Fortec Motorsport’s Linus Granfors fought to victory in a stunning opening GB4 race of the weekend at Silverstone.
The joint-record 16-car entry put on a festival of clean and thrilling racing around the home of the British Grand Prix, with countless battles for position and slipstreaming aplenty.
Through it all, Granfors emerged from a gripping battle for victory with Elite Motorsport's pole sitter Finn Harrison, with the two exchanging positions on numerous occasions as they fought for the top spot, which brought Harrison's teammate Alisha Palmowski into play. At one point there was a five car squabble for the lead, with the battle also allowing KMR Sport's Harry Burgoyne and privateer Marcus Luzio into the mix.
Granfors, who had topped the times in five of the six pre-event tests, eventually made good his escape, and was able to pull away from the pack to eventually win by seven seconds. But the battles continued as Harrison tried to fend off Palmowski, who forced her way past to claim second and demote her teammate to third.
Meanwhile, Luzio, who had started 11th, became the first privateer entrant to claim a podium, as he stormed through the pack from 11th on the grid to third, as he too passed Harrison, this time on the penultimate lap.
Harrison therefore had to settle for fourth after trying to fight back on numerous occasions, with KMR Sport trio Harry Burgoyne, Brandon McCaughan and Chloe Grant running line astern to take fifth, sixth and seventh.
Branden Templeton claimed eighth for Fox Motorsport ahead of Graham Brunton Racing's Callum Baxter and Fortec's Jack Taylor, who completed the top-10.
Arden's Leon Wilson also contributed to the thrilling drama, and challenged towards the front early on, before being shuffled down to 11th.
The second GB4 Championship race at Silverstone is due to commence at 11.06 tomorrow, with Harrison again on pole.
GB4 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Silverstone race one provisional result:
1. Linus Granfors, Fortec Motorsport, 9 laps
2. Alisha Palmowski, Elite Motorsport, +7.017s
3. Marcus Luzio, Luzio.com, +10.858s
4. Finn Harrison, Elite Motorsport, +12.074s
5. Harry Burgoyne, KMR Sport, +14.788s
6. Brandon McCaughan, KMR Sport, +15.069s
7. Chloe Grant, KMR Sport, +15.167s
8. Branden Templeton, Fox Motorsport, +19.704s
9. Callum Baxter, Graham Brunton Racing, +22.560s
10. Jack Taylor, Fortec Motorsport, +23.677s
11. Leon Wilson, Arden Motorsport, +28.969s
12. Christian Lester, Rossoverde Racing, +35.671s
13. Mayer Deonarine, Graham Brunton Racing, +36.402s
14. Megan Bruce, Fox Motorsport, +54.613s
15. Bas Visser, Graham Brunton Racing, +1m14.628s
16. Dan Hickey, Fortec Motorsport, +1m30.133s
