Esterson ahead as rain stops play
Max Esterson banished the disappointment of just missing out on Formula Ford Festival glory 12 months ago with victory in the 2022 edition – albeit the shortest ever final in the event’s 51-year history.
But, while the main race proved an anti-climax, with a result declared after only two racing laps as heavy rain and darkness descended, the American had earned the right to victory with his performances earlier in the event in leading every lap of his heat and semi-final.
With dark clouds looming overhead and lightning striking in the distance, Esterson’s Ray GR18 held the advantage from pole for the scheduled 20-lap final, while Joey Foster’s Firman RFR20 moved into second after getting the better of front-row starter Michael Eastwell (Spectrum 011C).
Eastwell slipped behind Kevin Mills Racing team-mate Jordan Dempsey after running slightly wide at Graham Hill
Bend, with the front trio soon pulling out a gap to the chasing pack.
But at the start of lap three, heavy rain – which had been forecast to fall since the start of the day – began to pound the Brands Hatch circuit, with the safety car immediately called into action. As competitors slowed along the start/finish straight, David Mccullough was hit from behind by the Ray of Team USA Scholarship driver Tom Schrage. With Mccullough’s Van Diemen RF00 stranded in the middle of the circuit after also making contact with the pitwall, the red flag was deployed before the drivers had completed their fourth lap.
With competitors instructed to head to the pits, confusion reigned as teams were eventually given permission to make changes to the cars, aiding those who had edged towards a dry set-up while angering those who had already gambled on wet settings.
In the end, the tension and disagreements counted for nothing when, with darkness shrouding the circuit, the ‘race’ was declared with Esterson the victor in a somewhat farcical situation (see Opinion, p61).
“It’s by no means a fluke, I was first every session before it – it’s not like I got lucky and made up 10 spots when everyone fell off the track,” said a delighted Esterson. “I just can’t believe it really, especially as I haven’t driven the car all year.”“he’s a deserved winner – he won the Walter
Hayes Trophy last year, he was second here last year,” acknowledged Foster. “He was always going to be the toughest opposition I saw heading into this weekend; he’s always had the car hooked up around here.”
Indeed, GB3 race winner Esterson never
looked out of place on his FF1600 return with Ammonite Motorsport, and qualified comfortably on pole from 2022 National Formula Ford champion Dempsey for the opening heat. Although there had been a pace advantage in qualifying, the same couldn’t be said during the heat itself as Dempsey relentlessly pressured Esterson throughout on a damp but drying track.
While Dempsey was looking to take the lead, he also had to be mindful of Rory Smith in his mirrors, with the 2020 Festival winner briefly moving ahead just past the halfway point at Druids, before losing the spot on the exit of Graham Hill Bend.
Esterson held on after a “stressful” race, and faced a different challenge in the first semi-final, again held on a damp track. The groundwork was done off the line when he got the better of polesitter Foster, who also dropped behind Dempsey and Schrage.
At half-distance, Foster disposed of Schrage into Paddock Hill Bend and, two laps later, demoted Dempsey’s Spectrum for second. A lead that had stood at two seconds soon began to dwindle for Esterson, and he went defensive into Clearways on the final tour to keep Foster behind by 0.146s.
Foster had earned pole for the semi with victory in his heat, aided by pre-event favourites and previous Festival winners Jamie Sharp and Niall Murray colliding. Murray seemingly had victory assured,