Abbi Pulling to push for British F4 title in JHR return

After a stunning debut season in 2020, 17-year old Abbi Pulling will return to British F4 with JHR Developments to pursue the title.

Alice Powell's protegé Abbi Pulling will make her return to British Formula 4 after an outstanding rookie campaign in 2020, JHR Developments confirmed.

A stand-out name in national karting, Pulling made her debut in the very popular UK-based Ginetta Junior series, before switching to single seaters in 2020. By claiming four podium finishes and a highest place of second at Thruxton, Pulling only marginally missed out on her maiden victory in the championship and finished sixth in the point standings for JHR Developments, becoming the highest ever female finisher in the series.

She was presented with the Joe Tandy Memorial Trophy for the achievements in her rookie season.

Under the mentorship of W Series race winner Alice Powell, Abbi kept momentum and made her F3 debut later in the year, as she entered the Imola round of the Formula Renault Eurocup championship, run in conjunction with the Formula 1 return to the Italian recatrack.

While a series of testing days in the Tatuus T318 car would have suggested a switch to F3, the young Brit has now confirmed that she will be back for a F4 sophomore campaign, as she now aims at the title.

“Last year I gained lots of experience, so coming back and challenging for the title will be good", commented Abbi.

"In the off-season, despite not being in the car, I think I have matured as a driver and understand everything more than I did last year. I feel confident in myself, the team, and the people I have around me, such as Gazing Performance Systems and Alice Powell, so it will be great to have all these people in my corner."

Powell and Pulling have in fact proven to work very well together and are now looking forward to push for the title assault.

“Alice has so much experience in racing and is doing everything she can to pass that on to me, to help me get to the highest levels of motorsport, which I am so grateful for. We only started working together halfway through last season so to work together for the whole year fills me with confidence."

“My first day testing the car since November went really well and I felt like I did some of the best laps I have ever driven. The team and I worked on the set up, I was confident with the feedback I gave, and we just want to keep improving. I understand a lot more about how the car reacts and I have belief in my and the team’s ability.”

Abbi's target is shared by championship frontrunners JHR Developments: “We are really happy that Abbi is returning for another year in F4 with the team", added team principal Steven Hunter.

"Her talent and ability were clear for everyone to see and her ability to consistently make improvements in her rookie season was fantastic, so it was fitting she was given the Joe Tandy Memorial Trophy in recognition of that."

“She has had some seat time in more powerful machinery and that, coupled with how closely she works with Alice Powell, mean that her understanding of the car has increased significantly. She has gained confidence in herself and her abilities and we really just can’t wait to get out on track and see what she can achieve.”

The British F4 season is cheduled to kick off on 8-9 May at Thruxton for the first triple-header. The 2021 calendar inlcudes 10 race events, as part of the TOCA tour.

2021 British F4 calendar:

8/9 May - Thruxton, UK

15/16 May - Snetterton, UK

12/13 June - Brand Hatch (Indy), UK

31 July/1 August - Oulton Park, UK

14/15 August - Knockhill, UK

28/29 August - Thruxton, UK

18/19 September - Croft, UK

25/26 September - Silverstone (National), UK

9-10 October - Donington Park (National), UK

23/24 October - Brands Hatch (GP), UK