Arden Motorsport ended their 2020 British Formula 4 season in the winner's circle courtesy of Alex Connor on a strong weekend [14-15 November] for the entire team at Brands Hatch (Indy).
It would prove to be a wet-weather washout for the Banbury-based team across the triple-header at the 1.19-mile Indy circuit, but the team's spirits wouldn't be dampened as they made one last push to end the campaign on a high note.
All three Red Arrows set the tone for the weekend with top-ten starting slots for the opening race of the weekend, in which they duly made forward progress to finish fifth (Connor), seventh (Lubin) and eighth (Bilinski) respectively.
A post-race penalty for another driver then promoted Lubin to sixth and, crucially, reverse-grid pole position alongside Connor for the opening race on Sunday.
Connor duly seized the opportunity to notch up a sublime third victory of the campaign, cutting back to the inside at Paddock Hill Bend before managing the gap - and a safety car restart - to take the flag a second clear of the pack.
Lubin mixed it at the front with several of the championship's key protagonists and banked another sixth-placed finish, with Bilinski rounding out the top ten.
It would be Lubin - on a hat-trick of Rookie podiums for the weekend - that led the team's charge in the ITV4-televised season finale, which was red-flagged and declared a result at half-distance due to torrential rain, with the field on slicks.
He netted fifth place, albeit with half points for the entire field, just ahead of Bilinski. Connor rounded out the year in eighth, his total across the weekend good enough to secure fourth outright in the standings.
Lubin missed out on the Rookie title, but his podium triple put the Brit a clear second as he picked up the vice-champion honours, and Bilinski ended his debut campaign in single-seaters eighth outright.
The team's efforts across the finale also saw them leapfrog JHR to seize third in the Teams' standings, giving the team a morale boost ahead of another busy campaign in 2021.
Gary Ward, Arden F4 Team Manager said:
"It's fantastic to end the season on a high note. Alex hasn't quite had the luck he's deserved at times this year, so it's great for him to add another victory and firm up fourth place in the championship.
"Frederick's impressed us all yet again, with another hat-trick of Rookie podiums. Add in the fact they were all top-six results outright, and consider some of the drivers he's gone wheel to wheel with this weekend, and I think it's clear to see just how much he's progressed this year, so we're delighted for him.
"Ditto Roman. He's shown tremendous pace this year, and has really come along as a driver. He's ended the year on a very high note, and we're really excited for what the future holds for him. His contribution this weekend went a long way to securing third in the Teams Cup.
"Lastly, a big thanks to the entire team for their hard work and commitment this year. It's had it's highs and lows, but we're in a good position now and looking forward to a busy winter ahead of 2021."
Alex Connor (#27) said:
"I'm really pleased to end the season on a positive note, back on the top step of the podium.
"The conditions were pretty tricky all weekend, so that makes it extra satisfying. It's helped me get fourth in the championship, and it's great for the team to get back into the top three in the Teams Cup.
"A big thanks to everyone for their hard work and support this season."
Roman Bilinski (#55) said:
"There are a lot of positives to take from the last weekend of the season at Brands Hatch.
"To score points in all three races is always the objective, and we've definitely shown across the weekend that we were up there, pace-wise.
"Overall, it's been a promising start to single-seaters for me, and I'm really looking forward to the future. Thanks to the team for their help and support this season."
Frederick Lubin (#78) said:
"It's been a really strong weekend for me to end the season, taking three Rookie podiums and finishing every race in the top six.
"To be up at the front, especially when the conditions are difficult, and mixing it with drivers that have been winning races week in, week out is a really positive step forward, and it just shows how far I've come as a driver, and how the team have helped bring me on.
"Thanks to the whole team for their support this year, and for always giving us a fantastic car to go out and race with."