Press release

F4 Academy: Taito Kato in the lead at the Nürburgring

For the first time ever, the French F4 Championship will be held at one of Europe’s most famous circuits, the Nürburgring. In Germany, uncertainty promises to reign between the main protagonists of this exciting season.

The halfway point of the season is about to arrive at the fourth of the seven events in the 2024 French F4 Championship. When it comes to the Eifel Mountains, weather conditions are always a hot topic, and this may well be a factor for the 25 drivers of the FFSA Academy on 26th to 28th July.

Will a sixth winner emerge?

With seven podium finishes, including two victories in eight races, Taito Kaito is a deserved leader in the provisional championship standings. Trained at the Honda Racing School in Suzuka, the Japanese driver showed himself to be not only fast, but also combative each time he had to move up because of a less favourable grid position. There were three drivers who proved capable of overtaking Kato on a regular basis. A newcomer to the discipline, Belgian Yani Stevenheydens won the first race at Nogaro and subsequently finished on the podium four times. He is 2nd overall, 16 points behind his rival.

Two-time winner at Nogaro and Spa Francorchamps, Frenchman Jules Caranta is just two points behind Stevenheydens, but it’s the title that this former top-level kart driver is aiming for this season. Luxembourg’s Chester Kieffer has also won twice, at Lédenon and in Belgium, keeping him close to the top three, 32 points behind Kato.

High-potential outsiders

Rayan Caretti, on the podium at the opening meeting, is no stranger to the places of honour. He needs to score well to catch up with the leading group and will certainly be aiming for victory in Germany. Augustin Bernier is in a similar position. After a hesitant performance in the opening race of the Championship at Easter, the winner of the Feed Racing Volant made an interesting rise to prominence in the next two races.

Not always the luckiest of drivers, Andorran Frank Porte Ruiz opened his victory account at Lédenon and will be one to watch at the 5.148km Nürburgring. France’s Jules Roussel and Ireland’s Alex O’Grady are among the drivers to have finished on the podium, an honour that 16 other young hopefuls are aiming to achieve as quickly as possible.

Among them, the two German drivers entered thanks to the partnership created in 2022 between the FFSA and the ADAC Formula Junior Team will be particularly motivated. Mathilda Paatz and Montego Maassen will be looking to shine on home soil.

> F4 Nürburgring 2024 programme

Friday 26 July: Free Practice (11:20 – 11:50) and Qualifying (17:10 – 17:35)
Saturday 27 July: Race 1 (11:30 – 12:00) and Race 2 (17:05 – 17:35)
Sunday 28 July: Race 3 (10:00 – 10:30)

> Race duration: 20 minutes + 1 lap

> Mygale single-seater, Renault turbo engine, Pirelli tyres, 100% renewable Repsol fuel.

> Provisional French F4 Championship standings
1 Taito Kato (Japan) 133 points
2 Yani Stevenheydens (Belgium) 117 points
3 Jules Caranta (France) 115 points
4 Chester Kieffer (Luxembourg) 101 points
5 Rayan Caretti (Thailand) 70 points
6 Augustin Bernier (France) 39 points
7 Jules Roussel (France) 33 points
8 Frank Porte Ruiz (Andorra) 27 points
9 Leonardo Megna (Italy) 24 points
10 Alex O’Grady (Ireland) 22 points
11 Jason Leung (Canada) 21 points
12 Dylan Estre (France) 13 points
13 Arthur Dorison (France) 5 points
13 Gabriel Doyle-Parfait (Great Britain) 5 points
15 Montego Maassen (Germany) 4 points
15 Karel Schulz (France) 4 points
17 Alexandre Munoz (France) 2 points
18 Enzo Caldaras (France) 1 point
Tom Le Brech (France)
Roméo Leurs (France)
Louis Schlesser (France)
Edouard Borgna (France)
Mathilda Paatz (Germany)
Paul Roques (France)
Arjun Chheda (India)