SCCA Pro Racing to debut F4 U.S. Championship at Mid-Ohio this weekend
The United States will join the rest of the world this weekend when the Formula 4 United States Championship powered by Honda makes its debut at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
A junior open-wheel racing series that helps young drivers make the step up from karting, the F4 U.S. Championship becomes the world’s 12th F4 series supported by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). Organized and sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing, the U.S. series joins championships throughout Europe, Asia, Central America, the Middle East and Oceana.
The F4 U.S. Championship will debut this weekend at Mid-Ohio with practice taking place Friday, a qualifying run and opening race on Saturday and finishing with two additional races Sunday. Seven teams are expected to field 14 drivers for the inaugural weekend.
“We are proud to debut the F4 series in the United States and create the stepping stone for young drivers to achieve their full potential as they move up the motorsports ladder,” said Derrick Walker, president and CEO of SCCA Pro Racing. “The F4 U.S. Championship is the only established FIA championship series in the United States and will offer young drivers exciting opportunities moving forward.”
SCCA Pro Racing, along with its partners and the FIA, created the F4 U.S. Championship after recognizing the need for an affordable step between karting and Formula 3.
Offering drivers as young as 15 the chance to take their first steps from karting into the world of open-wheel racing, competitors are also offered the unique opportunity to earn points towards an FIA Super License. Once a competitor reaches 40 Super License points and becomes at least 18 years old, they can qualify and apply to race for Formula 1.
“Previously junior open-wheel competitors had to travel abroad to seize an opportunity like this,” Walker said. “Now, with the development of the F4 U.S. Championship, young talent can grow their brands domestically and choose their paths to pinnacle levels of motorsports.”
Starting in 2017, F4 will offer a truly global competition as the champions from each of the 12 worldwide F4 series will compete in a global race. The F4 U.S. Championship is the only domestic junior open-wheel series to offer this opportunity to young drivers.
In addition to serving as a stepping stone from karting to open-wheel racing, SCCA Pro Racing and the FIA have made the F4 U.S. Championship affordable as well. With prices capped at $45,000 for the chassis, including paddle shifters, data acquisition and camera, and Honda engines with a one-year lease at $6,600, teams can affordably get cars on the track.
For more information on the SCCA Pro Racing F4 U.S. Championship, visit F4USChampionship.com.
About the SCCA Pro Racing F4 U.S. Championship:
FIA F4 is designed as entry-level open-wheel racing for participants, around a contemporary, modern, cost conscious formula. SCCA Pro Racing and its chosen partners that embrace these ideals and support this vision with appropriate technology and products. The selected F4 powerplant is a production based on the engine currently powering the Honda Civic® Type R® recently launched in Europe, tuned to meet FIA-mandated output of approximately 160 Hp. The engine and the ECU are sealed to provide parity and compliance.
About SCCA Pro Racing:
SCCA Pro Racing Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sports Car Club of America, Inc. -- a 65,000-member organization dedicated to motorsports. SCCA Pro Racing provides full-service organization, operation and sanctioning for numerous professional racing series such as the Pirelli World Challenge and Trans Am®.
