Abbi Pulling took home a trio of points-paying positions for Rodin Motorsport after strong recoveries at Norfolk’s Snetterton race circuit.
The Alpine Academy driver returned to British F4 action for round three after the Gosberton race ace had become the class’ first female winner in her last outing at Brands Hatch.
Pulling showed strong pace in the pre-event test – setting the third and fourth best times across the two sessions on Wednesday in dry conditions.
Heavy rain on Saturday saw Pulling struggle to get into the same rhythm and she finished ninth fastest overall.
Saturday’s first race was under wet conditions, with Pulling starting 11th on the grid. A good start saw her pick up two places before being blocked for multiple laps by a car with its rear wing falling off.
After losing a place to that handicap, she regained it only for a safety car to pause proceedings. When racing resumed, Pulling pushed hard but had to be content with ninth place.
A rain storm ahead of the second race created treacherous conditions and Pulling started 14th on the grid due to a post-qualifying penalty.
However, she made great early progress and swiftly moved into the top 10.
She continued to make headway in difficult conditions and was seventh before the safety car was deployed towards the end of the race.
When racing resumed, Pulling and Rodin Motorsport teammate Alex Ninovic continued to make excellent progress through the pack. She continued her climb up the field to secure fifth place at the chequered flag.
The third and final race of the weekend saw conditions improve with a dry start to the race.
Again from 14th spot on the grid, Pulling made an electric getaway to gain two positions – before placing her car well to take advantage of chaotic battling ahead, moving herself into seventh place before the safety car was deployed at the end of the first lap.
During a clear-up period that took almost 10 minutes, rain started to fall as the race restarted. Pulling got her tyres back up to temperature and was putting the driver ahead of her under pressure as a horrendous downpour made conditions virtually impossible.
The red flag was eventually shown – ending the race with just over five minutes remaining.
Pulling was left frustrated that the arrival of the rain had hampered her chances of showing her true pace in an effort to match the previous round’s victory.
“I made up four places off the start with a great launch and on turn three made a good move around the outside to gain a couple more later down the back straight.
“That was essentially the only racing due to the safety car and the rainstorm – so we didn’t get chance to show our true pace and we were in a good place.
“We could’ve probably gained a few more positions with where we were.
“Race one was very wet. I made a few places on the first lap and essentially held it for the rest of the race.
“I knew there was a lot that could happen after the downpour in race two. I got an amazing start and gained places off the line and then just kept my nose clean.
“I kept it on track and consistent as others made mistakes so it was great to gain nine positions and finish fifth, which was the maximum I feel we could’ve achieved.
“Overall, we rescued some good points and I’m looking forward to building on it at Thruxton.”
Pulling did enough over the weekend to secure fifth place in the Drivers’ Championship table.
She is next in action at Thruxton, on June 8 and 9.
