Evans GP’s Cooper Webster claimed victory in the first GB4 race of the weekend at Donington Park, holding off a late charge from Fox Motorsport’s Liam McNeilly, while KMR Sport’s Lucas Blakeley took a maiden GB4 podium with third.
Webster made a strong start from pole position to lead the pack to Redgate, but behind there was a rapid getaway for KMR Sport's Blakeley, who shot from fifth on the grid to second.
But the Esports champion ran wide at the exit of Goddards on lap one, falling behind McNeilly and Fortec's Colin Queen.
At this point, Webster had already built a strong lead of over three seconds on McNeilly, but Queen slipped behind with an off at the Esses on lap four, putting Blakeley back into the podium positions.
Moving into the second half of the slightly shortened 15-minute contest, Webster's lead was trimmed rapidly by McNeilly, with the pair separated by just over a second by lap seven. But despite a string of fastest laps, McNeilly wasn't quite able to close the gap enough, as Webster took his third win of the season by just six tenths of a second.
Blakeley claimed his first slicks and wings podium with third place, while VRD's Zack Ping equalled his best GB4 result in fourth.
Graham Brunton Racing's Harry Burgoyne was fifth, a couple of seconds clear of lead newcomer Theo Micouris, who took sixth for Elite Motorsport.
Queen nursed his car home to seventh ahead of teammate Aditya Kulkarni, while Sid Smith was ninth despite running without a rear wing following a mid-race melee at Melbourne Hairpin, that also affected Jack Clifford, Finn Harrison and Dan Hickey.
Dylan Hotchin completed the top-10, with Sebastian Murray (Graham Brunton Racing), Thomas Lee (Evans GP) and Clifford (KMR) the final finishers.
The second GB4 race of the weekend is due to commence at 11.11 tomorrow morning (Sunday).
GB4 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Donington Park race one result:
1. Cooper Webster, Evans GP, 10 laps
2. Liam McNeilly, Fox Motorsport, +0.627
3. Lucas Blakeley, KMR Sport, +10.438
4. Zack Ping, VRD, +18.096
5. Harry Burgoyne, Graham Brunton Racing, +19.955
6. Theo Micouris, Elite Motorsport, +21.962
7. Colin Queen, Fortec Motorsport, +31.502
8. Aditya Kulkarni, Fortec Motorsport, +39.679
9. Sid Smith, Fox Motorsport, +45.219
10. Dylan Hotchin, Dylan Hotchin Racing, +1m12.256
11. Sebastian Murray, Graham Brunton Racing, +1m26.364
12. Thomas Lee, Evans GP, +1 lap
13. Jack Clifford, KMR Sport, +1 lap
DNF. Finn Harrison, Elite Motorsport
DNF. Dan Hickey, Fortec Motorsport
DNS. Lexie Belk, Belk Racing