Charlie Secures Championship Top 3 for Rafa Racing in Barcelona
The final round of the GT4 Winter Series Championship at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya proved to be an exhilarating weekend for Charlie Hart and his RAFA Racing by Race Lab team. The British driver delivered a stellar performance throughout the weekend, securing his third pole position of the season, and capping off his campaign with an impressive display of talent..
Race 1: Pole to Victory in Dominant Fashion
After setting the fastest time in Free Practice and gaining his third pole position of the championship, he had his sights firmly set on the prize. Other than a small mistake on a greasy track at turn one, Charlie punched in another dominant performance which saw him exchange places, and even a bit of paint at times in a fantastic race long battle with the championship leading McLaren which went on right to the flag seeing him take the top step adding another win to his record
Race 2: Hard Charging to the Podium
For the second race of the weekend, it was teammate Callum Davies’ turn to take the wheel. Starting from fourth on the grid, Callum delivered an aggressive yet composed drive, steadily making his way up the order. Through a series of well-executed overtakes, he fought his way into podium contention, ultimately securing a strong third-place finish for the team.
Race 3: A Heartbreaking Finale
The final race of the weekend saw the return of the sun, setting the stage for a dramatic one-hour showdown. The #812 car lined up on the front row, and after a masterful opening stint Charlie quickly took the lead from the pole sitter, shortly following up with the fastest lap of the race on his second lap. After building a sizeable gap to the cars behind, he came in to hand the car over to his teammate Callum, with a well executed pit stop.
However after such a stunning performance, lady luck was about to deliver a cruel twist. Whilst carrying out their driver change another incident occurred on track. The safety car was deployed as Callum exited the pitlane which had just turned to red on the lights.
Despite a defensive masterclass by Callum, who crossed the line in first place... the team was issued a post race 35 second penalty which saw them drop down the order in what was other way a thrilling race to watch from lights to flag.
A Strong Conclusion to the Championship
Despite the unfortunate ending to the final race, the team’s consistent performances throughout the weekend allowed them to secure enough points to clinch third place in the overall drivers’ standings. This achievement marks a fantastic conclusion to Charlie’s GT4 Winter Series campaign and serves as a strong foundation for his broader GT4 European season ahead.
With an impressive display of racecraft, determination, and outright pace, Charlie Hart has firmly established himself as a rising talent in the GT4 ranks. The Barcelona finale may have ended with a stroke of misfortune, but the season as a whole has been a resounding success, paving the way for even greater achievements in the future.
