Devonshire based racing team Hillspeed are celebrating their first BRDC Formula 4 Championship race win of the season thanks to their Brazilian racer Gustavo Lima. The 17-year-old fought off reigning Protyre Formula Renault champion Chris Middlehurst for 14 laps during the second race of the weekend, having start on pole.
Richard Ollerenshaw, team principal at Hillspeed said, “Gustavo did a fantastic job with the win. He had to soak up relentless pressure but didn’t put a wheel wrong, he stayed calm and focused and produced the performance we knew he was capable of. It’s great to be back on the top step of the podium.”
Rahul Raj Mayer took a best of tenth from the first race of the weekend though he flirted with top ten finishes in both of the Sunday outings. Ollerenshaw put Mayer’s issues down partially to a lack of testing. He said, “He hasn’t had the time in the UK to go testing and that’s been his Achilles Heel really, but he’s been very strong this weekend. Alfredo kept his nose clean and did everything we asked, he’d never seen Brands before the weekend but did a very good job.”
The team’s third driver Alfredo Zabalza also had a strong showing at Brands Hatch, taking fifteenth as his highest result in the second race. His final race result was not as good with a front wing failure as a result of contact putting him out of action on the first lap.
Gustavo Lima was thrilled with his result, he added, “I’m so happy to take my first win,” said Lima. “I saw Chris in my mirror throughout the race and I was just hoping that I could hold him off….it was so close! The track was really good and the car was perfect so I need to thank Hillspeed for helping me get my first victory!”
