F4 U.S. Championships

Change in prequalifying allows for new drivers to rise to the top

Watch Round 2 replay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb5kr6GRQxI

For the first time since the 2017 season opener, the Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda will visit Homestead Miami Speedway on Tuesday

with the third installment of the KCR Simulators F4 U.S. Esports Championship. (Live stream at 6:30 p.m. Eastern)

Hosted on the iRacing platform, the virtual race will be staged on the same 13-turn, 2.2-mile Roval course the drivers will face later this season in real life.

With more than sixty current, former and future F4 U.S. stars entered for the event, SCCA Pro Racing altered the way drivers prequalified for Tuesday’s race.

Traditionally before each race, drivers participated in a 30-minute open qualifying the Monday before each round. This week, the drivers received 30-minutes (or four laps whichever came first) of individual track time.

“During open practices we noticed that the large turnout and the short track length paired with the brief qualifying wouldn’t allow for some drivers to get a clean look at the track,” explained SCCA Pro Racing Communications Director Amy Greenway. “While we try to keep our sessions and car set up as close to real life racing as possible, sometimes our real life practices don’t always translate to our virtual championship. This week we decided to hold individual pre-qualifying sessions to allow all the drivers an equal chance to get in a good lap since there are only a limited amount of entries permitted into each race.

“The change allowed some new drivers to shine,” continued Greenway. “Typically, Round 2 winner Simon Sikes tops the standings, but we saw nine-drivers beat Simon’s fastest lap on Monday, so I think we are in for some exciting racing for Round 3.”

Thirty drivers representing six nations earned spots for the Homestead Miami Speedway event which will still feature a 10-minute practice, followed by a swift open 10-minute qualifying before the 30-minute race feature.

After two rounds, Kiwi Motorsport prospect Muhammad Ibrahim leads the simulation championship by seven points over second place Sikes. Jay Howard Driver Development rookie Viktor Andersson trails Sikes also by seven points in third.

In effort to show the single-seater progression, Global Racing Group will host the iRacing champion for a real-life test day in the Halo-equipped Ligier JS F3 car. The championship prize package also includes an Omologato watch, Bell Helmet Accessories and a Balaclava and 50 percent discount from Sabelt America. The Vice Champion will receive a set of Hankook Tires while third overall in points will be presented with a 90-day virtual training package from PitFit Training.

The driver with the most pole position starts at the end of the season will receive a free entry for a promoter test day from SCCA Pro Racing in 2020 with the driver’s team of choice. Respectively, Sikes, with two pole position starts, can clinch the award tonight if qualifies with the top time.

Live coverage by Apex Racing TV starts at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.”Podium” interviews with the top drivers will follow the race.

Fans can watch the action live on the F4 U.S. YoutTube channel and Facebook page:

F4 U.S. YouTube-  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb5kr6GRQxI

F4 U.S. Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/f4uschampionship/

Apex Racing Twitch- https://www.twitch.tv/apexracingtv

Live Timing and Scoring- https://www.apexracingtv.com/livetiming/

Round 2 Replay:

Watch Round 2 replay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb5kr6GRQxI

KCR Simulators F4 U.S. Esports Championship Schedule (Live Stream Begins at 6:30 p.m. Eastern):

Tuesday, May 26 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Tuesday, June 2 at Barber Motorsports Park

Tuesday, June 9 at Homestead-Miami Speedway

Tuesday, June 16 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

Tuesday, June 23 Fan Choice

 Round 3 Homestead Miami Speedway Entry List