what were you tasting?
SPEAKER_00Oh, it was just like some some chips, some well like swimming. I mean crisps. Yeah, crisps, crisps, of course, of course. And then I I think it was like marmite then that stuff was oh, it was like tar.
SPEAKER_02I could not yeah, marmite's one of those things that generally divides opinion.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02But you've tried it. That's all good. How how has it been? I mean, we we there's been a couple of periods this season where there has been fairly long uh periods in between uh race weekends. Have you had a chance to get home?
SPEAKER_00Um yeah, for uh generally it it was pretty short. Um the Fat Racing guys, they they've wanted me in their shop quite a bit, so I haven't had a whole lot of time to go back. But the time that I do, it's like it's precious because it's I mean, I get to see my buddies, I get to go see my family, so it's nice.
SPEAKER_02Of course, of course, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Like I'm always talking to them still.
SPEAKER_02You've got a big following back home now, you're in the UK in F4.
SPEAKER_00I know, I know, it's weird.
SPEAKER_02They're all wanting you to do well, which is really good, and uh and logging on to uh to watch the race weekends. Um how I mean obviously you've you've had that um that taste of the success at uh Donington Park. How has the rest of the season uh been for you? I mean you you you've said to me before that you've had a bit of a learning curve, but you're getting more and more comfortable with the car. You know, going with three quarters or more of the way through the season now, how would you you review your season?
SPEAKER_00I think it was pretty rocky for most of it, to be honest. Um all of like the whole team, including me, like we all came in not knowing much. Um, and so everybody was kind of like getting getting to grips of like, alright, this is how this works, this is this is what we gotta do moving forward, and I was trying to learn everything that I could from the start, and you know, like there was moments where I wasn't doing the right things, where we weren't like going on the right path. But I think lately there has been like a kind of like a upswing because we've kind of had like a clearer idea of where to go. And so I think yeah, like the first half was pretty just like shooting in the dark, um, just trying to see what works. But for now, like we have I think some like clear ideas, like we've been working on things and yeah, I'm feeling better in in the car for sure, like just in the racing.
SPEAKER_02Excellent. Um free practice this morning, how did that go around? Uh a very windy Crawford circuit.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. Um, well, not the best on the timesheets, but I mean it felt alright. Um there was some things to definitely try to improve, you know. Like I'd I w I wish I would have uh done a few things to balance the car a little better, but you know, overall, I think yeah, I felt pretty comfortable like throwing it around with the circuit.
SPEAKER_02So that's good. I it's it's definitely been a real pleasure watching you develop from the beginning of the uh the season, and I think you're putting in some good performances now, so that's that's tremendous. Which begs my question um what about next year? Do you know if you're coming back for next season?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I think I think that's the plan for now. Um I don't know what we're gonna do over the winter, but definitely coming back for next season um as right now.
SPEAKER_02Um and is there is there a plan for for the FAT brand to support other drivers coming through? How is how's that gonna work?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. So I don't know the full ladder that's going to eventually develop. Obviously, the goal is to try to take somebody from their carding league to F1. Um, but as of next year, they're definitely getting in another driver for sure. Um whoever, you know, wins out their shootout this year. Um yeah, they'll be the driver next year. But I think the goal is, yeah, just get in as many kids as they can and try to start building their own their own stuff.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_02And that'll be another driver from the States coming over, or can you do that?
SPEAKER_00Well they actually have okay, so they have three uh different leagues now. They have one in the US, one in the UK, and one in Germany.
SPEAKER_03Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_00So and at the end they all kind of come together to like a finals and um and whoever they pick a few kids from there, and so it could be anyone kindsly, yeah.
SPEAKER_02So not not necessarily a uh a fellow American. No. Oh, if it is, you are now in pole position for showing them all about the food and particularly introducing them to uh to Indian cuisine, which is fantastic. Excellent. Um, what are you just finally what are you hoping to um to get out of this weekend at uh Croft? Obviously, having had the rookie podium uh and the taste of that, you've already said that you're getting better, you're comfortable, you know what you need to do with the car. What will you be happy with at the end of this weekend?
SPEAKER_00Um I don't know. I it's hard right now in the position we are to be like, yeah, I want to go like finish here, finish here, you know, get a rookie podium. Because so many things happen in these races, but honestly, I would just be happy keeping my head on straight, you know, putting in a good performance on my driving side, and honestly, whatever happens, happens. But I just want to make sure that I'm driving well. Like that's the only thing I really care about.
SPEAKER_02That's a fair way of looking at it. Uh have a great weekend. So thanks for popping in to see me. Thanks for the chat. Thank you so much. Last but definitely not least this week is Argenty teammates Ethan Jeff Hall and Leon Hedfers. Apart from racing, I discovered what goes on in the driver autograph sessions. Well, I'm delighted now to be joined by an Argenti duo. See what I did there? That's made you smile, hasn't it? We've got over the difficulty, haven't we, Ethan, of putting the headphones on. Yeah. You can drive an F4 car at speed, but the headphones here in the studio managed to baffle you. But there we go. So uh good to see you both. Um okay, we're here at Croft. Let's get free practice out of the way first. Ethan, how did it go for you?
SPEAKER_09Yeah, I mean the pace was there. Um I think we ended the session maybe a tenth and a half off. Um, but yeah, pace is there. I messed up my best lap, so we're definitely we're definitely in with a a shot of being quick this weekend. So yeah, it was a positive session. Uh track was quite low grip. Um I think it was a bit bit damp this morning, so obviously there's just been been rubber being laid down. So hopefully F FP2 is a bit grippier, but yeah, it was uh a positive session.
SPEAKER_02Free practice is is where you do the housekeeping, isn't it? So you know it's not uh not too critical. Leon, how was it for you?
SPEAKER_08Um yeah, it was also uh fairly strong. I think uh when the track was a bit greasy this morning we went on the fresh tires were quite quick, um and then we put on the new ones and we still found some time and we ended up being only four and a half, five tenths off, uh which is solid. Uh the driving bits was good, that's the main thing that matters. And um, yeah, obviously there's a bit of traffic because it's uh quite the w narrow here. Yeah, uh so yeah, that kind of hindered us from uh progressing even further. But um no, it was it was a strong start to the weekend.
SPEAKER_02I think also just uh starting off fairly strong just makes life a lot easier heading into FP2, uh just knowing what to fine-tune and then uh makes life a lot easier for quality, knowing you don't have to change too much with the driving and that's absolutely um learning curve for you very much uh this uh season, Leon, and and things have been getting better, good consistency times coming in, you're looking more comfortable in the car. How how would you sort of rate and review your season?
SPEAKER_08Um yeah, it's been quite uh challenging, it's a bit uh not the dream season I hoped for. Um obviously we were really strong in preseason testing, then I just struggled a bit with the driving bits in the beginning, then we kind of got a bit lucky in some situations midway through, and then kind of the pace has gotten a lot better uh in recent times, just still uh not getting the luckiest in uh situations like red flags and quality and that. But um no, as a season as a whole, it's been it's been okay. I mean, obviously, like deep down inside I'm not really really happy with it because I I expect more of myself and out of it, but also like looking back at how maybe you should look at it, it's it's alright, it's not too bad. Uh but we've still got three rounds to go, so still got three weekends to try and uh redeem myself a bit more.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think you're being you're not you're being hard on yourself, but I mean you do put a lot of pressure on yourself. You you've got you've got big expectations of your own, uh, you know, what you can achieve, haven't you?
SPEAKER_08Yeah, I I have big expectations because I I want every I want it so much as well. Um so yeah, it just kind of raises my expectations a lot. Uh but also I just try to enjoy it as much as possible because you never know what's next. Um and also not a lot of people get to do it, so I just also try and enjoy it as much as you can and just have fun. And obviously, there's a lot of nice people around me, like Ethan uh is really nice to chat to, and also everyone in the team, all the mechanics and engineers, and just all the people you meet and other drivers, it's just it's it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. So just obviously want it really much, but also just make sure to like go think like oh, this is quite fun as well.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely. You've got to enjoy your racing, haven't you? Talking of enjoying racing, you've enjoyed some good performances this season, Ethan, haven't you?
SPEAKER_09Uh yeah, there's been some uh some ups, some downs. Like Leon said, I think the my my luck hasn't been the greatest this year. Maybe not as uh maybe I haven't got as unlucky as Leon, but uh I would have liked to have a few things maybe maybe differently. Um but yeah, I mean we've had some some strong results. Uh we got a win at at Brands earlier in the year. Um we've had many podiums, got close to winning the last race before before contact um uh Donington. So yeah, I mean we've um we've definitely shown shown that we're we're strong, we're there. Um, you know, like Leon said there's there's three rounds left. Um bit difficult and Still within a chance of of being um in the in the fight. You know, nothing's nothing's over yet when I asked the question. Um but yeah, I mean I've I've enjoyed this year. Um you know the the team's done a fantastic job. Um I feel like I've also done a pretty good job. Obviously, there's there's races where you look back and you think, well, what could have done differently? And there's definitely a few few cases where I could have um you know maybe maybe held back uh instead of going for an overtake and maybe being being pushed off. But you know, as a whole, I think I've done a fairly good job. Um just uh the look hasn't been the greatest for us this year.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. There's been the the odd occasion where there's there's sort of been penalties and place changes, hasn't there, which must be frustrating. I mean so often when when I talk to drivers at uh uh you know after after the races at the podium, as I've as I've done with you, and then an hour later things have have changed, aren't they? So I mean how do you how do you cope with that? I mean that must be frustrating.
SPEAKER_09Um yeah, I mean it is frustrating, but obviously you you just go out there and do the best you can. So if you're happy with your performance and you know you you get a penalty for for something unfortunate, then you kind of just gotta take the positives and move on. You know, you can't really dwell dwell too much on on what's happened uh in the past. Obviously you have a a bit of a I think like maybe deep uh dive into what you could have done a little bit differently, but it's all about being in the best frame uh frame of mind possible. So just looking ahead to the next rounds, um kind of just just preparing yourself for what's next, you know, learn from your mistakes. Um but yeah, it's sometimes frustrating when you you know you get a podium or you get a win or something uh and you get it taken off you, but you know that's part of racing, you know, every every driver gets that, so it's one of them things you just have to deal with.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely. Uh Leon, how how do you think you've changed during the season? I mean, uh obviously your your racecraft has improved, you you've changed, you can see that in in your approach to racing. But have have you changed? I mean you're you're obviously uh older as we go through the season, but have you changed at all?
SPEAKER_08Um probably a little bit. Um obviously the yeah, the driving bits have for sure changed quite a lot. Um as a person, probably, yeah. I just appreciate it a bit more, probably. Uh not taking stuff for granted. Or I didn't do it before, but obviously you you understand everything a bit more and um yeah, just d just to work around behind the scenes, like off track, all the sim stuff and all the things you do with the team. Like you I just built a stronger bond with everyone as well. Uh so yeah, I'd say that's probably what's changed, but uh I don't feel too much has changed. Obviously, like the feeling in the car you just get a lot more used to it, like you can go out and do a lap even quicker, like you can kind of get uh straight onto it a bit sooner than uh you maybe would in the beginning of the year, whereas you maybe drive a bit and then the lap would come. But now you can kind of go out and uh do the job a bit earlier. Um and also yeah, just the racing bit, like start, save the car, all the procedural things, um yeah, and the racecraft in general just has gone quite strong. Um yeah, just getting used to obviously qualifying and the nerves and butterflies and all of that. So yeah.
SPEAKER_02What about you, Ethan? Have you have you changed? I mean, I've I've seen a change in you, but I'm not gonna tell you what that change is. It's a good positive thing. But I mean, do you feel that you've changed? Do you do the friends that you keep in touch with outside of motorsports see you differently now?
SPEAKER_09Um I mean I wouldn't say it's a a conscious thing. Uh obviously you you get the more experience you get in the car, the the better the driver you become. Um but I wouldn't really say I've I've noticed too much of a change myself. Um maybe other people maybe other people have, but you know, I I mean the team team um bond is really good and I feel like you know me, Leon, or us drivers kind of work together to make that team environment uh closer. So maybe that's something we've as a as a team as the drivers have done is is uh make the team closer. But other than that, I mean I I don't really know. Maybe that's what other people say, isn't it? Yeah, maybe I've got a little bit better at the interviews. I d I don't know. It's not a conscious thing I've really um looked at other than the the driving.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, no, uh well you you are good at the interviews, uh so you can tick that box. So well done. Now I just want to talk about the the interview uh sorry, the driver autograph session that uh you have your birth smiling. It's interesting. So who out of you two is the most popular when they queue up for the autographs? Uh they queue up for all of us, yeah.
SPEAKER_09I mean most but they go down the line. Oh okay. Most people just they come, they go down the line, and if they have a page of paper. Yeah, if they have something for one person, then nine times out of ten they have it for everyone. Oh right. There's the odd cases where someone will come up in like individually to get you to sign their like t-shirt or something, but yeah. I I don't know. I don't think any of you. Do you get any gifts?
SPEAKER_02Did anybody bring you any gifts? Sometimes, yeah. Oh, what what do you get?
SPEAKER_09Well, uh at Donington we got a uh I don't know if you got one, I got a uh like a a little drawing of of one of my helmets, which is quite cool. That's cool. That was really nice. Last year someone used to bring cupcakes to the track, which was quite cool.
SPEAKER_08I wish they did it this year. Oh well, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Do you like a cupcake? Yeah, I mean if there's a watch with the diet there, haven't you?
SPEAKER_08Yeah, but if there's someone who gives it as a gift, boy, we would not have it.
SPEAKER_02A good point, well made. I'm with you on that line.
SPEAKER_09It was usually like at the end of the day, so that's alright.
SPEAKER_02And you can burn it off, just do an extra hour in the in the gym.
SPEAKER_09But yeah, there's sometimes some cool stuff. Last year we got some some bracelets throughout the year, which was also cool. That's really good.
SPEAKER_08I would say driver cards as well this year.
SPEAKER_09Oh, yeah, I did I did. Yeah, but that's me giving other people stuff, I guess.
SPEAKER_08I was handing his ad for him as well, and I I also I also got to keep one, so I have one in my hammer bag.
SPEAKER_02Keep it, you never know what's gonna happen. I'm keeping it next to my bed. Yeah, framing it. That autograph session is that you know, I mean, either of you could end up in Formula One. And somebody's come here, met you, had a selfie with you, and and then all of a sudden, you know, you're you're picking up the the world formula one championship. Just let's just think about that for a second. That'd be good, wouldn't it?
SPEAKER_08Yeah, it wouldn't be too bad. Yeah, I'll be uh 50 years old on the couch watching Ethan win the Taylor Star say, like, oh I know this guy, or I knew him. Look at this framework.
SPEAKER_02He might be, yeah. Truly marvellous, absolutely brilliant. Um really good to see you guys. Uh and uh I've it's been a pleasure watching you drive this season. I hope you have a great weekend here at Croft. Um just finally, um what will you be happy with at the end of this weekend?
SPEAKER_09Uh for me uh a happy weekend would be to win, yeah, to score some good points and make ground up in the championship. Obviously, I I haven't got a poll yet, so you know that's one thing I'm I'm kind of hoping to achieve by the end of the year. But you know I just hope for the for the best results. You know, if we can poll it, ideal word win both races. But you know, if you're just in the in the top three, top five, scoring good points, then and then that's uh a weekend to be proud of for me. Absolutely, Leon.
SPEAKER_08Um yeah, just trying to get execution right from my side and do the job we need to in quality because that's kind of uh where we've been a bit unlucky or I've lacked in. So just uh a strong quality, uh hopefully in the upper mid, like P12 and up, or P12 and higher better positions, and uh yeah, maybe try and score a few points if possible. Uh but yeah, just leave this weekend knowing I've done a good job, I've maximized it, and uh and just be proud of myself and be happier than I was heading into the weekend. Then I've known this this it's been a fine weekend.
SPEAKER_02Do you know where they're back in the season? Do you know what you're doing yet next year?
SPEAKER_08Um no, not sure, unfortunately. What about you, Ethan?
SPEAKER_02No, no clue. I'm trying I'm reading your faces now to see whether you actually do know, but you're not telling me. No.
SPEAKER_08I I'd like to know.
SPEAKER_02If anybody knows what Leon's doing next year, please drop us a like. Guys, have a really great weekend. Thanks for dropping and appreciate it. Thank you ever so much. Thank you, Chas. And that sadly is our time up for this week. Doesn't time fly when you're enjoying yourself. Qualifying for the Codola Watches Pole Position Award takes place on Saturday morning at midday, before race one gets underway later that afternoon at five past five. Two more races, the reserve grid contest at 12.50 and the longer feature race at 4.20, will then play out on Sunday. As always, Saturday's opening encounter will be live streamed globally on the British F4 YouTube channel, while Sunday's two races will form part of ITV4's BTCC coverage in the UK. Fans outside the UK can see all the action from those Sunday races via the Championship's official YouTube channel. As usual, you can follow all the latest on our social media channels and hear the exclusive driver interviews straight after qualifying and direct from the podium after each race on the F4 website at fiaformula4.com. You can hear all of tonight's interviews again using the listen again feature on the F4 website as well as Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, Deezer, or wherever you listen to your podcasts. And if you're coming to Croft this weekend, don't forget the driver autograph session at 11am on Sunday at the Race Centre in the support paddock. Who knows, you may be able to catch up with a future F1 star. Join us again on Friday, the 25th of September at 6 pm UK time for Friday Night F4 from Silverstone, where the countdown to the season finale will begin. My thanks to all our guests this week and to the media team here in the F4 Race Centre, Eve Lake Grange, Ben Brunel, and 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.