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Race one podium for Will helps extend championship lead

Will Palmer finished second in round 10 of the 2015 Duo BRDC Formula 4 Championship season at Snetterton today (Saturday) to extend his lead in the overall standings. The 18-year-old came close to taking the victory but ultimately had to settle for the runner-up's spot on the podium, having qualified in second earlier in the day.

The 20-minute qualifying session took place in glorious sunshine at the Norfolk track, with a field of 20 drivers taking to the circuit. Will decided to allow the majority of the field to exit the pit lane ahead of himself, as he took to the track one minute after the session had gone green. This afforded him clear tarmac in which to set quick laps throughout the session.

The early pacesetter was the Chris Dittmann Racing car of Omar Ismail, with the 16-year-old posting a 1m49.520s to lead the field from Will's HHC Motorsport team-mate Harri Newey. Will came around to complete his first flying lap and slotted into third on a 1m50.026s. The trio of Ismail, Newey and Palmer began trading times and Will improved, but fell an agonising tenth of a second short of overhauling Ismail for provisional pole.

Ismail improved his time on the next lap to move 0.210s clear of Will and the red flags were soon brought out to recover the stricken 23 Racing car of James Reveler. The session did not resume and Will was content with his front-row spot, commenting: "Second was quite a good result. Omar did a really quick time, faster than any Formula 4 time we've ever seen here I think both ourselves, Omar and Harri were clear of those behind so I think it will be a battle between us in the race."

His prediction would come true as it was the trio from qualifying that dominated proceedings in the first race of the weekend at Snetterton. As the lights went out, both Will and Ismail made good getaways but Newey's start was less effective and he dropped behind Tom Jackson into fourth.

After the first two laps, Will began reeling in the race leader and at one point had the gap down to just 0.346s. He attacked the Chris Dittmann Racing car on a number of separate occasions but Ismail, who hails from Solihull, defending strongly and provided no opportunities for Will to overtake. Further back, Newey had re-taken third by moving past Jackson and set a string of fastest laps to close on Will's gearbox.

Will dropped back from Ismail in a conscious decision to set a fast lap for the race three grid. This put him in the clutches of team-mate Newey but he had it under control and came home second in the 10-lap race. Omar Ismail crossed the line 1.351s ahead to take the chequered flag and his maiden BRDC Formula 4 success.

Speaking after the race, Will said: "It was a bit frustrating the way the race went. I was pressuring Omar ahead for the whole race but I thought I could set a fast lap, which sets the grid position for race three, if I dropped back so I backed off for the final few laps. That helped Harri close up on me though and ended my chances of claiming the win but it was still a good race and it is more good points for the championship.

His second place ensures he extends his championship lead over Lanan Racing's Rodrigo Fonseca to 24 points, up from just 12 points at the beginning of the day's action. He will start from seventh place in race two by virtue of his second place finish in race one at Snetterton.

Duo BRDC Formula 4 Championship - Snetterton - Race one

1. Omar Ismail, Chris Dittmann Racing, 10 Laps
2. Will Palmer, HHC Motorsport, +1.351s
3. Harri Newey, HHC Motorsport, +1.872s
4. Michael O'Brien, Chris Dittmann Racing, +23.965s
5. Jordan Albert, Sean Walkinshaw Racing, +25.782s
6. Rodrigo Fonseca, Lanan Racing, +42.473s
7. Ciaran Haggerty, Ecurie Ecosse/GBR, +42.933s
8. Akhil Rabindra, Douglas Motorsport, +44.020s
9. Faisal Al Zubair, Hillspeed, +44.848s
10. James Reveler, 23 Racing, +46.108s
11. Marc Gonzalez, Sean Walkinshaw Racing, +48.181s
12. Ameya Vaidyanathan, Hillspeed, +48.679s
13. Joe Stables, JR Racing, +51.394s
14. Jack Lang, Lang Sport/Gorse Motors, +52.756s
15. Sisa Ngebulana, HHC Motorsport, +57.434s*
16. Tom Jackson, Chris Dittmann Racing, +1 Lap
DNF. Zubair Hoque, Sean Walkinshaw Racing, +3 Laps
NC. Chris Mealin, Lanan Racing, +3 Laps
DNF. Fernando Urrutia, Douglas Motorsport, 0 Laps
DNF. Jack Bartholomew, Lanan Racing, 0 Laps

*Car No.37 handed a 30-second time penalty for avoidable contact

Races two and three of the weekend take place tomorrow (Sunday) at 10:25am and 15:10pm respectively, and you can follow all the action with live timing and updates on the official Formula 4 website here.

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