Fred Green converted pole position into victory in the opening GB4 race at Brands Hatch, keeping his championship hopes alive as Alex O’Grady moved another step closer to the 2026 title.
The Elite Motorsport driver controlled the race from the front after securing a double pole during Saturday’s Qualifying session, with Thomas Ingram Hill following him home in second for Fortec Motorsports. Championship leader O’Grady completed the podium for KMR Sport.
Green entered the season finale 49 points behind O’Grady and needed a strong opening result to maintain his title challenge. Victory delivered exactly that, but O’Grady’s third place limited the damage and kept the championship firmly in his control with two races remaining.
Green retains lead from pole
Green started from pole after setting a 1m24.230s during Qualifying, with Ingram Hill alongside him and O’Grady directly behind in third.
That grid represented the ideal scenario for Green as he attempted to overturn his 49-point championship deficit. Ingram Hill’s presence between the two title contenders offered the Elite Motorsport driver an opportunity to maximise the points difference if he could convert pole into victory.
Green made the start he needed and retained first place into Paddock Hill Bend, while Ingram Hill maintained second ahead of O’Grady.
With track position particularly valuable around the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit, the opening lap immediately established the pattern at the front. Green concentrated on controlling the race, while Ingram Hill remained his closest challenger and O’Grady settled into third.
The championship leader had little reason to take unnecessary risks. His sizeable advantage meant a podium would maintain a strong position heading into the final two races, even if Green claimed maximum points at the front.
Green completes perfect Saturday with victory
Green’s Race 1 performance completed an impressive Saturday after he had already established himself as the driver to beat during Qualifying.
The 17-year-old secured his sixth and seventh poles of the season earlier in the day, extending the record that had already earned him the George Russell Pole Position Cup.
Green described the double pole as a “perfect way to finish the year”, but the championship situation meant he still needed to convert that pace once racing began.
He did exactly that.
Ingram Hill remained close enough to prevent Green from relaxing completely, but the Elite Motorsport driver managed the advantage and avoided giving the Fortec driver a realistic opportunity to attack.
Green eventually took the chequered flag to add another victory to a rookie single-seater campaign defined by impressive outright speed.
The result also continued his strong history at Brands Hatch. Green claimed two victories at the circuit during his 2025 Ginetta Junior campaign and again demonstrated his affinity for the venue throughout the GB4 finale.
Ingram Hill takes second
Ingram Hill completed another strong Brands Hatch performance by converting his front-row start into second.
The Fortec driver had finished just 0.137s behind Green during Qualifying and represented the closest immediate threat to the pole-sitter when the lights went out.
Although he could not find a way past Green, second place ensured he remained between the two championship protagonists throughout the race.
Ingram Hill had already demonstrated his pace around the Grand Prix circuit during the official Brands Hatch test earlier in September, and his Qualifying performance confirmed that speed once the championship returned for its season finale.
His podium also carried championship implications beyond his own result. Every position between Green and O’Grady increased the number of points Green could recover, making Ingram Hill’s second place valuable to the Elite Motorsport driver’s fading title hopes.
O’Grady protects championship advantage
O’Grady approached Race 1 from a very different position to Green.
The KMR Sport driver entered Brands Hatch with a commanding championship advantage following a season built around both victories and consistent scoring. Green therefore needed to substantially outscore him across the finale to have any chance of overturning the deficit.
Qualifying placed O’Grady on the back foot when Green secured pole for both conventional-grid races. However, third on the Race 1 grid still gave the championship leader an opportunity to limit his rival’s gains.
O’Grady did exactly that.
Rather than losing significant ground through the field, he maintained his podium position and collected another important points haul. Green took the victory he needed, but O’Grady’s third place ensured the title remained firmly within his control heading into Sunday.
The situation also places additional importance on Race 2. Green will again start from pole after his second-fastest Qualifying lap secured the top spot, while O’Grady will once more start third.
Ingram Hill again separates the championship rivals on the grid, giving Green another opportunity to take points out of O’Grady if the starting order carries through into the race.
Hallman and Byrne lead fight behind podium
Enzo Hallman headed the next group after qualifying fourth for Hillspeed.
The Swede had started immediately behind O’Grady and remained among the leading runners as the race developed, continuing a competitive weekend after finishing only 0.381s away from Green’s pole time.
Torrin Byrne also remained inside the leading group for Pace Performance after starting fifth. Byrne had qualified only 0.049s behind Hallman as the pair formed part of a tightly packed group behind the championship contenders.
Dayton Coulthard followed for Douglas Motorsport after starting sixth, while Franciszek Cegielski continued his Brands Hatch weekend from seventh for Fortec Motorsports.
The midfield remained particularly competitive after Qualifying placed the leading nine drivers within 0.835s of Green’s benchmark.
Green keeps title fight alive into Sunday
Green could do little more than win Race 1 after entering Brands Hatch needing to substantially reduce O’Grady’s advantage.
His double pole had already ensured the best possible starting positions for the opening two races, and converting the first of those into victory maintained the mathematical championship fight.
O’Grady’s podium, however, ensured Green could not make the dramatic points swing he ideally needed.
That leaves the Elite Motorsport driver requiring another strong result when he returns to pole for Race 2 on Sunday. O’Grady again starts third, while Ingram Hill once more occupies the position between them.
The championship leader therefore remains in control of his own situation. Green has continued to deliver the performances required to keep the contest alive, but O’Grady’s consistency means the pressure remains firmly on his rival to keep winning.
2026 GB4 Brands Hatch Race 1 results
- Fred Green — Elite Motorsport
- Thomas Ingram Hill — Fortec Motorsports
- Alex O’Grady — KMR Sport
- Enzo Hallman — Hillspeed
- Torrin Byrne — Pace Performance
- Dayton Coulthard — Douglas Motorsport
- Franciszek Cegielski (R) — Fortec Motorsports
- Emmilio Valentino Del Grosso — Elite Motorsport
- Conor Grant (R) — Douglas Motorsport
- Connor Willis — Hillspeed
- Matan Achituv — Elite Motorsport
- Michael Koh (R) — Arden Motorsport
- John O’Donnell — Pace Performance
- Jamie Leverton (R) — Nitrous Competitions ADM Racing
- Solenn Amrouche — Arden Motorsport
- Demitri Nolan — Hillspeed
- Lily-May Watkins — KMR Sport
- Jordyn Martin (R) — Fortec Motorsports
- Holly Miall — KMR Sport
- Romuald Bocquet — Scorpio Motorsport
- Faris Organji — Scorpio Motorsport
- Caitlyn McDaniel — Nitrous Competitions ADM Racing
- Enzo Rujugiro (R) — Fox Motorsport
- Josh McLean — Pace Performance
Green therefore leaves Saturday having achieved everything within his control. He secured both pole positions before converting the first into victory, extending an impressive Brands Hatch record and ensuring O’Grady cannot celebrate the championship without accounting for his closest rival.
Race 2 offers Green another opportunity from pole, but O’Grady’s third-place finish leaves the KMR Sport driver with the advantage as the 2026 championship battle moves towards its final two races.
