Colin Queen continues GB4 podium run at Silverstone GP
Colin Queen scored a second career podium and gathered more momentum to his GB4 Championship title push at Silverstone GP this weekend [6-7 May].
Having opened his account for silverware at the season opener over Easter weekend, the 18-year-old returned from a four-week hiatus ready to build on his first taste of ‘slicks and wings’ at the Northamptonshire circuit, recognised worldwide as the home of the British Grand Prix.
In tricky wet conditions, Queen qualified on the front row alongside championship leader Tom Mills. Thanks to the ‘Great British weather’, however, that would be the final track action on Saturday, with heavy rainfall during the afternoon cancelling the opening race. Organisers are exploring options to hold the race at a different round.
Refreshed and ready for action on Sunday, Queen set about maximising the remaining two races on the schedule, and the Southern Californian gave his title bid a shot in the arm with two impressive performances.
The first started in unlucky fashion, with a rare gear slip during the launch phase of Queen’s start momentarily dropping him back from third to second gear. That lost Queen crucial momentum on the run down to Copse, and he slotted into the queue in third.
Undeterred, Queen set about re-gaining lost ground, and at the second attempt sent a clean move down the inside of Cooper Webster through the fast right-hander at Stowe to re-take the runner up spot.
Their battle had allowed Mills to escape ahead, but it represented a second podium in successive rounds for Queen.
The final race of the weekend features a reversed grid based on the results of qualifying, putting Queen tenth. In what is usually an action-packed, borderline chaotic affair, he kept his cool despite two safety car periods to move through to fourth and score valuable points towards his title bid.
The next stop on the 2023 GB4 Championship calendar is Donington Park, Leicestershire on 27-28 April.
Colin Queen (#62) said:
“Overall, this weekend was definitely a good one. We came away with solid points, and strong finishes across both races.
“It’s unfortunate with the weather, and some safety cars, we only really ended up getting in one and a half races, but these things happen.
“Now it’s time to go away, look at how we can continue to improve and show up at Donington Park in a few weeks’ time prepared to go again.”