Linus Granfors secured a double pole position in the GB4 Championship Partnered by the BRDC at Brands Hatch this afternoon, defeating Lucas Blakeley in a scintillating battle to top the times.
The Swede’s best effort of the 15-minute session was his last and at 1m24.291s is the fastest ever GB4 qualifying lap around the Kent circuit’s famed longer layout. The Fortec Motorsport driver’s second best time good enough to ensure that he will also start from the front in race two.
Granfors not only ensured the best possible starting position from which to attempt to seal the GB4 crown this weekend, but his fifth and sixth pole positions of the season also secured this year’s George Russell Pole Position Cup award.
Granfors denied Blakeley late on, pipping earlier session leader Lucas Blakeley with a time just 0.062 better. And the knock-on effect was that Granfors’ previous best effort from the 15-minute session was enough to deny Blakeley the opportunity to start either race one or two from the head of the field.
The leading duo enjoyed a slight gap from the chasing pack, with Blakeley’s KMR Sport teammate Harry Burgoyne third with a best time just shy of half a second adrift of the front two. Leon Wilson (Arden Motorsport) and Branden Templeton (Fox Motorsport) will complete the top-five in both races with the top portion of the standings mirrored in both fastest and second strongest times.
Granfors’ primary title contender Alisha Palmowski finds herself with ground to make up following a qualifying session which leaves her starting sixth in the opening race and seventh in race two, following troubles at the start of the 15 minutes. The impressive Elite Motorsport racer improved as the session wore on but wasn’t able to challenge her rivals at the head of the order.
Finn Harrison, Chloe Grant, Callum Baxter and Jack Taylor will complete the top-10 in race one, though Harrison will move up to sixth in the second contest after just edging Palmowski on second best times. Grant, Baxter and Taylor will line-up identically in eighth, ninth and 10th for the later race.
Dan Hickey and Megan Bruce completed the order in 11th and 12th.
GB4 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Brands Hatch provisional qualifying result:
1. Linus Granfors, Fortec Motorsport, 1min24.291s
2. Lucas Blakeley, KMR Sport, +0.062s
3. Harry Burgoyne, KMR Sport, +0.437s
4. Leon Wilson, Arden Motorsport, +0.955s
5. Branden Templeton, Fox Motorsport, +0.980s
6. Alisha Palmowski, Elite Motorsport, +1.320s
7. Finn Harrison, Elite Motorsport, +1.398s
8. Chloe Grant, KMR Sport, +1.650s
9. Callum Baxter, Graham Brunton Racing, +1.652s
10. Jack Taylor, Fortec Motorsport, +2.079s
11. Dan Hickey, Fortec Motorsport, +2.347s
12. Megan Bruce, Fox Motorsport, +2.546s
GB4 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Donington Park qualifying second fastest times:
1. Linus Granfors, Fortec Motorsport, 1min24.318s
2. Lucas Blakeley, KMR Sport, +0.365s
3. Harry Burgoyne, KMR Sport, +0.500s
4. Leon Wilson, Arden Motorsport, +0.975s
5. Branden Templeton, Fox Motorsport, +1.277s
6. Finn Harrison, Elite Motorsport, +1.402s
7. Alisha Palmowski, Elite Motorsport, +1.469s
8. Chloe Grant, KMR Sport, +1.681s
9. Callum Baxter, Graham Brunton Racing, +2.008s
10. Jack Taylor, Fortec Motorsport, +2.617s
11. Dan Hickey, Fortec Motorsport, +2.659s
12. Megan Bruce, Fox Motorsport, +2.850s
