Megan Bruce and Ava Dobson impress in chaotic mixed-weather GB4 round at Silverstone
- RACERS
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
The GB4 Championship returned to Silverstone Circuit for the second time this year, with the fifth round of the season delivering action-packed races in changing conditions. Megan Bruce twice finished as the highest-placed female driver, with a best result of 12th in a strong wet-weather performance. Ava Dobson claimed a top-15 finish in Race 1 and led a lap in a hectic second race, although a tyre gamble ultimately didn’t pay off.
The GB4 Championship returned to Silverstone Circuit for the second time this year, with the fifth round of the season delivering action-packed races in changing conditions. Megan Bruce twice finished as the highest-placed female driver, with a best result of 12th in a strong wet-weather performance. Ava Dobson claimed a top-15 finish in Race 1 and led a lap in a hectic second race, although a tyre gamble ultimately didn’t pay off.
Lily-May Watkins was unlucky with technical issues but still managed to gain a position in the final race of the weekend. Flame Airikkala returned to the series for her second outing after an impressive debut at Snetterton, where she scored two top-20s. She replicated that form with another P20 finish at Silverstone, delivering a clean and consistent weekend.
Holly Miall added another top-20 to her tally and made steady progress through the field across the three races. Her Fox Motorsport teammate Caitlyn McDaniel battled illness early in the weekend, making for a challenging round. Nevertheless, she was the most improved driver compared to the previous Silverstone round in April, significantly closing the gap to the frontrunners and ran a strong final race, scoring points for gaining three positions from the start.
The six female drivers competing in GB4—Megan Bruce, Ava Dobson, Lily-May Watkins, Flame Airikkala, Holly Miall, and Caitlyn McDaniel—are not only fighting for overall classification positions but also for the €50,000 prize fund offered by MSV towards a potential F1 Academy seat next year for the top-placed female driver in the final standings, following in the footsteps of 2025 winner Alisha Palmowski.
The weekend started strongly for Megan Bruce, who was seventh in the opening test session on Thursday. Ava Dobson was just outside the top 15 in both session one and two. The American, who previously raced at Miami as the F1 Academy wildcard, showed consistency across all sessions, demonstrating steady progress. McDaniel was forced to miss sessions due to illness, losing valuable track time.
In qualifying on Saturday morning, Ava Dobson quickly slotted into the top 10 with a strong start to the session. She improved to a 2:01.898, temporarily going eighth fastest, and eventually secured P16 in an encouraging performance. Megan Bruce set her best lap of 2:02.784 on her final run to place 20th.
Lily-May Watkins was 22nd with a 2:04.152, one tenth ahead of Holly Miall. Flame Airikkala improved her time on her final lap with a 2:04.702 for P24, while Caitlyn McDaniel rounded out the field in 25th with a 2:05.821.
With 25 cars on the grid—one of the series’ biggest fields—Australian Jake Taylor started from pole. Unfortunately, Lily-May Watkins suffered a mechanical issue on the formation lap and was the only non-starter.
As the lights went out, Ava Dobson made a great launch and battled hard in the midfield; Bruce also engaged in close duels further back, fighting for positions inside the top 20.
Dobson held P16 after the first lap, with Bruce gaining two spots to move up to P18. Airikkala had a good start, gaining two places to sit P22 after passing Miall, who was just ahead of teammate McDaniel.
Dobson was locked in battle with O’Grady, while Bruce overtook Magnussen on lap 2 to move up to P17 and began closing in on Dobson for the top female spot. Further back, Airikkala continued to make progress, overtaking Deonarine and Ruddock to take P20 on lap 3. Miall, running in the 2:04.9s, was showing competitive pace and keeping close to Ruddock.
As Bostandjiev received a 5-second penalty for track limits, both Dobson and Bruce, running just behind, were close enough to benefit staying within range. Bruce clocked a 2:03.411 to close the gap to Dobson, who responded with a 2:03.253 to stay just over a second ahead. Airikkala and Deonarine continued to swap places, with Deonarine eventually regaining position on lap 6.
Dobson dipped under the 2:03 mark on the final lap and brought home P15 as the top female finisher, ahead of Bruce in P16. Airikkala was classified 20th after Bostandjiev’s penalty—her third top-20 finish in four races—followed by Miall in P22 and McDaniel in P24. Watkins was the only DNF.
Sunday’s second race began under overcast skies, with rain starting during the formation lap. All drivers pitted for wet tyres—except Ava Dobson and Mayer Deonarine, who gambled by staying out on slicks and lined up on the grid.
Dobson, starting P16, took the lead at the start and managed to stay on track despite increasingly slippery conditions, before Deonarine overtook into Stowe. The rest of the field rejoined after pit stops, with Megan Bruce in P15, Miall P20, Watkins P23, McDaniel P24, and Airikkala P25 - the latter having been slowed down by cars blocking their pit stalls in the hectic moments in pit lane.
Taylor and Kattoulis, now on wets, quickly caught Dobson, who dropped to third by lap 3 as conditions worsened. Ava however remained competitive and was defending P4 when the safety car was deployed following Kattoulis’ crash at Stowe.
Bruce remained in P15, while Miall dropped to P22, just ahead of Watkins, McDaniel, and Airikkala, who was closing in on her Fox Motorsport rival.
Dobson used the neutralisation to pit for wets and rejoined in P20. Bruce therefore moved up to P13 as the race resumed with less than a minute to go. Deonarine, the last driver on slicks, was also falling down the order.
Bruce gained another position and crossed the line in P12 as the top female driver, in a strong performance in extremely tricky conditions. Dobson finished 19th, ahead of Miall, Watkins, McDaniel (P22), and Airikkala (P23). It was a bold strategy call by Dobson, which didn’t pay off, but showed her fighting spirit to attempt.
The final race of the weekend was held in dry conditions. Dobson started from P16, Bruce from P20, followed by Watkins (P22), Miall (P23), Airikkala (P24), and McDaniel (P25).
The start was delayed due to issues for a few cars on the formation lap, with Hallman and O’Grady forced to start from the pit lane. Dobson had a tricky start but still moved up to P15, while Bruce gained three places to run P17, followed closely by Miall, who impressively made up five spots. Watkins moved into P20, just ahead of Airikkala and McDaniel.
Hallman began recovering through the field and passed both Watkins and Airikkala on lap 2. Miall, still running well, was just behind Bruce in P18, but Hallman overtook her on lap 3.
Bruce then attacked and passed Ruddock for P16, while Dobson, running strong laps in the 2:04s, held P15 and started to put pressure on Kraling.
Hallman eventually overtook Bruce on lap 5 with a sub-2:04 lap. Dobson continued pushing and was up to P14 when Pribyl's car suffered a failure, catching fire and causing a red flag that eventually ended the race prematurely.
Dobson took the chequered flag P14 but received a 10-second penalty for incorrect starting position, which dropped her to P19. Megan Bruce was therefore promoted to P16 and once again finished as the top female driver, the second time of the weekend. Holly Miall capped off a solid weekend with a P20 finish, ahead of Airikkala in P21, Watkins in P22, and McDaniel in P23—who gained five spots and scored points for positions gained in the reverse-grid race.
After five race weekends, Megan Bruce sits 16th in the overall standings with 95 points, leading the female contingent. Ava Dobson follows with 67 points, having missed out on bigger results despite strong performances. Holly Miall holds 56 points, while single-seater rookies Caitlyn McDaniel (33 points) and Lily-May Watkins (27 points) continue to make progress.
The next round will take place at Brands Hatch on 23–24 August, a challenging circuit that promises another exciting weekend of GB4 action.