Building on the world-record breaking momentum from 2019, SCCA Pro Racing revealed today the five circuits across the country that the Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda will visit in 2020. The 17-round F4 U.S. calendar will include new and returning venues with a “Winter Warm-up” scheduled Jan. 13 at Palm Beach International Raceway for teams and drivers to test and experience series procedures before the first race of the season.
The provisional calendar for the 2021 F4 British Championship certified by FIA - powered by Ford EcoBoost is as follows: Round Date Circuit 1, 2 & 3 08-09 May 2021 Thruxton 4, 5 & 6 15-16 May 2021 Snetterton (300) 7, 8 & 9 12-13 June 2021 Brands Hatch (Indy) 10, 11 & 12 31 July - 01. FIA Formula 4, also called FIA F4, is an open-wheel racing car category intended for junior drivers. There is no global championship, but rather individual nations or regions can host their own championships in compliance with a universal set of rules and specifications.
“SCCA Pro Racing is aiming to provide our teams with a variety of events and tracks that will help them develop successful drivers,” said Sydney Davis Yagel, General Manager of SCCA Pro Racing. “We hope the addition of a few new tracks will challenge the drivers and provide great racing for our fans.”
The official 2020 season will kick off for a three-round weekend on the tight turns and intense elevation changes of Road Atlanta April 9-11. The championship will join F3 Americas, Formula Race Promotions and the Blue Marble Cocktails Radical Cup North America Series for a full weekend of open-wheel racing.
F4 U.S. breaks from racing in May to allow for drivers and crew members to attend the Indianapolis 500. The action resumes in June as teams make their way to the Lone Star State for a three-round battle on the Circuit of The Americas, June 5-7.
“As a young driver in a junior series I always wanted to race on the top tracks in world to gain circuit knowledge for the future,” explained F4 U.S. and F3 Americas Race Director Scott Goodyear. “In 2020 we have the opportunity to race on a F1 circuit twice, which helps develop the craft of our young drivers behind the wheel. The June race will play an important role in prepping drivers and teams for the biggest race of the year when we join Formula 1 in October.”
The second half of the season starts with a schedule staple, The Andy Scriven Memorial at Virginia International Raceway July 17-19 that honors the late Andrew “Andy” Scriven, Ligier Automotive North America’s chief designer of the JS F4-16 and Ligier JS F3 chassis.
The Honda-powered series go from the Virginia rolling hills to Alabama’s Barber Motorsports Park, July 31-August 2. The visit to the 2.38-mile, 16-turn road course is a first for F4.
The final leg of the 2020 calendar starts Sept. 25-27 at Sebring International Raceway, followed by the most anticipated race of the season, the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix at COTA, Oct. 23-25.
“Our goal is to always pack our schedule with FIA-graded legendary raceways where not only our drivers will enjoy competing, but will also prepare them for their racing future as they ascend through the echelons of racing,” said Davis Yagel. “The 2020 schedule achieves that with a mix of street courses and iconic road courses.”
In an effort to assist with team and driver budgets, the FIA-approved championship will travel with the F3 Americas Championship Powered by Honda most of the season.
For more information on F4 U.S. or F3 Americas visit, F4USChampionship.com and F3Americas.com.
Jan. 13: Palm Beach International Raceway Winter Warm-up with F3 Americas
April 9-11: Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta with F3 Americas, FRP and Radical Cup
June 5-7: Circuit of The Americas with F3 Americas
July 17-19: Andy Scriven Memorial at VIRginia International Raceway with F3 Americas and FRP
July 31-Aug. 2: Barber Motorsports Park with F3 Americas and Radical Cup
Sept. 25-27: Sebring International Raceway with F3 Americas
Oct. 23-25: United States Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas with F1
Following the interruption to the original schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the revised 2020 calendars for the Honda-powered Formula 4 United States and Formula Regional Americas Championships will accommodate 16 rounds of racing and two new tracks not included on the original schedule.
Traveling together for the first time to all events, F4 U.S. and FR Americas official 2020 season will kick off for a doubleheader weekend at a spectator-free Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with Sportscar Vintage Racing Association and the Trans Am Series by Pirelli, June 26-28.
Mid-Ohio, which was not included on the initial schedule, holds several milestones for both championships. F4 U.S. held its inaugural race at Mid-Ohio in 2016 and has included the Northern Ohio circuit on its calendar every year since.
Taking a year hiatus from the Honda-supported circuit, FR Americas will return to Mid-Ohio with a more robust field than fans saw back in its inaugural season.
“One of our goals with shoring up our schedule was to make sure we kept the logistics of the season in mind,” said SCCA Pro Racing General Manager Sydney Davis Yagel. “Mid-Ohio is a short drive for many of our teams, so it was a great option. Our teams and drivers are also looking forward to visiting Mid-Ohio with our friends at the Trans Am Series and SVRA.”
F4 Racing Schedule Guide
F4 Racing Schedule
F4 U.S and FR Americas will continue to run on its original operating calendar until August, visiting Virginia International Raceway for the Andy Scriven Memorial Weekend July 17-19 and Barber Motorsports Park July 31-August 2.
The second half of the season starts with back-to-back tripleheader weekends, starting with Sebring International Raceway September 25-27.
The teams and drivers will then make the trek down the Florida coast to Homestead-Miami Speedway for another three rounds of racing October 2-4. The visit will be the first for FR Americas on the famous NASCAR Roval and a long-awaited return for F4 U.S., which made its last visit during its 2017 season opener.
“While COVID-19 threw us a curve ball, we tried to make the revised season as economical as possible for the teams and drivers, so when the opportunity arose to pair Homestead with Sebring, we jumped on it,” Yagel said. “This allows teams to get another race weekend in while we are down in Florida. We are grateful Homestead is renewing their FIA certification so we can visit them again.”
The season finale is the most anticipated race of the season. Still slated for October 23-25, F4 U.S. will stage its final two races of the season at the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas. FR Americas will announce its final two races at a later date.
For more information visit F4USChampionship.com or FRAmericas.com.
2020 F4 U.S. and FR Americas schedule
June 25-28 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with SVRA and Trans Am Series
July 17-19 at Virginia International Raceway with Formula Race Promotions
July 31-August 2 at Barber Motorsports Park with FRP and Radical Cup North America
September 25-27 at Sebring International Raceway with ProtoAmerica
October 2-4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway
October 23-25 at Circuit of the Americas (USGP) with F1 and W Series (F4 U.S.)