Hitech TGR’s first weekend racing in the Formula Winter Series was a resounding success, as the team capped off their debut with a brilliant 1-2 finish. Rookie Fionn McLaughlin claimed top honours ahead of Leo Robinson on the podium, rounding off an impressive weekend of Formula 4 action in Portimão.
Competing in the four-round Formula Winter Series for the first time, the team collected a solid haul of silverware across the three races held at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve.
Leo secured two second-place finishes, Fionn clinched two victories in the Rookie Class – including an overall win in Race 3 – while Nina Gademan dominated the Female Trophy category with three wins, finishing as the top female competitor in the 30-strong field. Thomas Bearman also took a Rookie Class victory in Race 2 and finished second in class in Race 3.
The weekend got underway on Saturday morning, with Leo making a brilliant start to take the lead by Turn 3. After some superb defensive driving, he was on course for victory when a late Safety Car appearance dashed his chances. When the race resumed with just one lap remaining, Leo was unfortunately unable to hold onto the lead.
“In the first couple of laps, I pushed hard, then managed the gap as I was looking after tyre wear. P2 isn’t what I wanted, but I’ll take it,” said the 15-year-old. “It was effectively game over when the Safety Car came out, but we’ll learn from that next time. It was the longest race I’d ever driven, so managing the tyres was important – something we’re not used to as much. With this layout, it’s easy to drop off by two seconds a lap if you’re not careful.”
After a strong start to the weekend, drama struck on the opening lap of Race 2. While battling for the lead, Leo ran wide over the kerbs and made contact with Fionn, forcing him out of the race with a puncture and leaving Fionn needing a front wing change. Despite the setback, Thomas salvaged a strong result for the Hitech team taking Rookie Class honours with a sixth-place finish.
The final race of the weekend on Sunday morning got off to a bizarre start when only three lights appeared on the gantry. Despite the race seemingly getting underway, it was soon red-flagged. Overnight rain had left the Portuguese track damp, and many drivers – including those at the front – opted for wet tyres. Despite the greasy conditions, Fionn displayed his talent as he stormed from fifth to first in just a few turns and comfortably held off his team-mate Leo to claim an impressive F4 victory on debut – winning by just over four seconds.
“It feels amazing. I’m so happy to be on the top step of the podium and to do it in just my third Formula 4 race is incredible,” said the Red Bull Junior Team driver. “The track was drying up, the tyres were wearing out, so I had to manage the gap to Leo. When I saw him catching, I pushed a bit more to maintain the lead. It’s amazing to get this win for Hitech on their debut in the Formula Winter Series. They’re a fantastic group and I’m grateful to be part of such a great family.”
The next round of the Formula Winter Series takes place in Valencia on February 13-16.
