Photo: KSP
French Formula 4 champion and Honda junior Taito Kato will move up to Formula Regional with ART Grand Prix in 2025.
Kato was confirmed as French F4 champion just last month after a messy end to his title fight with Yani Stevenheydens in the deciding round at Paul Ricard in October.
Stevenheydens appeared to have claimed the title in the final race, only to later be handed a 10-second penalty that dropped him to 11th in the results and made Kato champion by six points.
The championship outcome was then subject to an appeal by Stevenheydens and the Belgian federation – not against his race three penalty, but countering the overturning of a three-second penalty awarded that had originally been awarded to Kato for leaving the track and gaining an advantage on his way to winning race one. This appeal was ultimately dismissed by the French federation, leaving Kato as the champion.
The 17-year-old Japanese driver will contest the FRegional Middle East Championship with ART at the start of 2025 before embarking on the European series.
“We are delighted to welcome Taito to the team,” said ART boss Sebastien Philippe. “His performance and attitude have impressed us, and we believe he has the potential to deliver great results in both FREC and FRMEC. We are excited to work with him in this crucial phase of his career.”
Honda will send Rintaro Sato, son of former Formula 1 driver and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato, to race in French F4 next year after he was named as winner of the Honda Racing School scholarship. Sato Jr finished eighth in Japanese F4 this season in his first car racing campaign.
Kotaro Shimbara was also chosen as a HRS scholarship winner, as runner-up in the competition, and will drive for Honda Formula Dream Project with B-Max Racing in Japanese F4 in 2025. Shimbara finished third in Japanese F4 this year behind HFDP drivers Yuto Nomura and Ryota Hirachi while driving for Kageyama Racing, having previously competed in the series in 2022. Sho Momose, another HRS graduate, will be his team-mate.
Honda has confirmed that Nomura will step up to Super Formula Lights for HFDP with B-Max Racing.
Elsewhere in FREC, Trident has named Matteo De Palo as its first 2025 signing. The Italian driver came 17th in the points in his rookie season with Sainteloc Racing – with a best finish of fourth – after finishing fifth in Spanish F4 in 2023.
Sainteloc’s first announced driver is Tim Gerhards, who placed 20th in Spanish F4 this year with Monlau Motorsport, while Van Amersfoort Racing has confirmed it will retain Pedro Clerot, who ended his rookie campaign eighth in the points.