Track Facts:
Circuit: Circuit of The Americas
Length: 3.41-miles / 20-turn road course
Race Direction: Counter-clockwise
Podium: PMH Trailer in Main Paddock, near the Media Center
FR Americas Championship
Practice: Thursday, October 31 at 11:10 a.m. CT
Qualifying: Thursday, October 31 at 3:25 p.m. CT
Feature Race 1: Friday, November 1 at 12:50 p.m. CT*
Fan Walk: Saturday, November 2 at 12:40 p.m. CT
Feature Race 2: Saturday, November 2 at 1:15 p.m. CT*
F4 U.S. Championship
Practice: Thursday, October 31 at 9:15 a.m. CT
Qualifying: Thursday, October 31 at 12:50 p.m. CT
Feature Race 1: Thursday, October 31 at 5:35 p.m. CT|
Feature Race 2: Friday, November 1 at 3:55 p.m. CT*
Feature Race 3: Saturday, November 2 at 8:50 a.m. CT*
Autograph Session: Saturday, November 2 at 11:30 a.m. CT
Ligier JS F4 Series
Practice: Thursday, October 31 at 9:15 a.m. CT
Qualifying: Thursday, October 31 at 12:50 p.m. CT
Feature Race 1: Thursday, October 31 at 5:35 p.m. CT
Feature Race 2: Friday, November 1 at 3:55 p.m. CT*
Feature Race 3: Saturday, November 2 at 8:50 a.m. CT*
Autograph Session: Saturday, November 2 at 11:30 a.m. CT
* Races will be streamed live at YouTube.com/SpeedTourTV
COTA SpeedTour
Championships Close Out Season at Circuit of The Americas
Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas), Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.) and the Ligier JS F4 Series (JS F4) arrive at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) to close out their 2024 season later this week. While Patrick Woods-Toth has clinched the title in FR Americas, the championship in F4 U.S. and JS F4 are both up for grabs, with additional honors like Vice Champion, Third-Place Champion, Most Improved Driver and more still to be decided. In an action-packed weekend, the three championships join Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA), The Trans Am Series, International GT (IGT) and Prototype Sprint Series Association presented by Hankook (PSSA) for four days of non-stop on-track activity. Tickets for the event are available at the gate or online at SpeedTour.net/Austin.
SpeedTour Sim Racing Trailer Debuts
The newest fan experience at SpeedTour events is the SpeedTour Sim Racing Trailer, which will make its debut at COTA this weekend. Fans are invited to visit the Town Center in COTA’s Main Paddock to experience the Simshop racing simulators while setting a fast lap as part of the Checkered Flag Challenge. Drivers from F4 U.S. and JS F4 will make an appearance at the SpeedTour Sim Racing Trailer on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT. Stop by and watch as they set fast laps for fans to try to beat throughout the weekend.
Meet the Drivers of FR Americas, F4 U.S. and JS F4
Saturday will be all about the fans at COTA, as drivers from FR Americas, F4 U.S. and JS F4 participate in a number of engagement opportunities which will have them meeting fans, signing autographs and taking photos. After a select group makes an appearance at the SpeedTour Sim Racing Trailer, all of the F4 U.S. and JS F4 drivers competing in this weekend’s event at COTA will participate in an autograph session in the Main Paddock’s Town Center. The session will run from 11:30 a.m. until 12 p.m. CT on Saturday, November 2. Then, at 12:40 p.m. CT, fans are invited out to Pit Lane to meet the stars of FR Americas and get an up-close look at their cars just moments before the lights go out during a special pre-race Fan Walk.
Ligier New Driver Test Brings New Entries to COTA
Just one month after Ligier’s New Driver Test at Carolina Motorsports Park, three drivers who got their first taste of the Ligier Automotive chassis will be making their first start in one of the series on Parella Motorsports Holdings’ (PMH) Open-Wheel Ladder. Bruno Ribeiro (No. 3 IGY6 Motorsports / Save22 Ligier JS F3) joins the FR Americas grid with IGY6 Motorsports, while Alex Popow (No. 55 MLT Motorsports Ligier JS F422) joins MLT Motorsports in F4 U.S. competition. In JS F4, Caleb Campbell (No. 12 Ricmotech Ligier JS F4) and LC Racing join forces for both the team and driver to make their series debuts at COTA.
FR Americas Championship
Championship Standings Heading into COTA
With Patrick Woods-Toth already locked in as the 2024 Driver Champion, the battle remains close to determine who will be the Vice Champion and Third-Place Champion this season. Ryan Shehan is currently second in points after four wins this year, but Jett Bowling (No. 02 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) has been steadily gaining ground with top-five finishes in each of the last 11 rounds, including four-consecutive podiums. After scoring three wins this season, Titus Sherlock (No. 31 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) enters the weekend fourth in points, just 13 points behind Bowling and 23.5 points behind Shehan. Also eligible to finish within the top-three positions in the points standings are Chilean Nicolas Ambiado (No. 55 LIQUI MOLY Ligier JS F3), who won earlier this season at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP), and third-year driver Hayden Bowlsbey (No. 22 IGY6 Motorsports / Save22 Ligier JS F3), who is in the midst of a career-best season.
SEE MORE: 2024 FR Americas Driver Points Standings
Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Dominates in FR Americas
Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport has been the team to beat in FR Americas this season, dominating the field with 10 different drivers entering the series under their banner. After 15 wins in 17 races, including seven podium sweeps, the organization has long since clinched the 2024 Team Champion title. Behind them, a series of single-car teams will contend for the Team Vice Champion and Team Third-Place Champion titles, with Velox USA/Speed Factory currently ranked second and IGY6 Motorsports just eight points behind in third.
SEE MORE: 2024 FR Americas Team Points Standings
Masters Championship Battle Continues at COTA
The fight for the 2024 Masters Championship continues between Kevin Janzen (No. 24 US Power Group / Data Center Solutions Ligier JS F3) and Anthony Autiello (No. 07 A Autiello Construction Co. Ligier JS F3), with just 10.5 points separating the two drivers as FR Americas enters its final round at COTA.
Climbing the Ladder
Jake Pollack (No. 1 JENSEN Ligier JS F3) continues his climb up the PMH Open-Wheel Ladder, advancing from JS F4 to FR Americas this weekend at COTA. After finishing on the JS F4 podium at both Road America and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course earlier this season, Pollack began testing a Ligier JS F3 car at NJMP in July. By August, he had already visited Victory Lane with the chassis, winning a pair of Formula Pro USA Western Championship races at Sonoma Raceway.
Newbies in the FR Americas Paddock
Jake Pollack (No. 1 JENSEN Ligier JS F3) and Bruno Ribeiro (No. 3 IGY6 Motorsports / Save22 Ligier JS F3) are just two of the four drivers who will make their FR Americas debut at COTA this weekend. In addition, Toney Racing joins the paddock for the first time and brings with them two new drivers, as both Hailie Deegan (No. 38 Toney Driver Development Ligier JS F3) and Brady Golan (No. 80 Toney Driver Development Ligier JS F3) are set to make their FR Americas debut. Deegan, who is headed to INDY NXT next season, has spent the last several years competing in the stock car ranks, most recently racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, while Golan joins FR Americas from the USF Pro Championships ranks.
Winners Back in Action
After winning the opening race this season, Cole Kleck (No. 11 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) returns to FR Americas for the season finale at COTA, just one year after he earned his first-career podium at the circuit. Kleck spent the season competing in Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America, where he won at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. NJMP winner Nicolas Ambiado (No. 55 LIQUI MOLY Ligier JS F3) also returns to FR Americas after missing the series’ most recent round at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP). Despite missing the event, Ambiado remains in contention for the Vice Championship.
Texans Racing at Home
Everything’s bigger in Texas, including the group of drivers that will be racing at home this weekend. Austin resident Brady Golan (No. 80 Toney Driver Development Ligier JS F3) will have the shortest commute to the track this weekend, while Jake Pollack (No. 1 JENSEN Ligier JS F3) and Cole Kleck (No. 11 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) will both make the 80-mile trek north from San Antonio. The Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport team, as well as their driver Jett Bowling (No. 02 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3), will make the trip down from Dallas, while Titus Sherlock (No. 31 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) commutes from Prosper, Texas.
Taking the Long Way Home
While so many get the opportunity to race close to home, this will actually be the longest tow of the year for Nova Scotia-based Atlantic Racing Team. With 39 hours of drive time between their shop and COTA, the team will tally over 5,000 miles roundtrip for their driver James Lawley (No. 77 Kartbahn Racing Ligier JS F3) to join the field when the lights go out.
F4 U.S. Championship
Championship Comes Down to COTA
F4 U.S. enters its season finale at COTA with the closest points battle in championship history, as all seven drivers who have earned points this season remain in contention to finish within the top three positions in the point standings. The ultra-competitive season saw the debut of the new Ligier JS F422, which has led to tight racing and close finishes in each of the season’s 11 rounds to date.
Nicolas Stati (No. 15 AGI Sport Ligier JS F422) and Daniel Quimby (No. 24 Cruise America / MIR Raceline / FIJI Airways / GalvanizeIns Ligier JS F422) have emerged as the two frontrunners for this year’s title, with just five and a half points separating the two drivers. Behind them, Connor Roberts (No. 46 ApexSpeed.com / Entropy Cellars Ligier JS F422) and Alex Crosbie (No. 41 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422) are 37.5 and 44 points behind the points leader, respectively, but still well within striking distance for the title.
SEE MORE: 2024 F4 U.S. Driver Points Standings
Crosslink Kiwi Powers to F4 U.S. Team Championship
As the only multi-car team in the field, Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport has wrapped up the F4 U.S. Team Championship title, but the battle is still on to see who will finish second among a group of single-car teams. Atlantic Racing Team is currently second. After sweeping the weekend at CTMP, they lead the series with five wins this season. Behind them are Team Roberts Racing and Scuderia Buell, each with one win this season. MLT Motorsports, who will add a second car to their arsenal this weekend, rounds out the top five.
SEE MORE: 2024 F4 U.S. Team Points Standings
Quimby on a Hot Streak
Daniel Quimby (No. 24 Cruise America / MIR Raceline / FIJI Airways / GalvanizeIns Ligier JS F422) became the first driver to sweep a weekend this season after winning all three rounds at CTMP during the last round. The Sydney, Australia native entered the weekend 32 points behind his rival, Stati. However, after a perfect performance, he cut Stati’s lead down to just five and a half points. With the victories, Quimby also became the winningest driver this season, with five victories to his name.
New Guys in Town
Two new drivers will join the F4 U.S. paddock this weekend, as Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport adds Stanwell Tops, Australia native Seth Gilmore (No. 08 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422) to their fold, and Alex Popow (No. 55 MLT Motorsports Ligier JS F422) joins MLT Motorsports. Gilmore joins the field from the F4 Australia Championship, while Popow competed this season in USF Juniors.
Ligier JS F4 Series
JS F4 Battle Heads to COTA
Just three races remain in the battle for the 2024 Ligier JS F4 Series championship title as the series pulls into COTA. With 75 points on the line, four drivers remain in contention for the championship, while a total of seven will race to be honored as one of the top-three drivers during the year-end awards celebration on Saturday night. Kekai Hauanio (No. 29 N.E.Where Transportation / New’T Racing Ligier JS F4) and Teddy Musella (No. 25 Scuderia Buell Ligier JS F4) have been racing neck and neck all year, with each driver recording nine podiums during the opening 12 rounds. Hauanio’s four wins versus Musella’s three gives Hauanio the slightest advantage, with just a 4.5-point margin separating the two drivers. Behind them, Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport teammates Bacon Zelenka (No. 45 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4) and Brad Majman (No. 95 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4) are in a tight battle of their own. Zelenka’s two wins at Road America earlier this year, compounded with three additional podiums, have him just 54 markers behind the points lead. However, just another 3.5 points behind Zelenka is Majman, who’s carrying the most momentum into the season finale after sweeping the weekend at NJMP during JS F4’s most recent round.
SEE MORE: 2024 JS F4 Driver Points Standings
Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Claims Team Championship in JS F4
With a stable of four drivers, Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport has clinched the 2024 Team Championship in JS F4. The Dallas-based organization has tallied eight victories and 18 podiums in 12 rounds. With three wins and eight podiums, Scuderia Buell is solidly in second, while International Motorsport (four podiums), IGY6 Motorsports (one podium)and JENSEN (two podiums) are likely to duke it out for third.
SEE MORE: 2024 JS F4 Team Points Standings
Wallin Joins Momentum Motorsports
After missing the last two rounds, Parker Wallin (No. 34 SHAED Ligier JS F4) rejoins the JS F4 grid at COTA with a new team, new car number and new livery. The 17-year-old Minnesota native joined forces with SHAED, an innovator in sustainable fleet solutions, for a fresh look on his No. 34 SHAED Ligier JS F4. The duo teams up with Momentum Motorsports, which will join the JS F4 grid for the first time this season.
Eight New Drivers Join the JS F4 Field
Eight drivers will be making their first JS F4 start this week at COTA, marking the largest field to date for the series in its inaugural season:
- Ethan Brobston (No. 2 JENSEN Ligier JS F4) - JENSEN
- Caleb Campbell (No. 12 Ricmotech Ligier JS F4) – LC Racing
- Leonardo Escorpioni (No. 26 Champagne Racing Ligier JS F4) – Champagne Racing
- Zach Fourie (No. 7 JENSEN Ligier JS F4) - JENSEN
- Conor Grant (No. 10 Champagne Racing Ligier JS F4) – Champagne Racing
- Beckham Jacir (No. 8 Ricmotech Ligier JS F4) – LC Racing
- Takumi Numata (No. 17 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4) – Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport
- Sacha van’t Pad Bosch (No. 27 Scuderia Buell Ligier JS F4) – Scuderia Buell
Two New Teams Join JS F4
LC Racing and Champagne Racing will both make their JS F4 debuts this weekend at COTA, with two drivers in each of their stables. A force to be reckoned with in the karting community, Miami-based LC Racing has been developing young drivers through their karting team, JC Karting, for the last 20 years. After participating in the Ligier New Driver Test, the team comes to COTA with drivers Caleb Campbell (No. 12 Ricmotech Ligier JS F4) and Beckham Jacir (No. 8 Ricmotech Ligier JS F4). Champagne Racing kicked off their first season of formula racing earlier this year, but through a partnership with Gonella Racing, they draw from decades of experience. Leonardo Escorpioni (No. 26 Champagne Racing Ligier JS F4) and Conor Grant (No. 10 Champagne Racing Ligier JS F4) will pilot Champagne Racing’s cars for their debut weekend.
Six Continents Represented in Global Field
In the most diverse field we’ve seen all season, drivers will be traveling from six different continents and eight different countries to compete on the same circuit that Formula 1 raced on just two weeks ago. Drivers from across the United States, will be joined by those from Canada, Brazil, Ireland, the Netherlands, Morocco, Japan and even Australia when JS F4 hits the track this week.
Texans at Home
While so many of this weekend’s competitors are traveling thousands of miles to race at COTA, two will need to drive only a couple hours from home. Christopher Parrish (No. 83 IGY6 Motorsports / Save22 Ligier JS F4) and Demitri Nolan (No. 5 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4) both live in the suburbs of Dallas, with Parrish residing in Terrell, Texas, and Nolan in Fairview, Texas.
