Kiern Jewiss really couldn’t have asked for a better 2018, winning the British Formula Four title in impressive fashion.

Jewiss was one of the standout performers in the championship last season, driving the Double R prepared Ford Ecoboost machinery.

Speaking to Kent Sports News about his successful season, Kiern said: “You’re right, it honestly couldn’t have! When I jumped in the car for the first time I could tell it was going to be a good year.

“I felt comfortable from the outset which I think is very rare when driving new machinery. The Double R team were incredible in helping me hit the ground running. Myself, Paavo and Seb were all rookies in the team so there wasn’t a driver we could rely on for their experience, so the job that my engineer and mechanic did can’t be understated.”

Winning the F4 title as a rookie in a new team and a new series is a massive achievement and one that he will be proud of years to come.

He added: “I’m extremely proud. To be crowned champion in my first season is a massive achievement and one that only a handful of drivers have ever done across the world.

“I take huge pride in what I have done this year but I know that if I’m going to make it to the top I need to continue to improve and to be fighting for championships every year – so this is just the start.”

Kiern had a mixture of emotions when he crossed the line having sealed the 2018 title, there was one overriding emotion as he explained.

“The very first feeling was relief that I had done it then it was sheer jubilation! Pulling up at Parc Ferme and seeing my team, sponsors, friends and family all over the moon was a proud moment.

“Although it’s my name on the trophy, I felt like I had done it for all of these people that had supported me throughout the season.

“I would say the pace and performance were always there from the start but it was just a case of channelling it all into race results. Picking my fights was key to winning the championship this season.

“I knew in some races that I had to put everything on the line for a result; then in other races, when I could have pushed for the race win, I decided to sit tight and not risk damage or ruining my tyres for the later races.”

As well as honing his race craft in 2018, Kiern was one of the most consistent drivers on the grid with six wins, eight second places and four third place finishes.

He said: “Consistency is the key to winning championships. You look at Jonathon Hoggard who picked up the most race wins this year but finished more than 100 points behind me in the standings.

“To finish on the podium in more than half of the season’s races and to have the biggest-ever winning margin and the most points in the championship’s history was all down to being consistent.”

There were several races that stood out for Jewiss, but in terms of highlights there was one round that stood out for him above all the others.

He added: “Donington Park has to be my most memorable race. After a mechanical problem in qualifying, I started way down the field and got punted off in the first race of the weekend, meaning I started race two from the very back.

“It was a damp track and I was starting at the back; it just reminded me of my karting days and I put everything on the line and managed to overtake everyone to win my first-ever British F4 race!”

Finally we asked Kiern what his plans were for 2019, would that be back to defend his F4 title or would he be targeting a new championship to race in.

“My plans for 2019 aren’t quite finalised yet but I’ll be leaving British F4 and taking the next step on the motorsport ladder.

“I have achieved everything I set out to achieve in F4, so the goal now is to do it in F3, then F2 and then hopefully F1.

“The motorsport landscape is always changing so it’s about finding the right team and championship that will assist my development as much as possible.”