Chloe Grant scores her first GB4 podium on her return to the series
In her maiden appearance with KMR Sport, Chloe along with her teammates, positioned the team at the top of the Teams’ Championship standings in the opening event at Oulton Park this past weekend (30th March - 1st April).
Although entering her fourth season in car racing, round one of the 2024 GB4 Championship saw Grant’s first full wet race in single-seaters. Setting a 1:36.900 in qualifying placed Chloe firmly within the 103rd percentile for race three’s grid reversal — this put her off P9 for races one and two and P6 for the weekend's final race.
Chloe gained one position in the first race of the weekend, finishing 8th on the 14-strong grid. The second race of the weekend ended unfortunately when Chloe spun off turn 2 on the fourth lap, placing 13th.
As the sun appeared and dried the track for Race 3, Chloe got off to a flying start, jumping from P6 into fourth place after turn one with a move around the outside of Fortec’s Taylor. Gaining on Marcus Luzio down into Cascades, she made the lunge for third place, which she held until lap 3 when she gained a position up the inside of GBR’s Deonarine. A lock-up from the race leader put Hickey on the back foot, giving Chloe the run into P1. Grant led the race for 5 laps, setting a fastest lap before she dropped into second place over the line into the final lap.
Following a celebratory podium which she shared with her teammate, Harry Burgoyne, Chloe reflected on the race that resulted in her first 2nd place finish in GB4: "I cried the whole in lap and I’m still crying now! So many emotions. I was quite annoyed obviously when I lost the lead but Granfors is so quick and I’ve still got work to do with not many days in the car. I think this is a really good way to end the weekend and go into Silverstone confident.
"I’ve never been working harder than I currently am, it feels so worth it now and I’m so happy. Thank you to my team, KMR Sport, they’ve given me a quick car on the track and I just need to optimise it a bit more and a huge thank you to all my sponsors, Laser Tools Racing, John Clark Motor Group, and Specsavers. They’re the ones that make it possible, that’s the reason I get to come racing, because of them and I’m so grateful to them for it. Thank you to my family and I’m sorry Dad I left you at home, I love you dearly and wish you were here now. Lucy’s [Chloe's sister] over there in tears, my family, I wouldn’t be able to do it without them, thank you to everyone on my team.”
KMR Sport Team Principal, Kevin Mills, commented on Chloe’s first outing with the team: “Chloe was on a steep learning curve with our car having no pre-season testing under her belt. But every time she hit the track she improved.
“As the weekend went on, her confidence built, culminating with a fantastic podium finish in race three where she showed her skills with some great overtakes.”
Round 2 takes place on 27th - 28th April when the series competes on Silverstone’s GP circuit. During the 2024 GB4 Championship, Grant - with KMR Sport - will also visit Donington Park GP, Snetterton 300, and Brands Hatch GP.
