From Team F4V Media –
| • Season-best P6 for Nathan Anthony on day one of American Speedfest • Three top 10 finishes from weekend’s six races at ‘home’ track Brands • Horley driver wins Masters in Rd5 Heat Two, second in Masters points |
| Team F4V driver Nathan Anthony put together one of his most consistent events of the 2024 Legends Cars Championship at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit over the weekend, 8th/9th June, with an excellent season-best result of sixth place during round five on day one of American Speedfest. For Saturday’s first race, the Horley driver started the contest 18th and was determined to break into the top 10. Initially making great progress in the No.29 Se-Van, he sliced through the order and within a couple of laps he was in 13th position. Pressuring Mark Beaty at mid-distance, Nathan was then shuffled back to 16th and ultimately ended the 10 laps in 18th again after some robust action. Heat Two was a real highlight, Nathan battling hard for an outright podium during the first half of the race and eventually finishing an excellent sixth – winning the Masters class. Starting seventh, he managed to avoid chaos at Druids on lap one to thread his way through to a lofty fourth and after the enforced Safety Car period he leapt into third at the re-start on lap four. Fending off Masters rival Nick Bridgeman, the Team F4V racer maintained third before the advancing Tyler Read moved through on lap seven. Although slipping to sixth with a couple of laps to go, the result brought big points for Nathan and a good boost ahead of the round five Final. Starting 11th on the grid for the Final, the race initially seemed to be getting away from Nathan after being bundled down to 20th spot on the opening tour. He mounted a stirring fightback, though, and by lap six he had worked his way into the top 15. The mid-part of the race was especially impressive and by the end of lap seven he was into the top 10 and challenging hard. Although slipping to 12th before the chequered flag on lap 14, the result was a great way to wrap-up the first day of the festival. Notably, his fastest lap of 55.588 seconds was just 0.2 seconds shy of the race winner’s best and a match for top six pace. Nathan delivered a superb drive in Heat One of round six on Sunday, making sensational progress from 21st on the grid to finish inside the top 10. Already as high as 11th by the end of an impressive opening lap, the yellow and blue First 4 Vans, Towergate Insurance, Blue Lizard, Blue Chip Warranty, Creative Funding Solutions, Moove and Mowermate backed Se-Van moved into 10th on lap three. Then taking ninth just a lap later, he ran close behind chief Masters rival Bridgeman but then remained ninth to the chequered flag on lap 10 to also take second in class and make a great start to day two of American Speedfest. Beginning Heat Two from the front row of the grid, Nathan was fifth by the end of the first lap but determined to continue the front-running momentum and consistency. Holding sixth prior to a Safety Car period between laps three and five, the Team F4V racer was in the thick of the action with the lead title contenders and although elbowed out of the top 10 he ultimately finished ninth again. Nathan lined-up 15th on the grid for the round six Final but after slipping several places on a busy first lap, he battled back and was into 16th position by mid-distance. Breaking back into the top 15 soon after, on lap 12 the contest was red flagged due to fluid on the circuit at the first corner which led to several competitors spinning off. The result was declared from lap 10, with Nathan in 14th. Nathan Anthony: “I’m really happy with how the weekend has gone, we scored some good, consistent points and had some great races. The top six in race two on Saturday was the highlight in terms of the result, our best of the year so far overall, but moving through from outside the top 20 at the start of Heat One on Sunday to finish ninth was pretty satisfying. “We’ve shown good pace, good consistency, and so I’m hoping we can build on that further when we go back to Donington in three weeks. It’s always great being part of the American Speedfest, a fantastic event, and I want to say thank you for all the amazing support we’ve had all weekend.” Next on the racing schedule for Nathan and Team F4V is the second visit of the year to Donington Park in the East Midlands, with rounds seven and eight of the Legends Cars Championship taking place over the weekend 29th/30th June. Legends Cars Championship Standings (after Rd6): 13th Nathan Anthony, 1170pts Legends Cars Championship ‘Masters Cup’ Standings (after Rd6): 2nd Nathan Anthony, 1170pts |
Photo credit: JEP
