Category: North American Racing

Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA) has added another one-make championship to its portfolio with the Porsche Endurance Challenge North America.

The four-event championship will include three 60-minute races and a single six-hour endurance race which will bring the inaugural season to a close. The new race series will debut at the Circuit of The Americas on May 26, 2024, and conclude at the Texas track on November 22, 2024. Each round will feature a top category for the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race car (type 992 and 991.2) and a class for the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport. Cars currently authorized to race in either the United States Auto Club (USAC) sanctioned Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama or the Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama are eligible to enter the Porsche Endurance Challenge North America.

The series will begin on Memorial Day weekend, May 26, with a 60-minute round at COTA. Being hosted on an established date for both the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama and the Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama, the debut endurance round will be an exciting addition for teams, drivers and spectators looking for more single-brand competition. Round two will follow on August 11 at “America’s National Park of Speed”, Road America. The Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin round – again one hour in length – will be a part of the weekend previously announced for Porsche Sprint Challenge North America and Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West. The penultimate race weekend will take place in the wine country of California, at Sonoma Raceway on September 29. The finale will crown the Porsche Endurance Championship’s inaugural victors in a stand-alone event at COTA.

The first three rounds, all 60 minutes in length, will mandate a single pit stop. Regulations for the six-hour endurance round, with its added drivers and consumables, will require a minimum of four stops for fuel. The three opening rounds will allow a single driver format with a maximum of two drivers per car, with one of the drivers holding no more than a Bronze rating. The six-hour finale will require three drivers, and allow up to two drivers with a Bronze rating. Further technical details and regulations for the series will be announced at a later date.

Parella Motorsports Holdings (PMH) has opened applications for the 2024 class of the PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship.

Entering the fourth year of the program, the scholarship looks to create a more diverse field while empowering drivers from a variety of backgrounds to participate in PMH-owned race series. Scholarship recipients will receive free entries for any PMH-owned race series, including Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA), The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli, Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas), Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.), Ligier JS F4 Series, TA2 Club and Prototype Sprint Series Association presented by Hankook (PSSA). In addition to providing free entry fees, the program aligns recipients with a team of executives and mentors, while also providing them with a variety of media and fan engagement opportunities.

Previous scholarship recipients include Indy NXT driver Ernie Francis Jr., W Series alum and Formula Regional Oceania feature winner Chloe Chambers, Super Formula driver Raoul Hyman, two-time Trans Am Champion Amy Ruman, as well as Trans Am, FR Americas and F4 U.S. alumni Michelle Abbate, Hannah Greenemeier, Ava Dobson, Kaylee Bryson, David Burketh, Maddie Aust and Emily Linscott.

“We’re excited to once again continue the PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship,” said Tony Parella, CEO of PMH. “It’s been a personal initiative of mine to help young drivers realize their dreams. It’s exciting to watch drivers come through this program and see them use it as a springboard in their careers. Ernie Francis Jr. signed with Roger Penske in Indy NXT, Chloe Chambers went on to the W Series and then became the first woman to win in the Formula Regional Oceania Championship, and Raoul Hyman spent last season racing in Super Formula. Last year, we were able to support five young women in pursuit of their motorsports dreams. I can’t wait to see what talent we’re able to recruit for the Class of 2024, and I look forward to watching the progression of their careers for years to come.”

The PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship is open to individuals who demonstrate diversity, equity and inclusion, and have overcome obstacles to reach their goals. Recipients must have a ride confirmed in a PMH-owned series for 2024, and will be responsible for securing any additional funding needed to compete.

Drivers looking to join the PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship Class of 2024 are encouraged to visit SpeedTour.net/Scholarship to apply. All applications must be submitted by January 15, 2024.

With the 2023 Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda season officially complete, Patrick Woods-Toth was crowned the drivers’ champion, while Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport was celebrated as the teams’ champion at the annual F4 U.S. Awards Celebration on Saturday evening. Bacon Zelenka was presented the Catherine Crawford Most Improved Driver Award, and Landan Matriano Lim was awarded the Omologato Perfectly Timed Pass Award.

F4 U.S. Driver Champion
The stars had to align just right for Patrick Woods-Toth (No. 27 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4) to arrive on the F4 U.S. scene this season. While he was an accomplished karter with four-consecutive national championships, 12 months ago, Woods-Toth had never driven a race car. A nomination from Motomaster Ron Fellows Karting Championship (MRFKC) led to an opportunity for Woods-Toth to attend the Radford Racing School F4 U.S. Scholarship Award School, and one thing led to another. After the two-day scholarship school, MRFKC sponsored a third “lapping day” for Woods-Toth, which gave him even more experience in the Ligier JS F4. From there, he tested with Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport, and ultimately earned an opportunity to compete in the first round of the 2023 F4 U.S. season. Leaving the weekend with three podiums and only two points behind the points leader, Wood-Toth and his team were able to put together the funding to finish out the year.

By the time the final checkered flag waved at the season finale, Woods-Toth was tied with Augie Soto-Schirripa (No. 24 International Motorsport Ligier JS F4) for the most wins in 2023 with four victories (Round 4 – Road America, Round 6 – Road America, Round 9 – Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Round 18 – Circuit of The Americas), and led the series with 14 podiums throughout the 18 contested rounds.

“I’d like to start off by thanking the series, the series partners and all the competitors,” said Woods-Toth while accepting his trophy. “This really is a world-class series, and I feel very thankful and lucky to have taken part in it. Scott [Goodyear, F4 U.S. Race Director] has really done an amazing job. He keeps everything together and makes sure that we have a fair and competitive racing environment. Coming into this season, I didn’t even know that I was going to be racing cars. So, to be up here with this trophy and this amazing accomplishment is unbelievable — it’s been a roller coaster, to say the least. Thanks to Ron Fellows and Lynda Fellows, I got to do my first race. And you know, I thought that was going to be it, but Orlando came on with Carlo Fidani and he let us carry on with the whole season. The whole team has just been working so hard between all the races and every event to get a great result. To be standing here is surreal. I don’t have many things to say. Just thank you to everyone; this is an amazing accomplishment for all of us.”

As the champion, Woods-Toth secured a scholarship to compete in the 2024 FR Americas season. Valued at $215,000, the prize package includes an engine lease, a chassis lease from Ligier Automotive, two sets of tires per event from Hankook Motorsports, and entry fees from Parella Motorsports Holdings, as well as $25,000 from HPD. Other prizes include a Bell Athlete contract, a carbon Bell helmet, a custom OMP racing suit, a bespoke Omologato timepiece, Haas F1 Team guest experience at the Miami Grand Prix, and an invitation to the FIA Prize Giving Ceremony at the conclusion of the season. In addition, Woods-Toth also earned FIA Super License Points to assist in his journey on the Road to F1.

F4 U.S. Team Championship
Fielding cars for both the F4 U.S. champion, Woods-Toth, and runner-up Titus Sherlock (No. 31 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4), among several others, Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport won its fifth F4 U.S. teams’ championship. Averaging 6.3 F4 U.S. entries per race, the Dallas-based organization has been leading the team standings since the very first checkered flag of the season at NOLA Motorsports Park. Throughout 2023, Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport drivers have accumulated seven wins, 26 podiums and 67 top-10 finishes. The award was accepted by team co-owners Garry Orton, Teena Larsen and Gill Kaszuba.

“This was a big deal,” said Teena Larsen, co-owner of Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport as they accepted the team championship trophy. “It was a great season, but we are here because of the team. Gill [Kaszuba, co-owner], thank you for stepping up and managing the F4 side. We had so many drivers—I love all of you. Thank you so much for making history for us. Patrick [Wood-Toth], Jesse [Lacey], Titus [Sherlock], Alex [Benavitz], Hannah [Greenemeier], Jett [Bowling]—thank you. It was such a great season, and honestly, it was really teamwork. We could not do this without all of you.”
“All of the mechanics and the crew and the team just did an absolutely sensational job,” said Garry Orton, co-owner of Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport. “It just couldn’t happen without you. It’s so important to Teena, Gill and I that you know that. You work so hard, you put up with me — not too often, but I’m a grumpy bugger sometimes. I really appreciate it and thank you very much. To all of the drivers, thank you so much.”

“It wasn’t easy,” added Gill Kaszuba, co-owner of Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport. “This was a team effort. If we didn’t have the guys that we have, or the engineering, or the driver development side of things, things could have turned out differently. [Winning] means a lot to me. To see these kids do as good as they do, and we know that they’re going to go on and do great things — it’s very satisfying.”

Most Improved Driver
Bacon Zelenka (No. 45 Bacon Racing Ligier JS F4) was awarded with the Catherine Crawford Most Improved Driver Award. Selected by Ligier Automotive North America, Zelenka received not only a trophy, but also a $5,000 credit from Ligier.

“This year, we were kind of an inch deep in an ocean, but now I can confidently say we’re a foot deep in the ocean,” said Zelenka, reflecting on his season. “Overall, I’m very happy with our season and the progress we made — I’m excited to build on the knowledge we gained. It’s amazing to be chosen the most improved driver. It gives me a lot of confidence, and it reassures me that my efforts aren’t going unnoticed. My improvement doesn’t stop here, and it will never stop. I love the challenge!”

Omologato Perfectly Timed Pass Award
A new award in 2023, the Omologato Perfectly Timed Pass Award recognized the driver who picked up the most positions from their starting position to their finishing position throughout the course of the 18-race season. Landan Matriano Lim (No. 2 JENSEN Ligier JS F4) was recognized as the award’s winner with 64 passes this year.

“Racing is full of highs and lows, and I am so thrilled to finish on a high,” said Matriano Lim. “We didn’t get the results we expected in the standings, but I believe this award validates my capability as a driver. When presenting the award, John [Fippin, the event emcee] said, ‘This driver made 64 successful passes.’ I was absolutely shocked and thought, ‘That guy is insane! 64?!’ Then I heard my name, and well, as a racing driver, you do have to be a little insane. This Omologato watch is the only trophy I can wear every day that reminds me of such an outstanding achievement in my career.”

F4 U.S. will kick off its 2024 season, April 11-14 at NOLA Motorsports Park in Avondale, La. For news and updates throughout the off season, be sure to follow F4 U.S. on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Prospective drivers wanting to learn more about F4 U.S., the #RoadToF1 ladder, and how to get involved in the 2024 F4 U.S. season should visit F4USChampionship.com.

With the 2023 Formula Regional Americas Championship Powered by Honda season officially in the books, Callum Hedge was crowned the drivers’ champion Saturday evening at the year-end FR Americas Awards Celebration. Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport celebrated their first FR Americas Team Championship, while Kevin Janzen was honored as the FR Americas Masters Champion, and Manuel Roza was awarded the Omologato Perfectly Timed Pass Award.

FR Americas Driver Champion
Callum Hedge’s (No. 17 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) bid for the 2023 FR Americas title required him to overcome challenges both on the track and logistically as he traveled halfway around the globe for each of the series’ six event weekends. In addition, he was logging miles to and from Australia to simultaneously compete in the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia. He spent literal days on airplanes with some weeks, such as the two weeks leading into the rounds at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, requiring up to 49 hours on a plane between events. In all, between FR Americas, Australia’s Porsche Carrera Cup Championship and Formula Regional Oceania in New Zealand, Hedge has seen 50 checkered flags this year alone.

Throughout the course of the 18-race FR Americas season, Hedge collected 13 wins and 15 podiums.

“It’s been quite difficult traveling to and from New Zealand and Australia,” said Hedge as he accepted the championship trophy. “It’s rough sitting on planes constantly, but big thanks to the people who make it happen for me. Without them, it wouldn’t be possible. Big credit to Steve Horne and Mark Pilcher. What they did for me at the start of the year, pulling the funding together about two or three weeks before the first round, was very awesome, and I really appreciate them. Also, the people that came on board to support us — Tony Quinn Foundation, Giltrap Group, and Steve Horn, himself, with Tasman Motorsport Group — thank you.

“Big thanks to the people who put this event on — SCCA and Parella Motorsports [Holdings] — thank you very much. Scott [Goodyear], thanks for all your hard work. You’re a great race director. Your drivers’ briefings have been very fun — they’ve been pretty long, but very useful. You put in a lot of effort and take a lot of pride in what you do; I really appreciate all your work. Mom, thanks for coming out this weekend. I hope you enjoyed coming to America for the second time this year; hopefully you can come back sometime soon.

“All my competitors, thank you for giving me a good, hard season of racing. The team at Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport, thank you for all your work. Your car has been really good this year. We haven’t had many issues, so big credit to you. Thanks, Gary, Teena, Thomas for fixing all my broken stuff—you’re a champion, mate. Paul, thanks for engineering me on a few other weekends.”

As champion, Hedge secured a prize from Honda Performance Development in addition to a Bell Athlete contract, a carbon Bell helmet, a custom OMP racing suit, a bespoke Omologato timepiece, Haas F1 Team guest experience at the Miami Grand Prix, and an invitation to the FIA Prize Giving Ceremony at the conclusion of the season. Last, but not least, Hedge also earned FIA Super License points to assist in his journey on the Road to F1.

FR Americas Team Championship
Fielding cars for FR Americas champion Hedge, runner-up Ryan Shehan (No. 66 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) and third-place driver Cooper Becklin (No. 19 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3), among several others, Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport won their first FR Americas teams’ championship. Averaging 5.83 FR Americas entries per race, the Dallas-based organization has been leading the team standings since the very first checkered flag of the season at NOLA Motorsports Park. Throughout 2023, Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport drivers have accumulated 16 wins, 46 podiums and 95 top-10 finishes across their 105 entries. The award was accepted by team co-owners Garry Orton and Teena Larsen.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Teena Larsen, co-owner of Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport. “We did it. It’s unbelievable. It’s not just us — it’s the team. The team, the families, the drivers — we created that family atmosphere that really made us all thrive and move forward together, which helped us all excel. All we asked for is that they do the best job that they can, and they all did that and exceeded all of our expectations. We’re so proud of every one of them.”

“Winning these championships means a huge amount,” said Garry Orton, co-owner of Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport, after the ceremony. “The amount of work that everybody put into it—back in the shop and here at the track with all of our crew; they’ve all had the same goal, and they all strive for it. We’ve been incredibly lucky to have some really good drivers and good crew to pull all this off. It would be an incredible thing if we can repeat it, but it’s not easy.”

FR Americas Masters Championship

Kevin Janzen jokes that he’s older than most of his competitors’ parents. Born in 1965, the Canadian is the oldest driver in the FR Americas paddock. He missed rounds at Mid-Ohio and NJMP this season as he recovered from a health scare, but despite that, he still recorded 10 top-10 finishes enroute to the Masters Championship. In addition to racing cars, he’s a four-time USA National Champion with the Labbat Blue Hockey Club, an avid tennis player, and an avid skier — both with heli ski and cat skiing, and even, backcountry powder skiing.

“I am grateful to Gary and Teena and all of the Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport mechanics and race engineers for all of their hard work and efforts this year,” said Janzen. “The team provided excellent support and ensured I had a fast and reliable car. I am also grateful for our driver coach Roberto Moreno and his relentless efforts to make sure we are always improving. This is not an easy car to drive, and as such, it took a lot of training in the gym, testing and race sim to keep sharp. I want to also thank Tony Parella for hosting the series, and a special thanks to Scott Goodyear for his attention to detail and his guidance to make sure the races are conducted in the most professional and safe manner. Thank you to Ligier, Hankook and Honda for providing an excellent race car, tires and engine.

“It was nice to receive the Masters Championship award and to be recognized this year. Racing is a difficult sport, as you put so much on the line while driving. It is one sport that really penalizes mistakes and requires precision and concentration. I must say it is an unreal experience driving the JSF3. I look forward to the 2024 season.”

Omologato Perfectly Timed Pass Award
A new award in 2023, the Omologato Perfectly Timed Pass Award recognized the driver who picked up the most positions from their starting position to their finishing position throughout the course of the 18-race season. Making 17 passes this year, Manuel Roza (No. 12 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) was named the award winner.

“For me, personally, it has been a tough season full of learning experiences,” said Roza. “We missed two rounds [at New Jersey Motorsports Park and VIRginia International Raceway], so it was very important for us to perform at Circuit of The Americas. The weekend was the best I’ve had all season, and the crowning achievement of all those efforts this year is receiving the Omologato Perfectly Timed Pass Award. Not only do I personally feel fulfilled that our hard work was rewarded, but it could possibly allow us to get future sponsorship for 2024. Once again, thanks to everyone who makes this possible — FR Americas, the series’ partners, my sponsors and my family — especially my mom. It has been an amazing year.”

FR Americas will kick off its 2024 season, April 11-14 at NOLA Motorsports Park in Avondale, La. For news and updates throughout the off season, be sure to follow FR Americas on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Prospective drivers wanting to learn more about FR Americas the #RoadToF1 ladder, and how to get involved in the 2024 FR Americas season should visit FRAmericas.com.