RACE REPORT

WINTER WINNER GRAHAM SPEAKS

After enjoying an immensely strong début season in BRDC Formula 4, Matty Graham rounded off his year’s racing and was crowned as the inaugural BRDC F4 Winter Champion.

Winning three out of eight races, Matty demonstrated a composed nature at the two meetings that formed the 2013 Winter Series to emerge a deserving champion.

Speaking shortly after sealing the title to the official BRDC F4 website, he said

“It’s an amazing feeling to win the Winter Championship. We’ve worked hard and Douglas Motorsport have done an excellent job. There was a bit of pressure coming into the series as I was touted as a favourite but I’ve done what I came here to do and I’m very happy with myself. Hopefully we can use this as a springboard to Europe next season!

“I’ve learned so much in this championship. Even after my first race at Silverstone in April with Sean Walkinshaw Racing, the first thing I said when I came back into the pits was ‘wow I’ve learned so much’ because it was a big step up from karting. You can do as many testing days as you want but there’s nothing like the real thing and racing with other drivers. In each race I feel like I’ve learned something new. Even now in the Winter Championship, with the tricky weather conditions I’ve learned even more.

“The main season started off well with some good consistent finishes but the Snetterton round was a bit of a disaster and had a lot of bad luck there. Half way through the season was a big turning point and I realised the championship was going so fast and there weren’t many rounds left to make an impact. So I put my foot down, got my head down and went for it.

“The first win at Brands Hatch GP was a massive turning point. I’d never been there before and only had a 20 minute session before qualifying to learn the track. I found I really enjoyed it, I was fast on it and it was nice to get my first win.

“It was good to prove myself against a very competitive field. There were so many different winners and the lap times were so close as well and to finish fourth, and still be in contention for the title heading to the final round at Donington was great. That gave me great confidence coming into the Winter Championship, and I guess why I was tipped to win it.

“I knew I had the pace to win the Winter Championship and after winning the first two races at Snetterton, and to do it so dominantly made me think I had a really good chance. But the second day at Snetterton didn’t go as planned. But this weekend has been great and it’s all come good!

“The main championship was very competitive with big grids and a lot of strong and experienced drivers as well as new ones coming from karting like myself. I was surprised at how competitive the Winter Championship was as well. Even though the grids were smaller there was a good bunch of drivers which are really competitive and were really able to give me a run for my money and it’s nice to beat them all!

“We’d like to go into Europe next year and we have a lot of options, so it’s hard to make a decision at the moment!”