Approaching Midway in 2022 at Mid-Ohio

The Method Regional Americas Championship Powered by Honda (FR Americas) and Method 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda (F4 U.S.) march towards the midway level of their 2022 seasons whereas finishing Rounds 7, 8 and 9 of their 18-round championship this weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports activities Automotive Course.

Since F4 U.S.’s inaugural season in 2016, Mid-Ohio is the one circuit that the championship has visited annually and it has been the positioning of extra F4 U.S. races than some other venue. In the meantime, this may mark the fifth journey to Mid-Ohio for FR Americas, which solely missed visiting the two.24-mile highway course throughout its 2019 marketing campaign.

FR Americas and F4 U.S. will each compete as a part of the Mid-Ohio SpeedTour occasion, the place they’ll be a part of the Sportscar Classic Racing Affiliation (SVRA), the Trans Am Sequence offered by Pirelli and Worldwide GT in an action-packed weekend. Spectator gates might be open Friday by means of Sunday, with tickets obtainable for pre-sale at MidOhio.com or on the gate.

Watch this Weekend’s Races Free on Social 

Followers at house will be capable of watch this weekend’s FR Americas and F4 U.S. races free on social media, with streaming obtainable on the newly-formed SpeedTourTV YouTube web page (YouTube.com/SpeedTourTV). FR Americas will stream Race 1 (9:40 a.m. ET) on Saturday, and Race 3 (5:10 p.m. ET) on Sunday. F4 U.S. will stream Race 1 (11:40 a.m. ET) on Saturday, and Races 2 and three (9:00 a.m. ET and three:25 p.m. ET, respectively) on Sunday. Remember to subscribe and click on the bell icon to activate notifications for the channel to obtain an alert any time SpeedTourTV goes dwell.

FR Americas & F4 U.S. Veterans Discovering Success in Different Sequence

A number of FR Americas and F4 U.S. drivers have been within the headlines currently for the success they’re discovering as they climb the motorsports ladder. Kyle Kirkwood, the 2018 FR Americas champion, not too long ago introduced his signing with Andretti Autosport for the 2023 IndyCar marketing campaign. Simply final month, Kirkwood joined David Malukas (2020 FR Americas runner-up) as two of seven rookies to compete within the 2022 Indianapolis 500.

Additionally in Might, Kyffin Simpson, the 2021 FR Americas Champion, signed with Chip Ganassi Racing as a growth driver for the 14-time IndyCar championship-winning staff. One other FR Americas alum collaborating in a powerful driver growth program is Ernie Francis Jr. After ending third within the FR Americas standings in 2021, Francis Jr. was signed for the Penske Leisure’s Race for Equality & Change program, the place he’s racing in Indy Lights competitors with the Pressure Indy staff this season. Additionally racing in Indy Lights this season is 2020 FR Americas champion, Linus Lundqvist. With 4 wins to date this season, Lundqvist at the moment leads the Indy Lights level standings. Benjamin Pedersen, one other FR Americas & F4 U.S. alum who’s racing in his second season of Indy Lights competitors, is ready for his first IndyCar check with Juncos Hollinger Racing staff subsequent week.

In the meantime, Hunter Yeaney (2020 F4 U.S. champion) continues his path in method racing, competing in FIA Method 3 this season with Campos Racing. One other F4 U.S. alum, Chloe Chambers, additionally continues her climb on the method racing ladder as she races within the W Sequence this season with Jenner Racing.

FR Americas Championship Powered by Honda

A Look Again at Highway America

It’s been one month since FR Americas final took to the monitor at Highway America. TJ Pace not solely swept the weekend, but additionally swept your entire podium in Race 3 that weekend. Raoul Hyman (No. 27 Bethesda Holdings Restricted / Solomon Capital Enterprises / Oaklands / Kinross Ligier JS F3), the present FR Americas level chief, received each Races 1 and three, whereas teammate Jason Alder (No. 77 Drive for Diabetes Consciousness / HAKUN Ligier JS F3) introduced house the victory in Race 2 to assert his first win of 2022.

Drivers Look to Draw on Previous Expertise at Mid-Ohio

Two drivers on this weekend’s subject have earlier FR Americas expertise at Mid-Ohio, whereas three others competed in final yr’s F4 U.S. races on the circuit. Dylan Tavella (No. 14 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) and Nick Persing (No. 29 OPI Industrial Builders Ligier JS F3) each raced within the FR Americas races at Mid-Ohio final season. In the meantime, Mac Clark (No. 25 Future Star Racing Ligier JS F3), Jason Alder and Hayden Bowlsbey (No. 3 Save22 / Southern Linac LLC Ligier JS F3) all discovered success in F4 U.S. competitors at Mid-Ohio final yr. Clark claimed two victories and a runner-up consequence to complete on the rostrum in every of the weekend’s three races. Alder completed third in Race 2 to earn a podium end on the weekend, whereas Bowlsbey’s fourth-place end in Race 2 was his second-best end of the season.

Athreya Ramanan Makes FR Americas Debut

Athreya Ramanan, a 17-year-old from Sammamish, Wash., is ready to make his FR Americas debut this weekend at Mid-Ohio driving the No. 96 Cedar Coast / Outland Residing / Lordco / Jevity / Penn-Elcomm / LA Prep / Kirby Studio Ligier JS F3 for Doran-Kroll Competitors. After being named the Vice Champion within the 2021 Method Professional USA Western Championship, Ramanan started testing with Doran-Kroll Competitors earlier than lastly getting the chance to race in FR Americas. He’ll be a part of teammates Alex Kirby (No. 8 Doran-Kroll Competitors Ligier JS F3) and Marco Kacic (No. 95 Lordco / Cedar Coast / Penn Elcom / Jevity / Kirby Studio / L.A Prep Ligier JS F3) because the staff’s third entry this weekend.

Championship Battle Heats Up with a Tremendous Method Scholarship on the Line

With a Tremendous Method scholarship on the road from Honda Efficiency Improvement and Honda Motor Co. Motorsports Division, the championship battle is beginning to take form with six of 18 races accomplished. Raoul Hyman at the moment leads the cost with 126 factors. Hyman has completed on the rostrum in every of the six races up to now, together with three victories, two runner-up finishes, and one third-place consequence. Dylan Tavella stays inside hanging distance and sits simply 23 factors again along with his 5 podium finishes. The New Yorker secured his first win of 2022 at NOLA Motorsports Park in the course of the NOLA SpeedTour in April. Jason Alder (-43 factors), Mac Clark (-56 factors), and Ryan Yardley (-73 factors, No. 78 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) spherical out the highest 5.

F4 U.S. Championship Powered by Honda

Recapping Highway America

Velocity Racing Improvement proved unattainable to beat when F4 U.S. was final on monitor at Highway America final month. Matt Christensen (No. 45 Velocity Racing Improvement Ligier JS F4) earned back-to-back victories—his first of the season—in Races 1 and a pair of, whereas his teammate Noah Ping (No. No. 65 Velocity Racing Improvement Ligier JS F4) received Race 3. The occasion marked not solely a weekend sweep by VRD, however the staff additionally swept the rostrum in Race 3 with Ping main Christensen and Nicholas Rivers (No. 24 Velocity Racing Improvement Ligier JS F4) to the end line.

A number of Drivers Return to Mid-Ohio with an Expertise Edge

4 drivers competing within the F4 U.S. subject this weekend boast earlier expertise within the sequence at Mid-Ohio Sports activities Automotive Course. Each Matt Christensen and Gabriel Fonseca (No. 76 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4) recorded a finest end of sixth at Mid-Ohio in F4 U.S. competitors final season. They’ll look to enhance on these this weekend. Different drivers on this weekend’s occasion with prior F4 U.S. begins at Mid-Ohio embody Artie Flores (No. 22 Gonella Racing / Flexi Ligier JS F4) and Ryan Shehan (No. 66 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4).

New Faces & New Locations, A number of Groups and Drivers Debuting at Mid-Ohio

A number of drivers are making their first F4 U.S. begin this weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports activities Automotive Course. Jay Howard Driver Improvement is including Michael Boyiadzis (No. 3 Jay Howard Driver Improvement, CSU One Treatment, Lucas Oil, Pelican Ligier JS F4) and Al Morey IV (No. 7 Jay Howard Driver Improvement / CSU One Treatment / Lucas Oil / Ligier JS F4 Pelican) to their driver line-up for the weekend. Andre Castro will be a part of the Future Star Racing secure as he pilots the No. 8 Future Star Racing Ligier JS F4. Worldwide Motorsports will develop to a three-car staff with Giorgio Carrara piloting the No. 32 Worldwide Motorsports Ligier JS F4. In the meantime, FR Americas staff IGY6 Motorsports will develop to the F4 U.S. championship with Jacob Bolen behind the wheel of the No. 25 Indian Creek CBD / Save22 Ligier JS F4.

FR Americas Scholarship Up for Grabs in Championship Battle

With a scholarship on the road to compete within the 2023 FR Americas season, the battle is heating up within the F4 U.S. level standings. Lochie Hughes (No. 6 Jay Howard Driver Improvement Ligier JS F4) received the season opener at NOLA Motorsports Park to seize the factors lead and has not appeared again. Hughes at the moment holds an eight-point lead over second-place Matt Christensen. Nicholas Rivers sits third (-27 factors) after profitable a race at NOLA, whereas Noah Ping is fourth (-29 factors) after profitable his first race of the season at Highway America. Bryson Morris (No. 39 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4) and Alex Berg (No. 08 Doran-Kroll Competitors Ligier JS F4) are each tied for fifth, 30 factors behind the chief.