Matan Achituv produced an impressive drive to secure second place in the final GB4 race at Silverstone, marking his first podium in the 2026 championship. After a difficult start to his campaign at Brands Hatch, he arrived at Silverstone determined to reset and deliver a stronger performance. Despite facing technical challenges across the weekend, he showed resilience and pace to emerge as one of the standout performers.
Achituv reflects on bouncing back from early setbacks at 2026 GB4 season opener at Silverstone
Achituv entered the weekend with clear ambitions but also with the weight of earlier disappointment. Nevertheless, he approached Silverstone with renewed focus and determination to improve.
“No, obviously, you come into this championship with high expectations to do well. We had a big setback at Brands Hatch. We had two weeks off to think it off in my mind and came back here, back in the car, do my job.”
He encountered further challenges in Qualifying, which limited his track time and forced him to adapt quickly during the races.
“Obviously, I had a problem Qualifying with an electrical part and we only got one lap. Still, first race was a bit of a struggle getting used to the championship. Second race, up to P5 from P9, so good. And this race was really good.”
As a result, his steady progression across the weekend reflected both his growing confidence and his ability to learn under pressure.
Battling technical issues in the race
Although Achituv delivered a strong performance in the final race, he faced significant technical difficulties that threatened to derail his result. In particular, issues following the stoppages affected his car’s performance during crucial moments.
“Don’t know what happened when we stopped. The whole grid stopped, I think. The cars overheated a bit. I had zero power after both restarts but held off Dayton on the first one. Couldn’t hold him off on the second one with the little power I had, but the car was really good all weekend.”
Despite the loss of power, he defended his position with determination and managed to remain competitive. However, the issue ultimately limited his ability to challenge for victory in the closing stages.
Team effort behind the result
Furthermore, Achituv emphasised the collective effort behind his progress, highlighting the role of his team and support network in achieving the podium finish.
“I want to thank the team, my engineer, Jody, Matt, my coach, Johnny, driver coach, Ed, Steph, the whole Elite team. Obviously, we’ve done a lot of work pre-season and it’s starting to pay off.”
While the result marked a significant milestone, Achituv remained focused on what could have been, given the team’s strong overall performance during the weekend.
“It would have been nice to finish it off with three wins for the team, but obviously we have that issue in the end, we’ll investigate. But still, P2, first race in the championship, first podium, really happy.”
Ultimately, his second-place finish represents a major step forward in his GB4 campaign. With momentum now on his side, he looks well positioned to build on this success in the upcoming rounds.
