Dubai: Some of the top aspiring Formula One drivers in Asia preparing for the inaugural season of the brand-new Formula 4 South East Asia (F4SEA) championship may soon be headed to the UAE.
The F4SEA championship is the only FIA approved single-seater championship in Asia, and is the first step on the FIA Asia motorsport career ladder. While the focus is on preparing drivers and engineers for F1, Formula 4 will be the official FIA training ground for drivers to step up to all forms of motorsport championships. From F4, F3 is the next logical step for drivers.
FIA, the world governing body for motorsport, launched the F4 championship internationally with the aim of providing requisite support for young aspirants who want to graduate to the F1 level. One of the objectives behind establishing the series in 2013 was to make single-seater motorsport for teenagers more affordable as an F4 championship costs about 100,000 euros annually in contrast to the millions needed to make the bigger grades.
For Asia, the Fia has awarded Malaysia-owned company, Asian Autosport Action (AAA) the exclusive rights for developing, organising and managing rights for the F4SEA Championship. The latest competition is a single-team motorsport championship with highly-experienced international engineers, providing young drivers with technical and circuit training.
AAA is a Malaysian company with more than 20 years of national and international motorsport experience, specialising in the activation, development and organisation of motorsport championships. Firhat Mokhzani is the Managing Director responsible for race operations, driver development and engineering, while Peter Thompson is the Chairman and CEO responsible for new business, global marketing and driver acquisition.
“This is a championship for the future of motorsport,” Thompson told Gulf News in an exclusive chat during his visit to Dubai recently.
“The highlight of our series is that drivers in the new F4SEA championship will be the only FIA F4 drivers linked to F1 through the F4SEA’s unique use of the Renault Sport F4R race engine. The UAE has two fantastic circuits and I don’t see why we cannot next bring this championship here,” he added.
Two F4SEA driver ambassadors were guests of the Renault Sport F1 team at the Bahrain Grand Prix, and they got first-hand knowledge of how the Renault Sport Academy invests in the development of talented young racers. Adam Khalid of Malaysia and Faine Kahia of New Zealand were recently given the opportunity to spend time with the Renault Sport’s F1 drivers.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these young drivers. And what makes things even more exciting is the low price tag that goes with an entry into the championship,” Thompson related.
“There is adequate talent in motorsport who can drive at the highest level. And a championship like the F4 that has the sanction and backing of the Fia is sure to go a long way in bringing genuine drivers to the competition,” he added.
The F4SEA will kick off the 30-race programme for this season at Kuala Lumpur’s Sepang circuit on August 6. The series will then move to two other countries, namely Indonesia and Thailand with the final rounds scheduled once again in Sepang from December 9-11.
