Alex O’Grady secured a podium finish in the opening GB4 race of the 2026 season at Silverstone, continuing his consistent record in the category. After showing strong pace during practice and qualifying, he entered the race as a contender for higher positions. However, changing track conditions and race dynamics influenced his performance, particularly in close battles during the race.
Following the race, O’Grady, during his trackside interview with GB4, reviewed the key factors that shaped his result, including car balance, race start, and opportunities that emerged during the opening laps. He also reflected on the progress made compared to previous performances at the circuit and outlined areas for improvement ahead of the next race.
O’Grady reflects on car balance and race conditions in Race 1 of the 2026 GB4 opener in Silverstone
O’Grady identified car balance as a key limitation during the race, particularly after changes in track conditions. He noted that grip levels differed significantly compared to earlier sessions, which affected his ability to challenge for higher positions.
“Yeah, not too bad. I mean, we didn’t expect to be P1 on Friday in the times, and the car was working very well. Just this race here, with the British GT rubber, went completely slow, and we were struggling for front end. So, any time we were close to Emmilio [Del Grosso], it was really just understeering, and then I ended up getting backed into Thomas [Ingram Hill].”
He explained that this lack of front-end grip limited his ability to follow closely and attempt overtakes, particularly when running behind other cars in the early stages of the race.
In addition to car balance, O’Grady reflected on the race start and how it influenced his overall result. He indicated that the opening phase of the race presented a potential opportunity, particularly following an incident involving the race leader.
“So, yeah, shame about the start. I think we could have almost won that race with Fred [Green] going off a T1 the lap after. But still, you know, at Silverstone last year, we were absolutely nowhere. So, we’ve made big steps forward, and hopefully we can keep this going throughout the year. Yeah, huge progress.”
While he recognised the missed opportunity, he also placed emphasis on the improvement shown compared to previous performances at Silverstone, highlighting a clear step forward in competitiveness.
Focus on improving race starts
Looking ahead to the next race, O’Grady pointed to race starts as an area requiring further improvement. He acknowledged that this has been a consistent challenge and identified it as a priority moving forward.
“Try and get a better start, really. It’s always been a weak point for me. But, you know, it wasn’t horrendous. Definitely room for improvement. And, yeah, I think tomorrow I’m starting P4 because my second-best lap wasn’t very good. So, hopefully we can just move forward and get another podium.”
The Silverstone result marked a continuation of O’Grady’s consistent performances in GB4, while also demonstrating improved pace at a circuit where he previously struggled. By combining competitive speed with a focus on refining key areas, he established a foundation to build on across the remainder of the race weekend and the wider season.
