Elite Motorsport’s Harrison Mackie expressed satisfaction with his improved Qualifying performance after securing double pole position for Sunday’s final two races of the inaugural 2026 GB4 Winter Series at Snetterton. The 16-year-old delivered a 1:49.581 during the closing moments of the delayed session, finishing 0.189s ahead of teammate and championship leader Jesse Phillips.
Mackie also recorded a second-fastest lap of 1:49.585, just 0.004s slower than his outright benchmark, securing pole position for both Race 3 and Race 4. The result represented a considerable improvement from Saturday’s Qualifying session, when the British driver managed sixth for both opening contests.
Having already secured a podium during Saturday’s rain-affected Race 2, Mackie now enters the final two races with an opportunity to claim his maiden GB4 victory. However, despite his impressive single-lap performance, the Ginetta Junior graduate acknowledged that he continues adapting to single-seater machinery.
Mackie credits Saturday’s lessons for improved Qualifying performance
Mackie entered Sunday’s session determined to improve on a challenging opening day of Qualifying. Although Elite Motorsport demonstrated competitive pace throughout Saturday’s session, Douglas Motorsport’s Conor Grant and George Proudford-Nalder secured the leading positions, leaving Mackie sixth and 0.900s behind the fastest time.
However, the British driver demonstrated stronger race pace during the opening contests, recovering from sixth to finish second in Saturday’s rain-affected Race 2. Having gained valuable experience across contrasting conditions, Mackie applied those lessons during Sunday’s final Qualifying session.
Following his double pole, Mackie explained how the team had used Saturday’s difficulties to improve its approach. He also highlighted the role of the headwind, which allowed him to exploit his confidence through the circuit’s faster sections.
“We struggled a lot in qualifying yesterday, but we took everything we learned there and put it into today,”
“The headwind played to my advantage because I don’t have a lot of fear, so I was able to push as much as I could.”
His improvement allowed Elite Motorsport to secure another front-row lockout, with Phillips joining Mackie at the front for both remaining races.
Mackie delivers two nearly identical laps to secure double pole
Sunday’s Qualifying developed into an intense battle, with at least six drivers taking turns at the top of the timesheets throughout the 20-minute session. Nevertheless, Mackie delivered his strongest performance during the closing moments, recording a 1:49.581 on his final flying lap.
The effort placed him 0.189s ahead of Phillips, while Proudford-Nalder completed the Race 3 top three for Douglas Motorsport. Meanwhile, Elite Motorsport’s John O’Donnell finished fourth, narrowly missing third by just 0.033s.
However, Mackie’s consistency proved equally important. The Winter Series uses each driver’s fastest lap to determine the first race grid and their second-fastest lap to establish the starting order for the second contest.
Consequently, Mackie’s second-fastest effort of 1:49.585 secured another pole position, completing an impressive turnaround from Saturday.
Reflecting on the result, the British driver expressed satisfaction with his consistency while acknowledging that he believed further improvements remained possible.
“It was good to set two laps so close to each other; I could have done a better lap on my last effort, but double pole is good.”
His performance also helped Elite Motorsport secure the top three starting positions for Race 4, with Phillips second and O’Donnell third.
Mackie focuses on race start ahead of maiden GB4 victory opportunity
Although Mackie demonstrated impressive pace during Qualifying, he acknowledged that converting pole position into victory would present another challenge.
The Elite Motorsport driver enters Sunday’s races following a competitive opening day, during which he gained valuable experience battling against more established single-seater competitors. His strongest performance came during Saturday’s rain-affected Race 2, when he overtook teammate O’Donnell on the final lap to secure second behind Phillips.
However, Mackie will now begin from the front of the grid rather than attempting to recover positions. With Phillips alongside him and Proudford-Nalder immediately behind, the opening corners could prove particularly important in determining the outcome.
Asked about his preparations for Race 3, Mackie identified the start as his immediate priority.
“We’ll focus on the start,”
“If the speed is how it was [in qualifying], then hopefully we’ll be able to stay in the lead, but you can never really plan a race.”
Mackie will therefore aim to capitalise on his pole position while recognising that his rivals could present a challenge, particularly during the opening laps.
Mackie reflects on transition from Ginetta Juniors to single-seaters
Beyond his Qualifying success, Mackie described the inaugural Winter Series as an important learning opportunity during his transition into single-seater racing.
The British driver entered the event following a successful Ginetta Junior campaign with Elite Motorsport, finishing runner-up in the championship after securing four victories. His performances subsequently earned him a place in the team’s four-car Winter Series line-up, alongside Phillips and O’Donnell.
Although Mackie had completed some Formula 4 running before arriving at Snetterton, the Winter Series represents another opportunity to develop his understanding of single-seater machinery under competitive conditions.
Reflecting on his progress, the 16-year-old acknowledged the differences between the cars while expressing confidence in his increasing familiarity with the GB4 package.
“It’s been a massive learning curve,”
“It’s a bit different to what I’ve driven before – I did a bit of F4 a few weeks ago – but I’m getting used to it as I’ve shown in qualifying.”
His double pole therefore represents another milestone in that progression, demonstrating his ability to adapt to the championship’s machinery while competing against drivers with previous GB4 and British F4 experience.
Mackie remains in championship contention ahead of final two races
Mackie’s Qualifying performance also strengthens his position in the battle for the inaugural GB4 Winter Series title.
The Elite Motorsport driver entered Sunday with 46 points, placing him level with Grant and 13 behind championship leader Phillips. Meanwhile, Proudford-Nalder occupied second on 50 points, leaving several drivers in contention for the championship.
With 70 points available across the final two races, Mackie’s double pole provides an opportunity to close the gap to his rivals. However, Phillips will start alongside him for both contests, while Proudford-Nalder remains well placed to challenge from third in Race 3 and fifth in Race 4.
Furthermore, Mackie’s teammate O’Donnell also retains a mathematical opportunity to secure the championship, entering Sunday just one point behind Mackie and Grant.
The final two races will therefore present an important challenge for the 16-year-old, who must combine his improved Qualifying pace with consistent race execution.
Race 3 will begin at the revised time of 13:25 GMT, while Race 4 will follow at 15:10 GMT, with Mackie starting both from pole.
Having already demonstrated his growing confidence in the GB4 machinery, Mackie will now aim to convert his maiden single-seater pole positions into victory and conclude his first Winter Series weekend with a strong championship result.
