Hillspeed driver Demitri Nolan welcomed a more encouraging outing at Oulton Park after finishing 14th in the opening race of the 2026 GB4 weekend. The American driver climbed five positions during Saturday’s contest and, most importantly, reached the chequered flag after a frustrating opening round at Silverstone. During the season-opener, Nolan suffered two retirements from the three races, making his Oulton Park result a significant improvement.
Reflecting on the race with GB4, Nolan admitted he was simply pleased to complete the full distance.
“To finish the race is always fun,” he laughed. “I didn’t have a great qualifying, had a mistake on my lap and we only had one lap.”
After starting further down the order, Nolan worked his way forward with several overtakes and a more competitive rhythm across the race distance. He believes stronger qualifying could have allowed him to challenge even higher up the field.
“[I] made some improvements, made some good passes in the race and thought I had some good pace. [I] could have caught the guys in front of me; I just needed more time.”
As a result, the Hillspeed driver now heads into the remaining races of the weekend with growing confidence and a clearer understanding of the car. Looking ahead to Race 2 on Monday, especially, Nolan plans to replicate the consistency that helped him progress through the field in the opening contest. He identified strong starts and clean racing as the key priorities for another positive result.
“I’m going to try and make as good of a start as I can,” he said. “[I need to] keep consistent, stay clean and finish the race gaining some places.”
That measured approach reflects the lessons learned from a difficult opening round and highlights his determination to continue building momentum.
Nolan on adapting to UK circuits and competition as confidence in the 2026 GB4 car grows
The 2026 season marks Nolan’s first full campaign racing in the United Kingdom. The 21-year-old only made his single-seater debut in 2024 after stepping up from karting into the Ligier Junior Formula Championship. Oulton Park has therefore presented another major learning experience. Nevertheless, Nolan has quickly developed an appreciation for the demanding Cheshire circuit.
“This track is really fun,” he said. “It’s really hard and just everything I’m into in a track. [It’s] really physically and mentally difficult, I just love that stuff.”
The technical nature of the circuit appears well suited to Nolan’s driving style as he continues adapting to British single-seater racing. This was especially important as alongside learning new circuits, Nolan is also becoming increasingly comfortable with the Tatuus MSV GB4-025 machinery. Compared to the cars he previously raced in the United States, he believes the GB4 car offers a more refined and enjoyable driving experience.
“This car is a really big improvement and I’m really starting to like it,” he said. “It’s very balanced, very forgiving and feels really fun.”
With confidence in both the car and the circuits continuing to grow, Nolan now looks eager to convert that progress into stronger results as the season develops.
