A soaking Snetterton greeted Abbi and the rest of the field for the third weekend of racing in the 2024 ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA. A strong two days of testing for Abbi in the run-up to the event put the Alpine Academy driver in position for a strong weekend of racing for RODIN Motorsport.
Treacherous conditions greeted the drivers as they took the track for qualifying. With such tricky conditions, came a lot of yellow flags as drivers struggled to keep it on the track, making it tricky for Abbi to get a clear lap in. A late red flag saw a two-lap dash at the end of the session with the track improving.
However, post session, Abbi along with multiple other drivers were harshly stripped of their best lap due to a last session yellow – having been deemed to have set their fastest lap, despite the ever drying track.
Race 1 took place in damp and greasy conditions and with a good start and opening lap, Abbi was up in to P9, but it was not long until a car slipped off the circuit and brought out the safety car, condensing the field. A lengthy stoppage saw the safety car eventually return to the pitlane, leaving enough time for a two-lap sprint to the end with Abbi taking the chequered flag in P9.
Sunday morning before Race 2, saw another downpour of rain -leaving conditions for the second race of the weekend worse than the day before! From P14 on the grid, Abbi was up three positions by the end of the opening lap after a great start.
It was a race of attrition as those around her struggled in the conditions to keep the car on this island, but Abbi managed the conditions perfectly and was into P7 by lap 4 when the Safety Car was deployed.
At the restart, Abbi and her fellow RODIN Motorsport teammate Alex Ninovic continued to make excellent progress through the pack – with Abbi continuing her climb through the field, securing a strong P5 at the chequered flag.
The third and final race of the weekend saw the conditions improve and would be the first in dry conditions. Starting from P14, Abbi made an electric getaway to immediately gain two positions – before placing her car excellently well to take advantage of the chaotic battling ahead, moving herself into P7 before a Safety Car was deployed at the end of Lap 1.
When the safety car returned to the pitlane, the first clap of thunder sounded around the circuit – an ominous warning of what was to come. A solid restart saw Abbi on the back of Rowan Campbell-Pilling, but the heavens soon opened, drenching the circuit and spectators and the race was quickly red-flagged. Unable to restart due to the conditions, the race was declared, and half points were awarded.
Abbi Pulling:
"Qualifying was very unfortunate, getting my fastest lap taken away - despite proving that I lifted - which was very unlucky. But I kept my chin up and stayed positive."
"Race 1 was very wet , I made a few places on the first lap and essentially held it for the rest of the race in P9."
"Race 2 , I knew there was a lot that could happen after the downpour. I got an amazing start and gained places off the line and then just kept my nose clean.
I kept it on track and consistent as others made mistakes so it was great to gain 9 positions and finish P5 - which was the maximum I feel we could’ve achieved."
"Race 3 was dry and I made up 4 places off the start with a great launch! Turn 3 I made a good move around the outside and gained a couple more later down the back straight - getting up to P7.
That was essentially the only racing then due to the safety car and the rainstorm - so we didn’t get chance to show our true pace and we were in a good place!
We could’ve probably gained a few more positions with where we were."
"Overall it was a good recovery from an unfortunate qualifying result, we rescued some good points - and I’m looking forward to building on it at Thruxton!"
Despite all the drama leading up to the races, Abbi demonstrated some brilliant race craft and recovered well to secure a trio of points paying finishes for RODIN Motorsport - leaving Snetterton P5 in the Drivers' Championship.
Abbi will be once again in British F4 action in just two-weeks’ time at Thruxton, when the championship returns on the 8-9 June.
.svg)
