First round of the new MSVR Formula 4 ran over the weekend at Silverstone and certainly from a spectators perspective it seems to be starting off strong. If nothing else, it boasts a 21 car grid, as opposed to main rival Formula Ford's 12 cars, despite the Fords arguably having the better live(-ish) coverage on the BTCC package and obviously the established name. It has also managed to attract a lot of familiar names from the Ginetta Junior series and established teams.
Racing was close and varied with a different winner in each of the three races (much unlike this year's FFords), although similar names at the top suggest that the results are not completely random. The series also has an interesting selection of features that reward good drives, even if not necessarily race winning - the Jack Cavill Pole Position Cup is given to the pole sitters in each race, while the ‘Who Zooms’ Award, sponsored by Yoozoom inversely awards drivers who gain the most places in the race from their grid starts. Even the grids offer some interesting variation - the grid for the first is based on qualifying, the grid for the second in order of race one with the top 8 reversed and the grid for the third race in order of fastest laps from race one or two.
Despite the outcries of Gerhard Berger (see this week's Autosport), this looks set to be a good championship and I look forward to seeing it grow.
Highlights of the F4 are on ITV4 next weekend after the BTCC Thruxton live show.
