F4 U.S. Championship First Test Brings New Drivers to the Line-Up

The second season of the Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda kicked-off in The Big Easy during Mardi Gras weekend at NOLA Motorsports Park in Avondale, Louisiana, Feb. 25-26 for the first of two official series tests. Eighteen drivers on six teams, eleven of whom were series rookies, participated in the SCCA Pro Racing sanctioned event.

“It was really encouraging to see the turn-out for the NOLA test,” said SCCA Pro Racing Vice President Steve Oseth. “There were a lot of new drivers who got valuable seat-time before the season starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway April 8-9. With returning veterans and talented rookies, this season will be extremely competitive.”

Mathias Soler-Obel of Bogota, Colombia, was the newest rookie to join the F4 U.S. Championship grid running under Cape Motorsports. Soler-Obel joins the squad for the 2017 campaign, coming off a strong season that saw him win the Lucas Oil School of Racing Formula Race Series championship in its inaugural season. 

“As a team, we are really excited to have Mathias onboard for the season,” said Dominic Cape, co-owner of Cape Motorsports. “The two-day test we just completed went really well and we're all looking forward to see him in action.” 

The Colombian native who now resides in Atlanta, Georgia, spent his development years winning karting championships throughout the world.

“I’m really happy to start working with Cape Motorsports in the F4 U.S. Championship,” Soler-Obel said ahead of continued testing with the team. “I’m looking forward to great results with the team!”

The Cape Motorsports’ test grid also included F4 U.S. Championship veteran Steve Bamford of Toronto, who signed with the team in January. Series veteran Kyle Kirkwood of Jupiter, Florida, tested with the team in NOLA, but his seat for the season has not been confirmed.

Contending F4 U.S. championship team JDX Racing did not attend the test. The team spent the time finalizing its 2017 F4 U.S. line-up. Inaugural F4 U.S. teams Primus Racing, Global Racing Group and Group-A Racing were also not able to attend due to scheduling conflicts. However, the three teams will participate in the 2017 F4 U.S. season with multiple entries.

Fans can visit F4USChampionship.com for a full trackside report and weekend entry list for the NOLA Motorsports Park test weekend.    

 

NOLA Motorsports Park Entry List for Feb. 25-26

Car

Driver

Hometown

Team

Engine

2

Skylar Robinson

Augusta, GA

Momentum Motorsports

HONDA

3

Vincent Khristov

Delray Beach, FL

Indy Motorsport Group

HONDA

6

Max Peichel

Edina, MN

Jay Howard MDD

HONDA

7

Steve Bamford

Toronto, Ontario

Cape Motorsports

HONDA

8

Kyle Kirkwood

Jupiter, FL

Cape Motorsports

HONDA

9

Mathias Soler-Obel

Bogota, Colombia

Cape Motorsports

HONDA

10

Davis Durrett

Carmel, IN

Indy Motorsport Group

HONDA

16

Kent Vaccaro

Plattsburgh, NY

Momentum Motorsports

HONDA

21

John Andrew Entwistte

Katonah, NY

Hell Hound Motorsports

HONDA

22

Jacob Abel

Louisville, KY

Jay Howard MDD/Abel Motorsports

HONDA

26

Sam Paley

Cincinnati, OH

Jay Howard MDD

HONDA

34

Austin Kaszuba

Burleson, TX

Miller Vinatieri Leguizamon Motorsports

HONDA

35

Chis Archinaco

Pittsburgh, PA

Indy Motorsport Group

HONDA

40

Jack William Miller

Westfield, IN

Miller Vinatieri Leguizamon Motorsports

HONDA

45

Baltazar Leguizamon

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Miller Vinatieri Leguizamon Motorsports

HONDA

65

Alan Miller

Indianapolis, IN

Miller Vinatieri Leguizamon Motorsports

HONDA

77

Parker Locke

San Antonio, TX

Jay Howard MDD

HONDA

96

Lawson Nagel

Fort Worth, TX

Miller Vinatieri Leguizamon Motorsports

HONDA

 

NOLA Motorsports Park Track Report