Formula 4 United States Championship Explained

Formula 4 United States Championship
Category:FIA Formula 4
Country:United States
Canada
Region:North America
Inaugural:2016
Constructors:Ligier Automotive
Engines:Honda (2016–2023)
Ligier Automotive (2024)
Tyres:Hankook
Champion Driver: Patrick Woods-Toth
Champion Team: Crosslink/Kiwi Motorsport
Website:https://www.f4uschampionship.com
Current Season: Formula 4 United States Championship

The Formula 4 United States Championship is an auto racing series that is held under FIA Formula 4 regulations. The championship is sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing, the professional racing division of the Sports Car Club of America, in conjunction with the Automobile Competition Committee for the United States, the United States representative to the FIA.[1] It is a spec series, with all competitors using the same chassis and engine.

The championship is designed to support North American drivers entering international open-wheel racing, by using the same regulations used by other series globally, rather than compete with the existing IndyCar Road to Indy ladder, with the drivers earning points towards an FIA Superlicence. It serves as an initial step into car racing for drivers graduating from karting.

Championship format

Each event of the championship consists of three races, which are run on the support package of other motorsport events in the United States and starting in 2017, Canada. The inaugural season consisted of five events, and expanded to additional rounds in the following seasons.[2] Initially only run at race tracks on the East Coast of the United States, the championship will expand to separate East and West Coast series in the future with Canadian rounds in association with United States-based series.

The chassis is provided by Onroak Automotive, with a 2000cc Honda K20 detuned to 160hp and supplied by Honda Performance Development, which both meet the FIA price caps for Formula 4. The tyres were by provided by Pirelli until 2018 season and by Hankook since 2019, and are similarly price capped. The total cost for a driver to compete in a full season of the 2016 championship is estimated at $115,000.[3]

Champions

Drivers

SeasonChampionTeam RacesWinsPolesFastest lapPodiumsPointsMargins
2016 Cameron Das JDX Racing15949928157
2017 Kyle Kirkwood Cape Motorsports20941015345183
2018 Dakota Dickerson DC Autosport with Cape Motorsports176151529979
2019 Joshua Car Crosslink Racing with Kiwi Motorsport174241126961
2020 Hunter Yeany Velocity Racing Development168161528557
2021 Noel León DEForce Racing172411021220.5
2022 Lochie Hughes Jay Howard Driver Development186251027755
2023 Patrick Woods-Toth Crosslink/Kiwi Motorsport1841214263.582.5

Teams

SeasonTeam DriversWinsPolesFastest lapPodiumsPointsMargins
2016 JDX Racing39491035311
2017 Cape Motorsports4941015433165
2018 Crosslink Racing with Kiwi Motorsport65331340744
2019 Crosslink Racing with Kiwi Motorsport6951125537195
2020 Crosslink Racing with Kiwi Motorsport794926557123
2021 Velocity Racing Development581817381.5144
2022 Crosslink Racing with Kiwi Motorsport851118447.541.5
2023 Crosslink/Kiwi Motorsport974626541.5325.5

Circuits

NumberCircuitsRoundsYears
1 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course92016–present
2 Circuit of the Americas82017–present
3 Virginia International Raceway72017–2023
4 Road Atlanta42016, 2018–2019, 2021
New Jersey Motorsports Park42016, 2018, 2022–present
6 Homestead-Miami Speedway32016–2017, 2020
Road America32021–present
8 Pittsburgh International Race Complex22018–2019
Sebring International Raceway22019–2020
NOLA Motorsports Park22022–2023
11 Indianapolis Motor Speedway12017
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park12017, 2024
Barber Motorsports Park12020
Brainerd International Raceway12021

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIA Formula 4 revealed for North America. DiZinno. Tony. 17 September 2015. NBC Sports. NBC-Universal. 9 January 2016.
  2. Web site: United States Formula 4 Championship launched for 2016. Watkins. Gary. 17 September 2015. Autosport.com. Haymarket Media. 9 January 2016.
  3. Web site: 30 October 2018. Hankook Tire America Named New Official Tire of F4 U.S. Championship. F4 U.S. Championships. en.