They say racing is a team sport – and it couldn’t be more true. On his path to being crowned GB4 champion last weekend at Brands Hatch, Linus Granfors has been backed by Fortec Motorsport in a mutual – and ultimately successful – quest for speed. We hear from team manager Ollie Dutton as he shares his thoughts on a gold-clad campaign…
Q: What has it been like working with Linus this year?
OD: It’s been a pleasure working with Linus. He’s easy to be around and he came with strong knowledge of how he likes the car. His feedback is great, which makes it easier to fine-tune the car’s performance.
Q: What defines him as a racing driver?
OD: His ability to learn quickly and adapt to different situations. Most circuits we went to, he’d never been to them before, so he had to learn a lot with limited running.
Q: What’s been the key to winning the championship this year?
OD: Consistency! DNFs destroy championships, especially with the GB4 point system. Finishing every race and building on the points throughout the season is key. Taking calculated risks is essential in winning a championship, which is exactly what Linus did throughout the season, and especially in the latter part of it.
Granfors and Dutton take to the podium at last weekend’s season-finale
A jubilant team greets their newly-crowned champion
Q: What’s your standout moment from the past season?
OD: I think setting the lap record first time in the car and first time driving around Silverstone set the intentions for the season. That was a letter of intent if you like; it was a proper demonstration of capability. Winning races always stand out, of course, but I think that first day out in the car was such a motivator for everyone.
Q: What about the group working closest to Linus?
OD: Having his family around him has worked well with Linus. His brother’s knowledge of the circuits has helped him with limited testing. His father’s engineering experience of how Linus has liked the car set-up in the past has been important given the lack of track time.
His mechanic, Sam, was focussed on providing a car that would be reliable to help push for the championship. We’ve had virtually zero technical issues all season and Sam is a big part of that.
Master mechanic Sam enjoys a sip of success
Celebrations after a truly memorable season
Q: What does this title mean to you as a team?
OD: Success is why we all do it. It’s why the mechanics take apart gearboxes Monday morning after a race and prepare the cars to the highest standards. It keeps the moral up of the team and keeps us pushing for more strong results.
Q: You’ve seen a lot of very fast drivers over the years, including a few now in Formula 1. What do you think Linus can achieve moving forward?
OD: I feel Linus can achieve anything he puts his mind to. The talent is there! The world is in his hands.