September 23, 2025 – Kiwi Motorsport enjoyed a weekend of highs and hard-fought finishes at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) as the team competed in Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas), Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.), and the Ligier Junior Formula Championship (Ligier JFC). The weekend was highlighted by Cooper Shipman clinching the 2025 F4 U.S. Championship title with a dominant performance, while the FR Americas squad collected podium finishes and valuable points heading into the season finale.
In FR Americas, the four-driver lineup of Bruno Ribeiro, Jett Bowling, Nicolas Ambiado and Kevin Janzen showed strong pace in qualifying. Ribeiro led the Kiwi effort with a third-place start, followed by Bowling in fifth, Ambiado in ninth, and Janzen—Kiwi’s lone Masters class competitor—lining up 11th overall and first in class. Race 1 brought early drama when Bowling and Ribeiro were both caught in early race incidents, leaving Ambiado to charge to a strong fourth-place finish and Janzen to take ninth overall and second in Masters.
Race 2 saw Bowling rebound with a determined drive to third place, while Janzen claimed eighth overall and a Masters class victory. Unfortunately, late race incidents once again sidelined Ribeiro and Ambiado, preventing them from showcasing their full speed.
The F4 U.S. Championship was all about Cooper Shipman, who put an exclamation mark on his standout season. Shipman secured pole position in qualifying and delivered a flawless drive in Race 1 to take the win. He capped off the weekend with a second victory in Race 2 and officially locked up the 2025 F4 U.S. Championship with two races still remaining in the season. Teammate Oliver Savoie impressed with a fifth-place finish in Race 1 and a sixth-place finish in Race 2, while Clemente Huerta showed grit despite challenges with his machine, qualifying ninth but retiring early in Race 1 and unable to start Race 2 due to damage.
With the weekend results, Kiwi Motorsport added another championship to its resume with the F4 U.S. Team Champion honors. Additionally, Shipman earned his ninth consecutive F4 U.S. win, setting a new record ahead of Cameron Das, who had eight, and NTT INDYCAR Series driver Kyle Kirkwood, who had earned seven in a row.
In Ligier JFC, Zach Fourie qualified sixth for Race 1, but endured a tough outing to finish 11th. Race 2 ended prematurely when contact on the opening lap forced an early retirement.
“This weekend was a mix of emotions, but a true showcase of the heart and resilience of this team,” explained Teena Larsen, Team Owner of Kiwi Motorsport. “Cooper’s championship win is a huge milestone for us, and seeing drivers like Jett fight back after adversity makes me incredibly proud. Additionally, we added the F4 U.S. Team Championship to our resume which shows our work ethic and drive to win. We’ll carry this momentum into Barber Motorsports Park and finish the season strong across all three championships.”
Kiwi Motorsport will now turn their attention to the season finale at Barber Motorsports Park, October 17–19, where the team will aim to secure additional championship titles and close out the 2025 season on a high note.
For more information on Kiwi Motorsport, please contact Teena Larsen via email to kiwimotorsportnz@gmail.com.
- Kiwi Motorsport PR
