Stefan Bostandjiev claimed his first victory in the GB4 Championship partnered by the BRDC with a controlled drive in the final race of the weekend at Silverstone this afternoon (Sunday).
The Bulgarian took the lead from third on the grid, making a better getaway than pole sitter Jason Pribyl to move to the front. The Pace Performance driver also benefitted from the absence of second place starter Enzo Hallman who, along with Alex O’Grady’ was unable to take the start after stopping on the formation lap.
As Bostandjiev drove into an early lead, Pribyl fought hard to try and hold onto second from Ary Bansal’s yellow Elite Motorsport machine. It briefly looked like he’d managed it, but Bansal was ahead on the Hangar Straight. Leandro Juncos followed in Bansal’s tailwind and then swooped past at Abbey just moments later to steal the position for himself. Pribyl’s hopes of reaching the podium meanwhile faded when he ran wide and dropped down to ninth, before later losing a further place to Callum Baxter.
Thereafter, the race evolved into a tense game of cat and mouse at the front. Bostandjiev was at the front with Juncos and Bansal second and third with Thomas Ingram Hill and Isaac Phelps rounding out the top-five. With the exception of Bostandjiev who had clear road ahead, they were all looking forwards and backwards as part of a slipstream train.
Just behind them was championship leader Dan Guinchard who extraordinarily rose from 17th on the grid to sixth on the opening lap. Like the others however, he was finding it difficult to make further progress as the race entered a watchful phase.
The most decisive attempt at a pass in the lead group came from Bansal who moved to the outside of Juncos at Brooklands on lap four. The Indian driver initially appeared to have the move completed before Juncos cut back on the exit at Luffield and he was back ahead by the apex at Copse.
Juncos set about chasing Bostandjiev but despite repeated attempts at sizing up a move he was constantly under too much pressure from behind. As a result, the status quo remained amongs the leading group in the laps that followed. Then, just as the leaders began the final lap the race ended following a red flag after the unfortunate Pribyl arrived on the start-finish straight with a smoking car.
This guaranteed Bostandjiev the win with Juncos and Bansal joining him on the podium. Ingram Hill, Phelps and Guinchard completed the top-six as the had for much of the race with Alex Kattoulas and Leon Wilson seventh and eighth after enjoying a similarly pulsating battle. Baxter crossed the line ninth with Luca Magnussen benefitting from Pribyl’s misfortune to claim a final place in the top-10.
The result and gain of positions meant that, despite finishing behind Bansal, Guinchard was able to score 21 points and extend his championship lead to 35 points.
Jack Taylor, who won both races earlier in the weekend was classified 24th and last after early contact with Dayton Coulthard which cost him his front wing.
GB4 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Silverstone, provisional race three result:
1. Stefan Bostandjiev, Pace Performance
2. Leandro Juncos, Hillspeed, +0.474s
3. Ary Bansal, Elite Motorsport, +0.924s
4. Thomas Ingram Hill, Fortec Motorsport, +1.299s
5. Isaac Phelps, Elite Motorsport, +1.570s
6. Dan Guinchard, Hillspeed, +1.879s
7. Alex Kattoulas, Elite Motorsport, +3.052s
8. Leon Wilson, Arden Motorsport, +3.489s
9. Callum Baxter, Graham Brunton Racing, +4.441s
10. Luca Magnussen, Fortec Motorsport, +7.570s
11. Joshua McClean, Pace Performance, +8.314s
12. Mayer Deonarine, Graham Brunton Racing, +10.590s
13. Arjen Kräling, Douglas Motorsport, +11.075s
14. Ava Dobson, Arden Motorsport, +11.540s
15. Enzo Hallman, Douglas Motorsport, +14.050s
16. Dayton Coulthard, Douglas Motorsport, +16.423s
17. Megan Bruce, KMR Sport, +17.732s
18. Dudley Ruddock, Arden Motorsport, +18.334s
19. Alex O’Grady, KMR Sport, +20.335s
20. Holly Miall, Fox Motorsport, +22.452s
21. Flame Airkkala, Pace Performance, +25.166s
22. Lily-May Watkins, KMR Sport, +25.714s
23. Caitlyn McDaniel, Fox Motorsport, +30.937s
24. Jack Taylor, Fortec Motorsport, +1m15.417s
DNF. Jason Pribyl, ADM
