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Will crowned 2015 Duo BRDC Formula 4 Champion following double Donington success

Will Palmer claimed the 2015 Duo BRDC Formula 4 title after taking victory in the third and final race of the weekend (12/13 September) at Donington Park today (Sunday). That was the BRDC Rising Star's 10^th victory of the year after he had taken his ninth success earlier in the day, as he stormed from seventh on the grid to see the chequered flag first in race two of the meeting.

By virtue of his second place in race one on Saturday, Will, who is brother to Lotus F1 Team Third and Reserve Driver Jolyon Palmer, lined up in seventh on the grid for the first BRDC F4 action of the day on Sunday. Pole position starter Jordan Albert committed a false start as the lights went out to start the race, and he was handed a 10-second time penalty that dropped him down the order. Will overtook Indian racer Ameya Vaidyanathan for sixth on track, but fifth overall with Albert's penalty, and he soon set about chasing down Ecurie Ecosse youngster Ciaran Haggerty for fourth.

The 18-year-old made his move on the Scot through the Craner Curves early on and, on the same tour, slid down the inside of Jack Bartholomew at the Melbourne Hairpin to take third in a barnstorming first couple of laps. Ahead of Will was the duelling pair of Chris Mealin and Omar Ismail and they came to grief coming out of Goddards, running out on to the grass on the home straight after contact. Will drove past to take the lead and he wouldn't relinquish the advantage for the rest of the race.

As the laps ticked down, Will continued to extend his advantage to cross the line 8.886s ahead of Lanan Racing's Jack Bartholomew after 12 laps, with Hillspeed's Vaidyanthan completing the top three. With victory, Will extended his lead in the overall standings to 102 points over nearest rival Tom Jackson and 108 points from third place Harri Newey, meaning he just had to finish in front of the pair in race three to take the title.

Starting on pole position by virtue of claiming the fastest lap from the first two races of the weekend, Will made a clean getaway to lead the field in to Redgate. An incident behind involving Chris Mealin and Tom Jackson required a safety car intervention to clear up the stricken Lanan Racing machine, and negating Will's early advantage.

The Southwater racer made a strong restart though and easily pulled away from Fonseca when racing resumed, but his progress was held up once more as a second safety car period ensued to recover Sisa Ngebulana's machine on lap six. Once more, Will kept his cool and broke away from the pack once the safety car pulled off and he cruised to the chequered flag untroubled.

Speaking after the race, Will said: "I am delighted! It's amazing after a year of hard work to finally take the crown and it is even better to do it in style, and a round early too. Getting my 10th win sums up my season as it has been amazing, especially since Silverstone. I am absolutely delighted that we've been able to be as dominant as we have been this year.

"The two safety car periods were frustrating but having said that, I was confident that I could manage the restarts and pull away. Fortunately, that is exactly what happened."

He came home ahead of Lanan Racing's Rodrigo Fonseca and his HHC Motorsport team-mate Harri Newey to claim the title with three races remaining. Will was handed his winner's trophy on the podium by 2014 BRDC Formula 4 Champion and BRDC member George Russell.

Will has an unassailable lead of 119 points heading to the final meeting of the year at Brands Hatch in Kent on September 26/27.

Duo BRDC Formula 4 - Donington Park - Race Two top 10

1. Will Palmer, HHC Motorsport, 12 Laps
2. Jack Bartholomew, Lanan Racing, +8.886s
3. Ameya Vaidyanathan, Hillspeed, +11.773s
4. Ciaran Haggerty, Ecurie Ecosse/GBR, +12.177s
5. Omar Ismail, Chris Dittmann Racing, +14.445s
6. Tom Jackson, Chris Dittmann Racing, +16.354s
7. Harri Newey, HHC Motorsport, +17.451s
8. Jordan Albert, Sean Walkinshaw Racing, +17.841s
9. Rodrigo Fonseca, Lanan Racing, +19.280s
10. Chris Mealin, Lanan Racing, +35.676s

Duo BRDC Formula 4 - Donington Park - Race Three top 10

1. Will Palmer, HHC Motorsport, 11 Laps
2. Rodrigo Fonseca, Lanan Racing, +4.490s
3. Harri Newey, HHC Motorsport, +5.047s
4. Hernan Fallas, Hillspeed, +7.743s
5. Ciaran Haggerty, Ecurie Ecosse/GBR, +8.046s
6. Omar Ismail, Chris Dittmann Racing, +8.266s
7. Ameya Vaidyanathan, Hillspeed, +8.518s
8. Jack Bartholomew, Lanan Racing, +8.579s
9. Jordan Albert, Sean Walkinshaw Racing, +8.980s
10. Akhil Rabindra, Douglas Motorsport, +9.979s

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