The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Weston Hills ace Johnathan Hoggard roared to his first F4 British Championship win since April as he starred at Rockingham over the weekend.
After finishing seventh at round 19, Fortec Motorsports star Hoggard was on the top step of the podium at round 20 before slipping back to fifth in the 21st round.
Overall it was a stellar weekend for the teenager, who qualified ninth ahead of the three races.
Hoggard said: “It feels really good to be back on the top step of the podium.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been on the podium, let alone winning.
“I knew after the start of the race when Sebastian Priaulx got really close to me that I had to excel at the Safety Car restart otherwise I would be under serious pressure due to the tow.
“I got a good restart, kept my head down and built a gap.
“We’ve found a big chunk of pace between qualifying and the races this weekend.
“It’s all about getting everything together when it matters really.”
Fortec Motorsports British F4 team manager Ollie Dutton said: “This win has been a long time coming. Johnathan deserves this.
“He’s raced and driven well this season, but he’s just not had the luck.
“He got a good start, handled the Safety Car restart well and then built a bit of a gap. He looked really good out there.
TOP STEP: Johnathan Hoggard (centre) on the podium. Photo by IAN WARD
“I’m over the moon for him and his family. This win is also a good morale boost for the team.”
Round 19 was won by Finland’s Patrik Pasma, who led an Arden one-two-three ahead of Jack Doohan and Dennis Hauger.
Hoggard was some 12.751secs back in seventh, but did have the benefit of starting the next round in pole position.
Looking very much at home out front around the 1.94-mile Northamptonshire circuit, Hoggard had enough to keep his pursuers at bay for the duration, most impressively mastering a safety car restart on the way to the chequered flag.
Kiern Jewiss (Double R) – who was just 0.941secs behind Hoggard – and Doohan completed the top three.
Back in ninth on the grid for the final race, Hoggard did climb four places to secure fifth spot.
He was 12.910secs behind winner Pasma, who enjoyed his second victory of the weekend.
Sebastian Priaulx (Arden) was just behind in second spot, with Jewiss sealing third.
Hoggard is now eighth in the championship standings with 173 points. That’s just 15 points off a place in the top six, but some 146 behind series leader Jewiss.
The next round is at Knockhill on August 25/26.
