ROOKIES OUTNUMBER SERIES VETS IN STANDINGS AFTER OPENING WEEKEND
Rasmussen leads in championship points after VIR
INDIANAPOLIS (May 4, 2018)- Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda rookies challenged the season vets in standings during the Andy Scriven Memorial Race opening weekend at Virginia International Raceway April 27-29. Eight of the 14 point-holders are competing in their first year of the junior-professional series.
Jay Howard Driver Development rookie Christian Rasmussen of Copenhagen, Denmark, dominated the scores, leading F4 U.S. sophomore Dakota Dickerson of San Diego by 20 points after the opening round. Series veteran Benjamin Pedersen of Copenhagen, Denmark, trails Dickerson by just one point in third-place with rookies Teddy Wilson of Holbeach, England, and Joshua Car of Sydney, Australia, completing the top-five in a close battle. Car was the only F4 U.S. driver outside the top-three to score points in every round.
“I am of course very pleased with how the first weekend went,” said Rasmussen, who placed third in the 2017 Denmark F4 Championship. “I think that the guys from JHDD did a great job with the car. Leading the championship by 20 points after the first weekend is a very good start to the championship. For Atlanta, I think we can get three for three wins. We only missed sweeping the weekend at VIR by a tenth of a second, so my goal is to take all three at Atlanta.”
After a top-five and top-10 finish, Veteran F4 U.S. driver Austin Kaszuba of Burleson, Texas, added 18 points to his standings, sliding into sixth place overall. While, F4 U.S. sophomores and Abel Racing teammates Jacob Loomis of Corinth, Texas, and Jacob Abel of Louisville, Kentucky, tied for seventh, earning 12 points apiece. Abel completed VIR with his best F4 career results, gaining a pair of eighth-place finishes in Rounds 2 and 3.
“Overall the weekend was very successful,” said Abel. “In the off-season, we tested and added new personnel to the team which has made us even stronger. The feedback Jacob and I give to one another has been a big help in developing for the season. I’m looking forward to getting in the top-5 and getting my first podium this season.”
In an incredible drive, James Raven of Portsmouth, England, went from a last-place pitlane start to a points finish in the opening round. His success continued in Round 2 turning the third fastest lap to end the race with points and a second-row start for the final round. However, after an amazing start in Round 3, Raven suffered mechanical issues stemmed from contact made from another driver which forced his No. 12 DEForce Racing machine to retire midrace. Raven holds ninth in standings after VIR.
Sophomore driver Braden Eves of Gahanna, Ohio, also made an amazing comeback after starting Round 3 in 26th, fighting his way to an eighth-place points finish.
“I’ve improved a lot as a driver since last season,” Eves, who had one win and five podiums after participating in just three events in 2017, said. “All the experience from last season will help out a lot this year. Jay Howard has worked with me a lot on my race craft and our goal is to win the championship this year. After our results from VIR that goal is still feasible.”
Rookie drivers Jose Blanco-Chock of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wyatt Brichacek of Johnstown, Colorado, Arthur Leist of Novo Hamburgo, Brazil, and Jake French of Royse City, Texas, all added points to their championship run at VIR.
F4 U.S. points are calculated based on FIA rules and regulations. The top 10 drivers in each race are awarded points as follows: