Douglas Motorsport’s Dayton Coulthard claimed a stunning maiden GB4 Championship victory in the first race of the Donington Park season finale, while the two championship leaders collided on the first lap of the race.
Elite’s Isaac Phelps and Hillspeed’s Dan Guinchard, the championship leader, qualified first and second, respectively, for the first two races of the weekend, but in a fiery opening lap, there was contact at the Old Hairpin, and both dropped down the order.
While Coulthard made full use of the opportunity to take the win, with a brilliant overtake for the lead included, Elite’s Ary Bansal, another title contender, put himself right in the mix with second place in the opening contest. The dramatic day at Donington means just 18 points separate Guinchard, Bansal and Phelps with the final three races of the season set to take place on Sunday.
Qualifying
Phelps secured both pole positions on offer in qualifying to clinch this year’s George Russell Pole Position Cup, with his latest double being his fifth and sixth poles of the year.
In chilly and wet conditions, the top two in the championship battled for pole throughout, but Phelps ultimately prevailed with a margin of 0.235s to Guinchard, with Arden’s Leon Wilson third.
Returning Lucas Blakeley in his first appearance for Douglas Motorsport qualified fourth ahead of Hillspeed’s Leandro Juncos and Douglas’ Coulthard.
For the race two grid, decided by each driver’s second fastest times, Phelps was fastest again, this time with a margin of 0.267s to Guinchard, with Wilson third once more. Juncos, KMR’s Alex O’Grady and Blakeley completed the top-six.
Race one
With the two title protagonists starting alongside each other on the front row, and with much at stake, there was much potential for fireworks, and it almost came at the first corner as Guinchard attempted to go around the outside of Phelps.
That challenge was rebuffed, but Guinchard nudged the rear of Phelps at the Old Hairpin seconds later, and both plummeted down the order, with Phelps resuming in 15th and Guinchard down in 21st. Title hopefuls Jack Taylor and O’Grady were also first lap retirements in separate incidents, wiping them out of the battle for the championship.
The main beneficiaries were Wilson, Coulthard and Blakeley, who occupied the podium positions when racing resumed on lap four. Wilson aimed to claim his second win of the year, but Coulthard never let the gap grow, and with a couple of laps to go, went for a move up the inside at the Melbourne Hairpin that echoed his father’s famous overtake on Michael Schumacher at the 2000 French Grand Prix.
Coulthard resisted the Wilson challenge, but just behind, Bansal from ninth on the grid had battled past Blakeley and Wilson to run second. Bansal set the fastest lap on the final tour, but Coulthard had enough in hand to win by half a second. Bansal in second ignited his title charge, while Blakeley fought past Wilson to retain his place on the podium.
Wilson settled for fourth ahead of Thomas Ingram Hill, with Juncos sixth. Phelps fought back to ninth, while Guinchard climbed to 12th, but picked up a three place grid penalty for his involvement in the lap one drama.
Tomorrow’s three races will decide the destiny of this year’s title.
Race one winner Coulthard said: “I’m still slightly starstruck, it’s my first win in cars, so I’m really happy about it. After the incident on the first lap, I ended up second, and all I was thinking about was just getting to the front, and it worked out.
“I’m starting sixth [again] in two of tomorrow’s races, so if things play out well, it could be good.”
GB4 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Donington Park qualifying result:
1. Isaac Phelps, Elite Motorsport, 1m40.757s
2. Dan Guinchard, Hillspeed, +0.235s
3. Leon Wilson, Arden Motorsport, +0.443s
4. Lucas Blakeley, Douglas Motorsport, +0.544s
5. Leandro Juncos, Hillspeed, +0.598s
6. Dayton Coulthard, Douglas Motorsport, 0.695s
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GB4 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Donington Park, race one provisional result:
1. Dayton Coulthard, Douglas Motorsport
2. Ary Bansal, Elite Motorsport, +0.550s
3. Lucas Blakeley, Douglas Motorsport, 1.997s
4. Leon Wilson, Arden Motorsport, +2.644s
5. Thomas Ingram Hill, Fortec Motorsport, +3.230s
6. Leandro Juncos, Hillspeed, +4.421s
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GB4 Championship, drivers' championship standings after race 18 of 21:
1. Daniel Guinchard, Hillspeed, 350pts
2. Ary Bansal, Elite Motorsport, 345pts
3. Isaac Phelps, Elite Motorsport, 332pts
4. Alex Kattoulas, Elite Motorsport, 283pts
5. Alex O'Grady, KMR Sport, 231pts
6. Thomas Ingram Hill, Fortec Motorsports, 226pts
Click here for full standings
GB4 Championship, teams' championship standings after race 18 of 21:
1. Elite Motorsport, 764pts
2. Hillspeed, 580pts
3. Douglas Motorsport, 514pts
4. Fortec Motorsports, 514pts
5. KMR Sport, 356pts
6. Arden Motorsport, 315pts
Click here for full standings
For more championship information, visit www.gb-4.net