Two British kart champions have chosen the United States Formula 4 Championship for their maiden single-seater campaigns this year.
Both Teddy Wilson (pictured) and Oliver Clarke will race for British-run teams in Jay Howard Driver Development and Team Benik respectively.
Wilson won the British IAME Cadet title in 2014 before two seasons racing KF and OK Junior across Europe, taking seventh in the 2015 Andrea Margutti Trophy as well as sixth in the Trofeo delle Industrie and 10th in the WSK Super Master Series in 2016.
His move to F4 comes after joining 2006 Indy Lights champion Jay Howard’s team last December to win the IAME Senior category of the?Margay Sprint Nationals at Daytona Kart Week.
“F4 U.S. is a great stepping stone for young drivers,” the 16-year-old said.
“Being with Jay Howard and his team is a good fit for me as I aim to make my first single seater season the best it can be with their support. It will be a big learning curve but I have high hopes of what I can achieve with Team JHDD.?
In Howard’s team, Wilson will race alongside Braden Eves, who finished sixth in the US F4 standings last year despite only doing seven of the 20 races.
?Teddy made a good impression on the team?immediately and was fast, polite and hard working,” Howard said.
“He is going down a very similar road to?myself, making the move from the UK to the USA to pursue his career. It?s not easy and I?give Teddy a lot of credit for doing what he is doing. I?m sure his dedication will pay off?for him down the line.?
Clarke won the?British Honda Cadet title in 2015 and came seventh a year later in the CIK FIA Academy Trophy, before taking third in both the British Senior OK Championship and the IAME X30 Senior Euro Series in 2017.
The 15-year-old joins a Benik team that is expanding into F4 after racing in USF2000 last year, off the back of success in karting, under the guidance of former Fortec F4 team manager Dan Mitchell.
?I am delighted to be moving from karting to F4 in the United States and joining Benik,? said Clarke. ?I am very happy to be working with such an experienced group of guys and can?t wait to get back out in the car and do some more testing. Hopefully a strong first season to come.?
Mitchell added: ?I look forward to having the opportunity to work with Oliver. He has a great resume and his skills behind the wheel are second to none. He will be a great fit to our F4 program and an awesome additional to Team BENIK as a whole.?