F4 Academy 2023: the countdown is on

With just a few days to go before the launch of the 2023 French F4 Championship, the 26 drivers entered are preparing their weapons for the first meeting of the season on the Nogaro circuit in the Gers region of France, during the Easter Cup.

The success of the turnkey one-design championship run by the FFSA Academy is growing among the other European FIA F4 series’. The 2023 field is breaking records with its 26 drivers from 12 different countries, ready to do anything to succeed the reigning champion Alessandro Giusti. Six drivers will try their luck for a second time at the wheel of the second-generation Mygale M21-F4 Alpine, a pioneer in the use of 100% renewable biofuel. The training provided by the FFSA Academy’s qualified instructors will give all of them the best chance to reveal their talent.

Expertise recognised beyond the borders
As was the case last year with the Red Bull Junior Team, several single-seater specialists have placed their trust in the French F4 Championship to initiate their protégés. In 2023, three young Germans from the ADAC Formula Junior Team will come to the French competition with solid ambitions: Max Reis, Finn Wiebelhaus and Tom Kalender.

Similarly, Belgian Yani Stevenheydens, winner of the RACB National Team’s Volant selected at Le Mans as part of the federal Road to F4 operation, will drive in France this year. President of the RACB jury, Stoffel Vandoorne said: “The French F4 Championship is a very good training to approach single-seaters. It is an excellent basis for getting noticed and building the foundations of a career.”

The 2021-2022 Formula E World Champion knows what he’s talking about, as his French F4 Championship title in 2010 was the basis of a brilliant career that led him to race two seasons with McLaren F1 in 2017 and 2018.

The FEED Racing Volant organised at Magny-Cours by Jacques Villeneuve and Patrick Lemarié offers its winner the opportunity to compete in the French F4 Championship. The Canadian Kevin Foster will be under the FFSA Academy structure in 2023.

This recognition from specialists in the field and the high entry numbers of the French F4 Championship compared to the European competition are serious guarantees of the FFSA Academy’s skills.

List of drivers for the 2023 French F4 Championship

Paul Alberto, France, French Junior Karting vice-champion in 2021
Romain Andriolo, France, 10th in 2022
Garrett Berry, USA
Edouard Borgna, France
Adrien Closmenil, France
Joao Paulo Diaz Balesteiro, Colombia
Gabriel Doyle-Parfait, France
Andrei Duna, Romania
Kevin Foster, Canada, FEED Racing
Evan Giltaire, France
Tom Kalender, Germany, ADAC Formula Junior Team
Jason Leung, Canada
Pol Lopez, Spain, 21st in 2022
Leonardo Megna, Italy
Enzo Peugeot, France, 5th in 2022
Edgar Pierre, France, 13th in 2022
Frank Porte Ruiz, Andorra
Max Reis, Germany, ADAC Formula Junior Team, 15th in 2022
Enzo Richer, France, 17th in 2022
Luca Savu, Romania
Louis Schlesser, France
Karel Schulz, France
Yani Stevenheydens, Belgium, RACB
Yaroslav Veselaho, Ukraine
Finn Wiebelhaus, Germany, ADAC Formula Junior Team
Hiyu Yamakoshi, Japan

Scheduled from 8th to 10th April, the Nogaro meeting will be preceded by a test day on Friday 7th April.

Info FFSA Academy / Photo © KSP – Guillaume Veuve