But does anybody besides Hard Core racing Fans pay
Attenzione to these Championships?
I’ll admit that this new for 2024 SCCA Pro
Racing single seater ladder system is largely foreign to Mwah. Especially since
I’ve never paid any Attenzione to the United States F4 series run under FIA
Formula 4 regulations. And only casually know about FR Americas due to it’s
“linkage” to Indy NXT competition…
What I found entertaining about these three
feeder series is that their Race Director is a former IndyCar driver from Up
North Eh! Unfortunately known here on No Fenders as Scott “What Pace Car?”
Goodyear!
As the Sports Car club of America (SCCA Pro
Racing) and the previously unheard of Parella Motorsport Holdings (PMH) organizations
are billing these three tiered feeder series
as a lower cost alternative, complete with Scholarship prize funding to it’s
other Open wheel Racing series. Including a Ligier chassis, Hankook tyres and a
monetary award for advancement up the ladder’s rungs.
Which if I’m reading the proverbial tea leaves
correctly, is PR Speak for Cheaper ladder system than its USFPro Championships
competizione…
Ligier JS F4 Series
Guessing that this is the SCCA’s, and Ligier’s
answer to Anderson Promotions introduction of it’s USF Juniors program? Which
is intended to compete directily vs. the Formula 4 United State Championship
Although reportedly Tony Parella,.proprietor of
Parella Motorsport Holdings, creator of the series says He saw a need to fill
the void between jumping directly from Karting to U.S. F4 single seaters.
This marks the newly created single seaters
series debut season. With entrants 14 years and up racing “GEN 1” (First Generation)
Ligier JS F4 racecars. Arse-sumedly replete with Honda 2.0-litre inline four
cylinder normally aspirated lumps’, regulated to a maximum of 160bhp.
The six race calendar begins at Nola
Motorsports Park in New Orleans. (April 11-14) Running under the Speed Tour
banner in conjunction with it’s “Big Brother” U.S. Formula 4 Brethren, both
serving as support series to FR Americas. Along with the SVRA and
Trans Am series.
Followed by stops at Road America, Mid-Ohio,
New Jersey, Trois Riviers and COTA. As the Circuit Of The Americas season
finale is a Fortnight after Austin plays
host to it’s yearly United States Grand Prix Formula 1 race weekend.
Formula 4 United States championship
For 2024, this series sees the introduction of
the new Ligier JS F422 as it’s sole chassis, utilizing the 1.65-litre Ligier
Storm’ V-4 engine instead. As Honda seems to have quietly exited supporting
SCCA single seater racing this year.
The season’s first round slated for Nola
Raceway Park this April was cancelled due to delays with the arrival of the new
chassis. As the championship will contest the same remaining five rounds as
above. Beginning at Road America from May 16-19, and ending at COTA October
31-November 3rd.
As I’d like to Arse-sume these Ligier racecars
are faster than their previous JS F4 chassis, and ditto for the FR Americas
entries…
FR Americas (Formula Regional Americas)
This is the only rung of the series I’m
casually aware of, due to it’s influx of participants to Indy Lights, and now
Indy NXT.
As former FR Americas champions Kyle Kirkwood,
Linus Lundqvist and Kyffin Simpson have all graduated from Indy Lights and are
now competing in Indy Cars. Along with FR Americas runner-up David Malukas.
While FR Americas Alumni Benjamin Pedersen also
graduated to Indy Lights before a single season racing for A.J. foyt
enterprises in IndyCar last year. Making for a total of five Alumni to make it
All the way to the Big boyz’ rainks, ergo IndyCar, America’s premiere Open
Wheel Racing category.
As I’ve come up with a total of 14 former
drivers who’ve graduated to Indy NXT. Including reigning 2023 FR Americas
Champion Callum Hedge, who won 13 of 18 races last year enroute to the title!
And now drives for HMD Motorsports in Indy NXT.
The series will contest a total of seven rounds
this year, each comprising of three races for a total of 21 races.
FR Americas will contest All six rounds above
with it’s Junior F4 Brethren. Along with a Non-points Invitational round at
Laguna Seca May 2-5. With the Big News being it’s Debutante event at Mother
Speedway! When taking part June 13-16 during the SVRA Sprint Series outing at
Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
From the series inception in 2018 thru 2023, FR
Americas competitors competed for a scholarship advancement prize to contest
the following Super Formula season courtesy of Honda. Which as noted, has
quietly ended it’s association with these two SCCA Pro Racing Feeder Series.
As the previous Ligier JS F3 sported a
2.0-litre DOHC inline four cylinder turbocharged Honda engine producing 303bhp.
While this year’s Ligier JS F3 chassis sports
the Ligier Storm V-4 lump’. For which all I could discern about this 1.65-liter
90-degrees V-4 engine utilized for both the JS F422 and JS F3 single seater
chassis. Is that it has only two valves per cylinder, presumably SOHC, whilst
I’d like to Arse-sume that the JS F3 version is also turbocharged? And
producing relatively the same Horsepower as it’s predecessor.
While I’m also guessing that the new scholarship advancement prize award for this year’s FR Americas champion allows it’s recipient to graduate to Indy NXT, the next logical step upon this ladder system…
