McLaughlin RedBull Junior claims British F4 rookie championship

Red Bull Junior Driver Fionn McLaughlin from Magherafelt has claimed the British F4 Rookie Championship during Donington race weekend. With a 151 point lead over second place, the win was sealed over his team mate who sits in second place.

The 17 year old racing driver also leads the main championship by 45.5 points with the next round taking place in Silverstone in three weeks time.

McLaughlin finished second in Race 1 after making strong progress on the opening lap from fifth on the grid. He ran third for most of Saturday’s contest before delivering a superb late-race move for second at Redgate on the penultimate lap. However, after contact with another car at the Melbourne Hairpin in Race 2, he was handed a five-place grid penalty for the final race of the weekend. Starting ninth, Fionn kept out of trouble to finish fifth and seal that all-important Rookie Cup crown.

Fionn McLaughlin said:

“It’s a great way to end the weekend, but with the penalty going into that race I was on the back foot — then I got front wing damage at the start. So it was a very tough race for me. But I managed to come away with P5 and win the Rookie Cup.”