Photo: Gavin Baker Photography
Formula Regional Americas has attracted 15 cars to the first round of its 2024 season, which is taking place at NOLA Motorsports Park this weekend.
Astonishingly nine of those cars are being entered by Crosslink/Kiwi Motorsport, and its line-up is led by Ryan Shehan who was championship runner-up with two wins last year. His team-mates include reigning FRegional Western and FRegional Western Winter Series champion Nicole Havrda, 2023 United States Formula 4 champion Patrick Woods-Toth and runner-up Titus Sherlock.
Hayden Bowlsbey took one podium in FRegional Americas last year and returns with IGY6 Motorsports, while Oliver Westling – a two-time race-winner in 2023 – signed for a third season with Jensen Global Advisors but has not turned up at NOLA.
Shehan set the pace in pre-event testing for the season opener, a 1m35.641s putting him 0.242 seconds ahead of Sherlock. Velox USA’s Nicolas Ambiado rose to the top and lowered the pace in practice, setting a 1m34.994s. He was fastest by 0.768s over Sherlock, with DD Autosport’s Cole Kleck 0.998s behind in third.
US F4 was supposed to support the FRegional action at NOLA, but last month its season opener was cancelled due to delays in deliveries of Ligier’s second-generation F4 car to teams.
The first-generation car is being raced on the support bill this weekend, as Ligier JS F4 Series (formerly known as Formula Development) kicks off its season with a 14-car field that includes F4 Western Winter Series champion Daniel Quimby, former F1 Academy racer Maite Caceres and US F4 podium-finisher Bacon Zelenka.
FRegional Americas has recently announced it will hold a non-championship round at Laguna Seca on May 2-5, then it, US F4 and Ligier JS F4 will all race together at Road America two weeks later.