|
Post by Placid on Dec 4, 2023 13:09:21 GMT -8
The season was a total of unexpected turns. But it came with decent results. And early exits. But 2023 will leave us with some sub-par memories for our US and North American contention. Once again we come back on who is a go or go home.
OUT:
2 drivers were met with early exits.
Hunter Yeany: The Mooresville, Va. native drove for Rodin Carlin in the FIA Formula 3 this season unable to score thus ending his classification in 30th after 6 events. His best finish was 16th in Catalunya.
Brad Benavides: The Miami native started his season in the FIA Formula 2 with PHM Racing also unable to score with a P22 Classification after 9 rounds. His best finish was 11th in Monaco.
Kaylen Frederick: Had high hopes for the Potomac, Md. native. 3 years after winning the BRDC British F3 (Now called GB3), Kaylen only scored in 3 events for ART GP for a P21 finish in the FIA Formula 3 championship. Kaylen recently tested an Indy NXT car.
Bryce Aron: My Chicago homeboy left the Euro Formula Open series with 1 round remaining, Scoring 3 wins, 2 3rd-place podiums and 8 Top-5 finishes enroute towards a 4th place finish in the standings for Motopark. Bryce officially secured a 2024 ride with Andretti Global for the 2024 Indy NXT season.
Jason Conzo: The Great River, NY native only participated in 2 GB4 events scoring 2 top 10s. His best finish was 8th in Silverstone driving for Oldfield Motorsport.
Conzo, Benavides, nor Yeany have no announcements.
|
|
|
Post by Placid on Dec 4, 2023 14:16:36 GMT -8
DOUBTFUL:
Enzo Scionti: The Houston native competed for Monolite Racing in the FIA Formula Regional European Series. His best finish was 15th in the initial round at Imola. But not so sure what is lined up for 2024.
The Ping Brothers: The Gainesville, Georgia natives have decent results. Noah scored the best results with 2 wins in his GB3 Championship debut. Noah also scored a 2nd place finish, 1 top-5 and 4 top-10s for Arden VRD towards a 12th place finish. His brother Zach competed in the GB4 Championship for US team Velocity Racing Development scoring 2 top-5 and 2 top-10 finishes enroute to a 16th place finish.
David Morales: The Miami native competed also in the GB3 series with JHR Developments scoring 2 4th place finishes and 6 Top-10 finishes ending his season in 13th.
Max Esterson: The New York native raced for Fortec Motorsports where he only scored 1 podium in the final weekend. Esterson also scored 1 top-5 and 8 top-10 finishes ending his season in 11th. And was the best US performer. Esterson was recently dropped from the RBR as a support driver. He also competed in 2 FIA F3 events for Rodin Carlin.
Jeremy Fairbairn: Pembroke Hills, Florida competed in the GB4 series for only 4 events. Jeremy scored his initial win at Oulton Park along with 4 top-5 and 6 top-10 finishes enroute to a 9th place finish in the points. Fairbiairn drove for KMR Sport for 3 events before switching with Graham Brunton Racing for 1 round only.
Emerson Fittipaldi Jr: The son of 2-time Formula 1 World Champion Emerson Sr. competed in the Formula Regional European Series where his best was 8th in Monza driving for Saintéloc Racing. Emmo Jr. ends his season in P24.
|
|
|
Post by Placid on Dec 5, 2023 7:53:09 GMT -8
PROBABLE:
Nico Christodoulou: The King Hills, Ontario native completed his 1st full season in the GB3 Championship with VRD Racing. Nico scored 3 podiums 2 top-5s and 7 top-10 finishes that made the top North American in the grid with a P8 finish. There is a possible glimmer of hope.
Sebastian Montoya: The Red Bull Development driver and son of 2-time Indy 500 champion Juan Pablo Montoya had a sub-par season driving for Hitech Pulse-Eight with a Sprint race podium and 8 top-10 finishes. No doubt he will stick around once again in the FIA Formula 3 series.
Juan Manuel Correa: The Miami native made his return with Van Amersfoort in FIA Formula 2. It was also his racing series return since Spa of 2019 right after the accident that claimed French driver Anthoine Hubert."Manny" scored 1 top-5 and 5 top-10 finishes enroute to a 19th place finish. He recently tested with DAMS F2 team.
|
|
|
Post by Placid on Dec 5, 2023 12:36:05 GMT -8
PLAUSIBLE:
James Egozi: The Miami native completed his full season with PHM Racing under the assistance of Minardi Management in the Italian Formula 4 series managing to score 1 top-5 finish and 8 top 10s with 2 rookie podiums enroute to a 14th place finish. His other events other than 2 non-finishes kept it above P20. James recently has a post-season test in Italian F4. He will compete in the FIA Formula 4 UAE series in 2024.
Egozi split his time with Formula 4 and the WSK where he won the WSK Super Master Series title.
Enzo Fittipaldi: The older son of Emmo Sr. had excellent results for Rodin Carlin with 1 win, 4 podiums, 3 top-5s and 8 top-10s enroute to a 7th place finish. A possible keeper in the FIA Formula 2 series.
|
|
|
Post by Placid on Dec 5, 2023 13:06:28 GMT -8
HONORABLE MENTION:
Never forget about other drivers that were never mention nor followed during the 2023 season.
Nick Gilkes: The Richmond Hill, Ontario native recently competed in the Eurocup-3 series for Team Drivex. Gilkes scored 1 top-5 and 7 top-10 finishes enroute to a 11th place in the standings.
Garrett Berry: Funded by The Windfield Racing Academy, the Atlanta native entered into the FFSA French Formula 4 series where he scored 2 wins, 2 podiums, 2 Top-5s and 9 top-10s enroute to a 6th place in the standings. There is hope that he could move up.
Elliott Budzinki: The Ann Arbor, Michigan native and Team USA Scholar entered the season with Ammonite Motorsport in the Formula Ford 1600 UK series in the National Class where he scored 1 win, 7 podiums and 8 top-5s where he finished 3rd in the standings. Due to his age, he may have to move up to GB3.
|
|
|
Post by Placid on Dec 6, 2023 13:10:10 GMT -8
THE KEEPERS: Colin Queen: The Cota De Caza, Calif. native entered the the GB4 Championship series via MSV Scholarship racing with Fortec Motorsport. Queen scored 10 podiums and 5 top-5 finishes that secured him a 4th place finish in the series. His results were good enough for his GB3 promotion where he will remain at Fortec Motorsport for 2024. Jak Crawford: After his days with the Red Bull Junior Program, the Houston native scored 1 win, 3 podiums and 6 top-10s where he finished 13th in the point standings for Hitech-Pulse. Jak will now make his change for 2024 with his new Formula 2 team. Jak will race for DAMS. Ugo Ugochukwu: New York native and McLaren Development driver raced for Prema Powerteam in 2 series. 1 of the is the main Italian Formula 4 Championship series where he scored 3 wins, 10 podiums, 3 top 5s and 3 top 10 finishes to a huge 2nd place finish this season. But also competed in the Euro 4 Championship where he took 3 wins, 2 podiums, and 2 top 5s thus becoming the inaugural Euro 4 Series Champion. A 1st for a US driver and the 2nd U.S. driver to win a European Open-Wheel series since Cameron Das won the Euro Formula Open series in 2021. Ugo also becomes the 1st African-American driver to win a series in Europe and becomes the 2nd joining Myles Rowe who won the USFPro2000 series here in the US. Ugo tested FIA F3 machinery in post-season testing. But was way short on his goals. Ugo will make his return with Prema in the Formula Regional European Series next season. Barriers are meant to fall. Ugo and Myles made their statements in 2023. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS. WE WANT TO WISH YOU THE BEST ON YOUR NEXT ENDEAVORS IN 2024!!!AND WE WANT TO WISH YOU MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
|