Photo: Chinese F4
Tiago Rodrigues, the 2023 Chinese Formula 4 champion, will race for Evans GP in this year’s Formula Regional World Cup-awarding Macau Grand Prix.
The Macanese talent has already raced on home soil, contesting the grand prix-supporting F4 races last year. He finished eighth and sixth in the two, which were non-championship races for F4 South East Asia. Rodrigues also did the opening F4 SEA round in China and made the podium in all three races, enough to put him fifth in the standings.
His Chinese F4 campaign featured seven wins, eight other podiums, two poles and six fastest laps, although he only claimed the title by a small margin.
This year Rodrigues has come 22nd in F4 United Arab Emirates, made a race-winning Australian F4 cameo with Evans GP and taken part in the Ferrari Driver Academy’s Asia Pacific and Oceania Selection Programme. It is yet to be announced which driver from that shootout has progressed to the FDA Scouting World Finals.
“I’m really looking forward to racing with Evans GP again at the Macau GP FRegional World Cup. Having raced in Macau last year in the F4 races, I know how challenging the circuit is,” said Rodrigues.
“Stepping up to FRegional will be tough, especially with the level of competition, but I’m ready to push myself and learn as much as I can. Racing in front of my home crowd makes this race even more special, and I can’t wait to represent Macau once again.”
Evans GP’s team manager Joshua Evans added: “We’re very pleased to welcome Tiago back to the team for the Macau GP FRegional World Cup. His [Australian F4] performance in Sepang, where he secured pole position and a race win, showed the potential he brings.
“Moving up to FRegional will be a big step, especially with the experienced drivers he’ll be competing against, but Tiago’s previous experience in Macau will certainly help him. It’s always special to race in front of your home fans, and we’re confident he’ll give his best effort.”
Rodrigues and team-mate Cooper Webster are the only two drivers confirmed so far for the 2024 Macau GP, which will be the first edition to run using FRegional cars.