Elite Motorsport’s Alisha Palmowski claimed an impressive double victory at Snetterton as the fight for this year’s GB4 Championship partnered by the BRDC tightened up on Sunday.
The star female racer started from pole position in the first of the day’s two races, fighting back to take the victory after losing ground at the start. After that, Palmowski claimed the spoils with a charging drive from last on the grid in the final race of the weekend.
The ever-consistent Harry Burgoyne leaves Snetterton as the championship leader following a retirement for Linus Granfors in the final race of the weekend, whilst Palmowski sits third after her strongest weekend to date in GB4.
Race Two
Palmowski made amends for missing out on Saturday victory with a tenacious display in Sunday’s opening contest. For a second race in succession she missed out on holding the lead into the first corner as the KMR Sport machine of Burgoyne flew by into the lead.
Burgoyne held the lead for much of the race, but Palmowski remained in hot pursuit throughout before producing a decisive move at Agostini just two laps from the chequered flag. Palmowski extended her advantage from there to win for just the second time in GB4 with Burgoyne crossing the line as runner-up whilst Saturday victor Lucas Blakeley completed the podium in third.
Behind that, Granfors, Finn Harrison and Leon Wilson completed the top-six.
Race Three
Palmowski claimed the maximum number of points available in the final race following a lively encounter in which any number of drivers could have featured on the podium.
Palmowski started the final race of the weekend from the back of the reverse grid and it was initially her fellow back-row starter Blakeley who crossed the line ahead. The series returnee was later handed a 10-second penalty for a False Start however, leaving Palmowski to take her second victory of the day.
The race came to a dramatic conclusion following a Safety Car period after separate incidents involving Chloe Grant, Dan Hickey and Wilson. The resultant restart saw Jack Taylor and Granfors collide whilst battling for the lead whilst third-placed Finn Harrison also ran off the track.
This allowed Blakeley and Palmowski through, with the latter benefitting following the post-race amendment. Callum Baxter was second with Branded Templeton completing the final rostrum. Burgoyne finished fourth, with his consistent points scoring seeing him into the series lead, whilst Blakeley was ultimately classified fifth ahead of Megan Bruce.
Double winner Alisha Palmowski said: "I'm absolutely speechless to be honest, just so relieved. They certainly didn't make it easy, it was very hard work. I struggled a little off the line and the two guys from second row had a huge launch and got both me and Lucas [in race one]. I then focused on getting my head down, making no mistakes, and tried to keep as close as possible to Harry, which proved to be extremely difficult with the dirty air behind him, especially through the high-speed corners. It was very difficult, but I started to learn what Harry was doing and I noticed he was braking a little bit early into Agostini, so I knew if there was going to be an opportunity, that was the corner where it was going to be. I went for it, and managed to make the win stick, so I'm over the moon!
“Reverse grid races are always tricky, they’re a totally different ball game. Just went in with a mentality of we need to collect championship points and finish the race. I was very lucky there to be totally honest, I inherited that, but then again we had so much bad luck at Donington Park through no fault of my own so. Motorsport is full of highs and lows. For me, great, great championship points.”
GB4 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Snetterton Race Two top-six:
1. Alisha Palmowski, Elite Motorsport, 10 laps
2. Harry Burgoyne, KMR Sport, +1.730s
3. Lucas Blakeley, KMR Sport, +2.214s
4. Linus Granfors, Fortec Motorsport, +2.948s
5. Finn Harrison, Elite Motorsport, +3.479s
6. Leon Wilson, Arden Motorsport, +10.444s
Click here for full result.
GB4 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Snetterton Race Three top-six:
1. Alisha Palmowski, Elite Motorsport, 9 laps
2. Callum Baxter, Graham Brunton Racing, +2.179s
3. Branden Templeton, Fox Motorsport, +2.574s
4. Harry Burgoyne, KMR Sport, +5.623s
5. Lucas Blakeley, KMR Sport, +7.586s
6. Megan Bruce, Fox Motorsport, +12.628s
Click here for full result.
GB4 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, driver's standings after race 12 of 21:
1. Harry Burgoyne, KMR Sport, 248pts
2. Linus Granfors, Fortec Motorsport, 245pts
3. Alisha Palmowski, Elite Motorsport, 232pts
4. Branden Templeton, Fox Motorsport, 180pts
5. Callum Baxter, Graham Brunton Racing, 178pts
6. Brandon McCaughan, KMR Sport, 171pts
Click here for full standings
GB4 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, team's standings after race 12 of 21:
1. KMR Sport, 516pts
2. Fortec Motorsport, 361pts
3. Fox Motorsport, 349pts
4. Elite Motorsport, 327pts
5. Graham Brunton Racing, 259pts
6. Arden Motorsport, 104pts
Click here for full standings
For more championship information, visit www.gb-4.net