Pirtek Racing’s young charger Jamie Caroline has his sights firmly fixed on the top step of the podium when the new F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford season kicks off this weekend at Brands Hatch.
The 18-year-old heads into his second season of single-seater competition looking to build on an encouraging debut campaign, where he secured multiple podium finishes and a race win en-route to tenth in the championship standings.
Having agreed a deal to join Carlin – title winners for the past two seasons – Jamie heads into 2017 amongst the favourites for the championship crown.
Pre-season testing has seen the former Ginetta Junior champion running regularly towards the top of the times and he will now hope to repeat that front-running pace when he takes to the track on Brands Hatch’s shorter Indy layout this weekend.
In fact, with the Carlin team having won two of the three races during the opening meeting of the year in each of the past two seasons, Jamie will hope for similar results to kick-start his championship challenge in style.
“My plan moving into British F4 was always to treat the first season as a learning year and then push forwards and go for the title in year two,” he said. “It worked for me in Ginetta Juniors and I’m aiming for the same this time around.
“I have no doubt that I’ve got the best team behind me in Carlin and I’m really looking forward to getting down to business in the Pirtek Racing car this weekend.
“Although we haven’t done as much running as some of the other drivers on the grid during the winter, I’ve soon got back up to speed and I’m going to Brands with no aim other than to win races. It’s a circuit where I’ve been quick in the past and that I enjoy, so I can’t wait to get started.”
After qualifying on Saturday 1 April at 09.30, the first of three British F4 races will be at 15.10 later that day, with race two at 10.40 on Sunday morning and race three at 16.20.
That third race will be broadcast on ITV4, with live timing and results from the weekend being available at www.tsl-timing.com
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