Photo: FR Americas
Titus Sherlock reclaimed the Formula Regional Americas points lead as Christian Brooks won both races in the penultimate round at Virginia International Raceway.
Brooks made it up to Indy Nxt in his single-seater career and became a rallycross star, but spent most of 2025 on the sidelines prior to making his FRegional debut on September 20/21.
The 24-year-old was on the pace straight away in Toney Driver Development’s second car, leading Bruno Ribeiro and team-mate Brady Golan in practice.
His advantage continued into qualifying where he took pole by 0.179 seconds over Crosslink Competition’s Titus Sherlock. Kiwi Motorsport’s Ribeiro was a further 0.098s behind in third, with Golan and Kiwi’s Jett Bowling the only others within a second of pole.
Brooks comfortably led into the opening corner of race one, as Sherlock held second. Ribeiro got ahead of him into the turn three left-hander as Bowling crashed out at high speed. He was far enough off that racing continued, and Connor Roberts spun away fifth place exiting turn 12 on lap two.
The gap between the top two rapidly grew as smoke billowed out of the rear of Ribeiro’s car, and he pulled over before the back straight on lap five which triggered a caution period. Brooks’ four-second gap was eliminated, and Golan was now second.
Racing resumed on lap eight and Golan immediately took the lead. Brooks reclaimed it pretty quickly, as Sherlock now held off Nicolas Ambiado for third. Another caution period began on lap nine after Landan Matriano Lim crashed into the turn 12 barriers, despite then reversing out and driving away.
The next restart was on lap 11, and Golan attacked in several corners but Brooks held on before a race-ending caution period began on lap 12 due to Kevin Janzen having a more definitive crash into turn 12’s barriers.
Brooks won, Ribeiro dropped from first to third in the standings, and Ambiado now led Sherlock by 4.5 points.
Setting race one’s fastest lap earned Brooks pole for race two the next day, followed by Ribeiro, Ambiado, Golan and Sherlock on the grid.
Ribeiro challenged Brooks into the first turn but had jumped the start, and Sherlock made a great launch to pass Ambiado for third.
Sherlock pressured Ribeiro in the first sector through the first laps, while Ribeiro had the straightline speed advantage. Ambiado meanwhile had to spend several minutes in the pits.
Sherlock’s first proper attempt to pass Ribeiro was late in lap nine, and a caution period was called on lap 11 as Golan retired from fourth place.
Brooks’ five-second lead was eliminated, but on the lap 14 restart he sprinted off as Sherlock went around Ribeiro’s outside and Bowling passed on his inside at turn one. Roberts then got past before a race-ending caution period was triggered due to Ambiado crashing out.
Ribeiro was classified 10th after a five-second penalty was applied, one place ahead of Ambiado. Sherlock meanwhile took a 13.5-point lead by finishing second behind Brooks.
Results round-up
Race 1 (12 laps)
1 Christian Brooks Toney Driver Development 27m13.710s
2 Brady Golan Toney Driver Development +0.471s
3 Titus Sherlock Crosslink Competition +0.875s
4 Nicolas Ambiado Kiwi Motorsport +1.559s
5 James Lawley Atlantic Racing Team +1.990s
6 Barrett Wolfe Crosslink Competition +2.684s
7 Connor Roberts Atlantic w/ Team Roberts +3.386s
8 Anthony Autiello Momentum Motorsports +10.476s
9 Kevin Janzen Kiwi Motorsport +1 lap
Ret Landan Matriano Lim Crosslink Competition
Pole: Brooks, 1m44.666s
Fastest lap: Brooks, 1m46.370s
Race 2 (14 laps)
1 Brooks 29m20.570s
2 Sherlock +0.393s
3 Jett Bowling Kiwi Motorsport +0.863s
4 Roberts +2.051s
5 Lawley +3.053s
6 Lim +4.230s
7 Wolfe +4.624s
8 Janzen +5.874s
9 Autiello +6.446s
10 Bruno Ribeiro Kiwi Motorsport +7.794s
FL: Brooks, 1m46.560s
Championship standings
1 Sherlock 248.5 2 Ambiado 235 3 Ribeiro 228 4 Bowling 193 5 Golan 155 6 Roberts 117 7 Lawley 103.5 8 Nicolas Stati 82 9 Wolfe 54.5 10 Brooks 50