Epping’s Ayrton Simmons got off to a flying start in the British F4 Championship, claiming two wins in the opening round at Brands Hatch to open up a 19 point lead at the top of the leader board.

The 16-year-old racer, who is targeting the Championship title this campaign, got off to a dream start with new team JHR Developments when he qualified on pole position for both the first and last race of the weekend.

It was the Epping racer’s first pole position of his career and he held off pressure from Kiern Jewiss, Dennis Hauger and Sebastian Priaulx to earn victory in race one, almost a year after he claimed his maiden win at the same circuit.

Simmons then backed up his round one victory with another superb performance in round two, driving from seventh up to second place to finish on the podium once again.

The Epping racer’s weekend was to get even better on Sunday as well, as he won the final race after a dominant performance.

Starting on pole position in tricky conditions, Simmons got off to a slow start due to wheel spin which saw him overtaken by Jewiss on the exit of Graham Hill bend, but the Epping racer quickly recovered, capitalising on a mistake to regain the lead on the second lap.

This time Simmons wouldn’t relinquish his advantage and after surviving pressure from Hauger after the safety car re-start, the Epping racer brought the car home to pick up an empathic second win of the weekend.

Speaking to the British F4 Championship website after claiming his second win, Simmons said: “I said yesterday was the best day I had ever had in motorsport and now I would have to say it’s been the best weekend.

“This is a great springboard for the rest of the season. Hopefully we can keep this momentum going.”

JHR Developments team principal Steven Hunter added: “Ayrton performed faultlessly and he’s certainly showing he’s got the potential to be a future champion.

“Ayrton has been in a very positive frame of mind throughout the weekend and decisions made by the engineering staff have been spot on. They’ve done a fabulous job with the car.”