Fox Motorsport driver Megan Bruce enjoyed a positive weekend in the GB4 Championship at Silverstone and, coming out on top in a number of close battles in race 2, she showed top-10 contending pace and banked valuable points with a P11.
Fox Motorsport driver Megan Bruce enjoyed a positive weekend in the GB4 Championship at Silverstone. Qualifying 15th in a challenging wet session, Bruce finished 14th in race one, before racing to an excellent 11th place result in race two. Coming out on top in a number of close battles in the second contest, Megan will be encouraged by the speed she showed in her second weekend of single-seater competition.
Beginning her formula car career in the GB4 Championship at Oulton Park, it was an encouraging debut event for Megan who adapted well to the new machinery and battled challenging conditions to good effect. Securing a best result of seventh in race three, Bruce finished two places higher in each of the three races to underline her development. Competing on the Grand Prix layout at Silverstone was the next test, with the Fox Motorsport driver targeting positions within the top-10.
The weekend began with a series of test sessions on both Thursday and Friday, with the Fox Motorsport driver taking full advantage of this extra track time. Completing 41 laps on Thursday, Bruce set the 14th fastest time in a competitive field of drivers. Making improvements in Friday’s two sessions, Megan elevated herself inside the top-10, with her best lap from session one placing her ninth fastest.
Conditions were more difficult for qualifying on Saturday morning, with a wet track adding to the challenge of Megan’s second ever GB4 Championship qualifying session. The Fox Motorsport driver’s fastest time came on her final lap of the session and this placed Bruce 15th overall. Good knowledge was gained during the fifteen-minute session and she looked to take this into the trio of races to come.
The first race of the weekend took place on Saturday afternoon and Bruce made a solid start, gaining one position to end the first lap in 14th. Positions within the midfield were closely contested and although losing out to a recovering Brandon McCaughan on lap two, Megan was right behind the Fortec Motorsport car of Dan Hickey.
Bruce and Hickey continued battling hard during the middle portion of the race, with the Fox Motorsport driver showing improved pace in race one. On lap six, Megan spun at Brooklands while fighting for position and this ensured Hickey remained ahead. Despite this setback, in addition to a five second penalty for track limits, Bruce kept pushing on and this saw her take the checkered flag in 14th position while setting her fastest lap of the race on the final lap.
Race two was scheduled to take place on Saturday morning, however persistent heavy rain led to the race being postponed with a hope that it will take place during the GB4 Championship’s second visit to Silverstone. The track had dried out sufficiently for drivers to use the slick tyres for the final race of the weekend, despite some greasy areas off-line. Megan lined up 13th on the grid and made a good start to gain one position during the opening lap.
A fantastic battle with Christian Lester than saw Bruce fall behind, before a recovering Marcus Luzio overtook both drivers. Megan regained the spot from Lester on lap four and then set about chasing down Fortec Motorsport driver Jack Taylor. A series of fast lap times saw the Fox Motorsport driver close in and apply pressure to the Australian racer.
On lap eight, Bruce made a fantastic move to take away the position, while also benefiting from the retirement of Chloe Grant to move into 11th. Narrowly missing out on a top-10 result, it was a positive race for Megan who banked valuable points with an 11th place result.
Showing improved pace throughout the weekend at Silverstone, it was an encouraging visit to the Grand Prix circuit for Bruce. Continuing to enjoy close battles in the midfield, Megan showed top-10 contending pace in race two which will encourage her ahead of the series second visit to the home of British motorsport in July.
The next round of the GB4 Championship takes place at Donington Park, with Bruce targeting season best results when the action resumes on the weekend of 25th/26th May.