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The two-day pre-season testing at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park has concluded, ahead of the return of the Australian Formula 4 Championships this weekend.FIA Formula 4 is the globally recognised pathway from Karting to Formula 1 and the collaboration between The Bend, series organiser Top Speed China and the governing body Motorsport Australia will see it return to Australian soil officially on Friday. The local presence of F4 allows for young Australian drivers and those from the wider Asia-Pacific region to compete in the cars before heading overseas to race and progress further through the junior formulas of Formula 3 and Formula 2.&nbsp; The Bend has become the home of F4 in Australia, housing the cars, hosting pre-season testing and staging the first two rounds of the championship. This weekend’s round will consist of 2x60 minute practice sessions on Friday, a further 30-minute practice session and 2x 15 minute qualifying sessions on Saturday with the first of 3x25 minute +1 lap races to commence on Saturday afternoon. &nbsp; 12 entries are confirmed for Round 1 of the Australian F4 Championship joining the field of over 100+ cars competing across various categories in Event 3 of the SA Motor Racing Championships this weekend.

Vital Pathway from Karting to Formula 1 to return to Australia at the Shell V-Power Motorsport Park this weekend May 02,2024

James ‘Jimmy’ Piszcyk makes it nine wins from nine races in Round 3 for Formula 4 Australia at Sydney Motorsport Park. Aug 04,2024Jimmy Piszcyk has taken a clean sweep of pole positions and race wins as his supremacy continues in the first three rounds of the Formula 4 Australian Championship – certified by the FIA!Qualifying (based on results of Qualifying 1)Pole: 1. 93. James Piszcyk AGI Sport Masters Class Pole: 66. Nathan Gotch AGI Sport Rookie Pole: 24. Seth Gilmore (R) AGI SportRace 1&nbsp;AGI Sport’s James ‘Jimmy’ Piszcyk made it seven wins from seven starts on Saturday at Sydney Motorsport Park. &nbsp;The 17-year-old started from pole position and led the field away. A mid-race safety car bunched the field, but Piszcyk was able to pull away on the restart and took the chequered flag by 5.5s, ahead of teammate Nicolas Stati and JAM Motorsport’s Sebastien Amadio.Imogen Radburn had another strong race, starting fifth overall and second in the Rookie Class, to gain a position on the first lap and move into fourth and first in class, which she held until race end. Seth Gilmore finished second in Rookie class, and fifth overall, ahead of Masters Class winner, Formula Race Academy’s Nathan Gotch in sixth.&nbsp;Gotch’s teammate, Nicholas Filipetto finished second In Masters and seventh overall. Lawrence Katsidis rounded out the Masters Class podium with his eighth place. A five-second time penalty applied after the race saw Tim Boydle finish ninth and fourth in class.John Paul Drake and Mark Wilson both did not finish the race. Drake had an off on lap 2 and become stuck after turn one which brought the safety car out, while Wilson stopped on lap 11, but the race was able to continue under green.Pisczcyk also broke the Formula 4 lap record at Sydney Motorsport Park, with a 1:30.0619. The previous record was 1:31.2741.&nbsp;Results1. 93. James Piszcyk AGI Sport 2. 15. Nicolas Stati AGI Sport&nbsp; 3. 22. Sebastien Amadio JAM Motorsport Rookie: 29. Imogen Radburn AGI Sport Masters: 66. Nathan Gotch (M) Formula Race Academy Race 2&nbsp;With a starting grid based on the result of Race 1, Jimmy Piszcyk took victory number eight in the 2024 F4 Australian Championship – Certified by the FIA.Piszcyk dominated from pole position once more, taking top step of the podium from Nicolas Stati, who, despite being handed a 5 second time penalty for track limits abuse, was able to hold onto second place, giving AGI Sport another 1,2 finish. Sebastien Amadio finished third overall for JAM Motorsport in another strong performance.&nbsp;A stalled start didn’t stop Imogen Radburn from coming back through the field. After a safety car at the beginning of the race bunched the pack and allowed the 18-year-old to catch them. Upon restart she went into attack mode and passed three cars in one lap and moved into sixth. A late race charge saw her pass Seth Gilmore for fourth overall and first in the Rookie Cup. Gilmore finished second in class and rounded out the top five overall. Nathan Gotch made it back-to-back wins in the Masters Class and sixth overall. Nicolas Filipetto continued his run of podium finishes in class, with second once more, and seventh overall. JP Drake came from the back of the field and fought through to finish third in class and eight overall.Tim Boydle finished fourth in Masters and ninth overall, ahead of teammate Mark Wilson. Despite an off on the first lap at turn 2 which brought out the safety car, Lawrence Katsidis was able to rejoin the race to finish eleventh overall and sixth in class.<figure id="figure-swfgnhtmogm65ytlxr"><img id="swfgnhtmogm65ytlxr" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/37iVPUhbRP7RixzW5yQFcFQdIDc5VQidHI6b361i8wZJLyS5LUN1TypRsrltWXgv.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg selected" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/37iVPUhbRP7RixzW5yQFcFQdIDc5VQidHI6b361i8wZJLyS5LUN1TypRsrltWXgv.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-mce-selected="1"></figure> Results1. 93. James Piszcyk AGI Sport&nbsp; 2. 15. Nicolas Stati AGI Sport&nbsp; 3. 22. Sebastien Amadio JAM Motorsport Rookie: 29. Imogen Radburn AGI Sport&nbsp; Master: 66. Nathan Gotch (M) Formula Race Academy Race 3Qualifying (based on result of Qualifying 2)Pole: 1. 93. James Piszcyk AGI Sport Master Class Pole: 1. John Paul Drake (M) JAM Motorsport Rookie pole: 29. Imogen Radburn (R) AGI SportRace The final race of Round 3 saw Jimmy Piszcyk complete a clean sweep of race wins and pole positions in Formula 4 Australia at Sydney Motorsport Park. Nicholas Stati achieved his third second place of the weekend, ahead of Rookie Cup winner Imogen Radburn, giving AGI Sport a 1,2,3 overall, and Rookie class win.&nbsp;Sebastien Amadio finished fourth, ahead of Seth Gilmore who finished fifth overall and second in Rookie Class.&nbsp;Nathan Gotch completed a clean sweep of his own, winning the Masters Class for the weekend with a sixth place overall, ahead of Formula Race Academy teammate Nicholas Filipetto. JP Drake rounded out the Masters Class podium for JAM Motorsport.Mark Wilson finished ninth overall, ahead of Lawrence Katsidis and Tim Boydle.&nbsp;Results1. 93. James Piszcyk AGI Sport&nbsp; 2. 15. Nicolas Stati AGI Sport&nbsp; 3. 29. Imogen Radburn AGI Sport Rookie: 29. Imogen Radburn AGI Sport&nbsp; Master: 66. Nathan Gotch (M) Formula Race Academy

Round 3 for Formula 4 Australia at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Race 1<figure id="figure-4dtb08peofm65wfs7t"><img id="4dtb08peofm65wfs7t" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1209xZ9qG0luncBsLjlRhYwWJcQR5xRIqwfDj72d72ci3jeYutxUFwPZCcPFMFLB.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg selected" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1209xZ9qG0luncBsLjlRhYwWJcQR5xRIqwfDj72d72ci3jeYutxUFwPZCcPFMFLB.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-mce-selected="1"></figure> AGI Sport’s James ‘Jimmy’ Piszcyk took victory in Race 1, ahead of JAM Motorsport’s Blake Purdie, and AGI Sport teammate Nicolas Stati.The top three held position for the entire race, which also saw Purdie break the lap record in the dying minutes of the race. The local South Australian also won the first round of Formula 4 in the USA between rounds.Behind the lead pack, JAM Motorsport’s Sebastien Amadio passed teammate JP Drake to move into the top five in the opening laps of the race. Amadio was close to Rookie Cup eventual winner, Seth Gilmore, and was able to gain another position when the latter had a small off and moved into fourth. Gilmore recovered, and despite having to dodge a very slow-moving car in the final corner, was able to finish in the top five and top of his class.&nbsp;AGI Sport’s Imogen Radburn had an impressive debut, which saw her start in eighth, and overtake Nathan Gotch and JP Drake, to end the race in sixth. &nbsp;&nbsp;It was a close battle in the Master Class between Drake and Gotch, with the pair side-by-side to the final minutes of the race, with the former taking line honours ahead of Gotch and Mark Wilson, who finished third in Class and tenth overall, behind rookie, Jayden Hamilton, who finished ninth for Tim Macrow Racing on debut.&nbsp;Tim Boydle did not finish. (credit to : F4 aus web )

Round 2 at the Shell V-Power Motorsport Park

<h3>OFFICIAL RELEASE: Flag drops for imnaugural Formula Pathway program with AGI Sport and Focus Driver Performance.</h3>· &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ARDC Race Academy to provide local pathways for rising motorsport talent across various motorsport genres.· &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;New Two-day Formula Pathway program to give young experienced karters the tools to make the jump to professional Formula 4 open-wheeler racing.· &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; innovative Two-day Formula Pathway program designed to equip talented young karters with the skills to transition into the world of professional Formula 4 open-wheel racing.· &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Training and development provided by leading race teams and performance coaches.12/06/24: The Australian Racing Drivers’ Club (ARDC), the country’s largest and oldest drivers’ club, has announced the foundation of a unique, industry-led Racing Academy to support the next generation of elite motorsport champions. Commencing with Formula Pathway, a uniquely-curated Karts-to-Formula 4 program, the ARDC Race Academy will look to expand into other areas such as Touring Cars and motorbikes in the future. The recent creation of the Australian Motorsport Innovation Precinct (AMIP) has provided the ARDC with a unique point of ignition – its own green flag - to establish unique collaborations with its expert AMIP partners. The ARDC Race Academy’s Formula Pathway program has been co-developed by Adam Gotch at AGI Sport and his Formula 4 team, and Oliver Myers from Focus Driver Performance.Like motorsport itself, success lies in the synergies of teamwork, with each stakeholder injecting their individual skills, techniques and passion to drive success.The ARDC Race Academy Formula Pathway program is a unique two-day program especially designed to assist emerging racing drivers progress from top-tier karting to the rigors of adrenaline-charged Formula 4 racing, and hopefully beyond. With the re-introduction of the Australian Formula 4 Championship (with the exact same vehicle as used in Europe), the aim is to keep the best Australian and New Zealand talent within the local championship before potentially heading to Europe or the US to compete on the world stage.The appeal to young male and female talent and their families is obvious: racing cadets can spend a formative season in Australia racing locally and be back home on a Sunday night to continue schooling on a Monday.Unlike a typical ‘come and try’-style event, the Formula Pathway program expertly delivered by AGI Sport and Focus Driver Performance has been uniquely crafted as an intensive two-day hands-on classroom and circuit course, to better prepare drivers for what lies ahead.The Formula Pathway program will allow State and National level karters to experience a Formula 4 vehicle for the first time at Sydney Motorsport Park. The course is suitable for experienced top-level karters aged from 14 years to 18 years of age, with the first course to be held in July 2024.Glenn Matthews, CEO of the ARDC, was pleased to be launching such a vital program to the motorsport industry, in partnership with motorsport luminaries. “Both AGI Sport and Focus Driver Performance have established their permanent bases here at Sydney Motorsport Park as part of the Australian Motorsport Innovation Precinct (AMIP), which was officially launched in August 2023,” said Matthews.“When we first planned for the AMIP back in 2017, it was very much a goal of the ARDC to attract the best of the best in race and team development, precision engineering and technology, motorsport safety, mobility studies, education and skills development, sustainability within in motorsport and allied industry business development.“Karting has always been the breeding ground for future open-wheeler champions, and Formula Pathway is an amazing opportunity for up-and-coming drivers to test their skills and learn from the very best, with some of the latest technologies and Formula 4 vehicles in the country, right here at Sydney Motorsport Park – Australia’s home of Motorsport.”While identifying and nurturing the next generation of podium-level drivers and riders is forefront for the Formula Pathway program, the Academy itself will further look to embrace all facets of motorsport careers including mechanical and engineering, team support, data specialists and officials in future activities. The first cohort of ARDC Academy cadets will complete the two-day Formula Pathway program at Sydney Motorsport Park on July 4.About the ARDC Since 1952 the ARDC has been the premiere automotive racing body hosting high profile motorsport events across NSW (most notably Mount Panorama Bathurst from’63–’98) as well as managing many of NSW’s leading motorsport circuits including Amaroo, and since 1996 Australia’s Home of Motorsport, Sydney Motorsport Park (SMSP) at Eastern Creek, Sydney. The ARDC vision is to create a global leading venue for motorsport competitors and enthusiasts and to become the central home for motorsport in Australia. SMSP is a multipurpose venue that hosts more than 350,000 visitors per annum via 600+ events including the SUPERCARS Championships, World Time Attack, Shannons Nationals, NSW Motor Race Championships and multiple grassroots car and bike racing and experiences, auto manufacturer days including Audi, BMW, and Mercedes plus brand launches, community events, festivals and more. SMSP is a New South Wales Government venue. ARDC is a not-for-profit entity with 3,800+ members.About Adam Gotch and AGI Sport Adam Gotch has enjoyed a long and diverse 30-year career in professional motorsport including lengthy stints in Formula 4, Formula 3, and Formula 1. Adam has worked with some of the most talented drivers in the world over the last 20+ years including Juan Pablo Montoya, Ralf Schumacher, Mark Webber, Nico Rosberg, Daniel Ricciardo, Will Power, Scott Dixon, Ryan Briscoe, Liam Lawson, Marcus Ambrose, Will Davidson, Will Brown, Broc Feeney and many more.About Oliver Myers and Focus Driver Performance Focus Driver Performance aims to prepare drivers for global success by integrating all aspects of human performance into motorsport. Established in 2016, Focus operates Australia's first and only complete Driver Performance Centre at Sydney Motorsport Park and has recently opened a second operation at Queensland Raceway. As a former racer, Director Oliver Myers knows just what it takes to perform on the world stage, utilising and teaching those skills is a passion of his whilst finding like-minded successful coaches to employ the same approach when working with drivers.

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Vital Pathway from Karting to Formula 1 to return to Aust...

Round 3 for Formula 4 Australia at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Round 2 at the Shell V-Power Motorsport Park

Launch of the ARDC RACE ACADEMY