Compétition

F4 Academy: Nogaro, the first act of a promising Championship

The French F4 Championship, run by the FFSA Academy, has been running smoothly for many years now and continues to attract young hopefuls from many different countries and backgrounds. The 2024 season kicks off at Nogaro with 25 cars on track! The FIA-certified French F4 Championship is once again shaping up to be one of […]

The FIA-certified French F4 Championship is once again shaping up to be one of the major international single-seater competitions in Europe. The quality of the training, the rigorous organisation, the sporting fairness, the controlled costs and the many opportunities for progression to the top level make it an attractive, competitive and coveted discipline. Pierre Gasly and the recently-crowned FIA F2 Champion Théo Pourchaire have both come through the ranks of F4, as have Isack Hadjar and Victor Martins, who are currently performing brilliantly in the waiting room for Formula 1.

Here it all begins

After karting, the climb to the top of motor sport begins in F4. From 30th March to 1st April 2024, 25 drivers will be competing for the title. The famous and traditional Easter Cup at Nogaro will kick off the competition on the 3636-metre Paul Armagnac circuit. Revealed through the FFSA Academy in 2023, eight drivers will contest a second season in the French F4 Championship: Frenchmen Louis Schlesser, Karel Schulz and Edouard Borgna, Canadian Jason Leung, Andorran Frank Porte Ruiz, Italian Leonardo Megna, Briton Gabriel Doyle-Parfait and Belgian Yani Stevenheydens, winner of the ‘Road to F4’ Scholarship organised by the RACB.

Among the 25 entries, several French drivers have a wealth of karting experience, including Jules Caranta (IAME Euro Series Champion in 2022), Jules Roussel (Rotax National Series Champion), Enzo Caldaras (3rd in the Rotax National Series), as well as the last three FFSA Academy Junior French Champions: Augustin Bernier, who also won the Feed Racing Scholarship, Arthur Dorison and Pacôme Weisenburger.

Irishman Alex O’Grady also has an impressive karting record. Other nations represented include Japan with Taito Kato, India with Arjun Chheda, Luxembourg with Chester Kieffer, Thailand with Rayan Caretti and Germany with Montego Maassen and Mathilda Paatz, the only female entrant. Five other French drivers will complete the line-up: Tom Le Brech, Roméo Leurs, Paul Roques and Dylan Estre, the brother of official Porsche driver Kevin Estre.

> F4 Nogaro 2024 programme

Friday 29th March: Private practice (5 sessions)
Saturday 30th March: Free Practice (08:40 – 09:10) and Qualifying (15:15 – 15:40)
Sunday 31st March: Race 1 (09:55 – 10:25) and Race 2 (16:35 – 17:05)
Monday 1st April: Race 3 (10:45 – 11:15)

> Race duration: 20 minutes + 1 lap

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

> List of drivers in the 2024 French F4 Championship

Augustin Bernier, France
Edouard Borgna, France
Enzo Caldaras, France
Jules Caranta, France
Rayan Caretti, Thailand
Arjun Chheda, India
Arthur Dorison, France
Gabriel Doyle-Parfait, Great Britain
Dylan Estre, France
Taito Kato, Japan
Chester Kieffer, Luxembourg
Tom Le Brech, France
Jason Leung, Canada
Roméo Leurs, France
Montego Maassen, Germany
Leonardo Megna, Italy
Alexandre Munoz, France *
Alex O’Grady, Ireland
Mathilda Paatz, Germany
Frank Porte Ruiz, Andorra
Paul Roques, France
Jules Roussel, France
Louis Schlesser, France
Karel Schulz, France
Yani Stevenheydens, Belgium
Pacôme Weisenburger, France