Xcel Motorsport has added Portuguese-born teenager Rodrigo Almeida to its line-up for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix-supporting Formula 4 Trophy Event.
The successful United Arab Emirates-based karting and F4 team now has four drivers signed up for the event, with British F4’s Alex Connor, Spanish F4’s Tijmen van der Helm and karting graduate Mehrbod Shameli filling its other three cars.
Almeida, who will race using a Mozambique license, has also graduated from karting. He has raced predominantly in the KZ2 category of karts this year across Europe, and will be making his car racing debut at Yas Marina.
?It?s great to welcome another rookie into the team who is making his step from karting into F4,” said Xcel team principal Kevin Day.
“We always aim to provide a smooth transition from karting to F4. Rodrigo showed some solid pace at he official test at Yas Marina.
“We will be aiming to improve on this further after some post event simulator training sessions at Xcel HQ to help get Rodrigo the results that he is aiming for.?
Mozambique had its own grand prix through the 1960s, with the very first events the decade before taking place on a seaside street circuit. This was replaced by a purpose-built track, and all 12 editions of the race were won by Africans.
Rhodesian John Love, a Formula 1 podium-finisher and British Touring Car champion, won the grand prix a record five times.
There has been scant success for Mozambique in international motorsport, although Mozambique-born Portuguese driver Rui Aguas won the World Endurance Championship’s Endurance Trophy for LMGTE Am drivers in 2016 and was a race-winner in Formula V8 3.5 predecessor World Series by Nissan.