Ella Lloyd enjoyed her best weekend to date in the F4 British Championship, as she claimed her maiden podium finish on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit.
One of two standalone events for the series, which races for much of the year alongside the British Touring Car Championship, the Welsh youngster demonstrated her skill on track once again, gaining places on track and enjoying three top-seven finishes.
Conditions were difficult in qualifying, as the track was wet and damp with a drying line. Ella went out on slick tyres, carefully building up temperature as she went for her fastest laps at the end of the session, finishing 12th quickest overall and 11th on second best times.
With penalties applied, she started tenth for the opening contest that afternoon, which began under sunny skies, and had yet another brilliant first lap, gaining four places before the Safety Car was called. Once racing resumed, she more than held her own despite constant pressure, retaining her fifth position to the flag.
Ella lined up on pole for race two, with her JHR Developments teammates behind, on a bright and sunny Sunday morning. She was pipped off the line, despite a good start, slotting into second position, but as another driver tried to pass at Village and The Loop, she was pushed wide and lost momentum.
As that happened, the Safety Car boards were shown while four cars managed to get past, leaving Ella in sixth. However, after the race, those drivers were penalised for doing so, promoting her back into second place, meaning she scored her maiden podium in British F4.
She had yet another good start to race three, moving up four places to run seventh, battling with two of her JHR teammates before another Safety Car. When the track went green, she kept good pace, but once again suffered with the aerodynamic losses while following the car ahead, crossing the line seventh and scoring more valuable points.
Ella returns to F4 British Championship action in a month’s time over the weekend of July 12-14, as the series heads to mainland Europe for the first time, for three races at Circuit Zandvoort, home of the Dutch Grand Prix.
Ella Lloyd commented:
Race 1 – 5th
Race 2 – 2nd
Race 3 – 7th
Championship: 10 (51 points)
“Qualifying was difficult as it was wet, but we went on slicks, so the quickest lap was at the end, which made it difficult to get two fast times in. I had a really good start to race one, passed three or four cars before the first corner, and made it to fifth when the Safety Car came out. I held my position after the restart, though it was difficult because the rain came, but I kept pushing and kept the place.
“My start to race two was good, just not as good as Leo [Robinson]’s, so he got me off the line. I was sitting P2, and a car pushed me wide over the kerb, which helped two more cars get past, and at least one more passed me under the Safety Car. Once we went racing, because of there being so many high-speed corners, you lose front downforce. I was quicker than the cars ahead, but just didn’t have any opportunities to overtake.
“I didn’t have a bad start to race three. In the first few laps I could see the cars battling in front, so I made the most of the opportunities that were given to me. I set myself up to take advantage as they were losing time, getting the right line and better exits to set up moves into the next corner. After the Safety Car it was like a train again, as you lose speed in the high-speed corners, but my race pace was decent. Zandvoort will be a new track for me, so hopefully we can keep improving there.”
