F4 U.S. Championship: Ligier JS F4s battle it out for the first time of the season at Nola Park
8 - 10 April 2022 – The new F4 U.S. Championship season debuted on April 8, alongside the FR Americas Championship, with 22 Ligier JS F4s entered. The first round saw three cars share the wins: the #6 Jay Howard Driver Development (race 1), the #39 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport (race 2) and the #24 Velocity Racing Development (race 3).
Leading the way in free practice was the #66 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4 driven by Ryan Shehan with a best time of 1:41.896s.
The #45 Velocity Racing Development Ligier JS F4 driven by Matt Christensen, who was already in the championship last year and finished fifth, clinched the first pole position of the season.
First win for Lochie Hughes in race 1
Saturday 9 April saw the start of the first race of the weekend. The #45 Ligier JS F4 started from pole position followed by another Velocity Racing Development car, the #65 driven by Noah Ping. Behind them, the #39 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport car with Bryson Morris and the #6 Jay Howard Driver Development car with Lochie Hughes battled for third place. After a yellow flag period, the #6 Ligier JS F4 successfully restarted and took the lead and kept it all the way to the chequered flag. Lochie Hughes won his first race in the F4 U.S. Championship.
“I'm pretty happy,” exclaimed Hughes. “It was a bit of a crazy race—especially that restart going in to [Turn] 1. I didn't know what was going to happen. Everyone was locking up and almost crashing, but I'm really happy to take the win. I can't thank the boys at Jay Howard Driving Development enough. Hopefully we can continue this on.”
For the full story on race 1, CLICK HERE.
Bryson Morris took the win in race 2
The second race started on Sunday morning, April 10. The #6 Ligier JS F4 of Lochie Hughes, which started from pole, dropped down the order. A duel broke out between the #39 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport with Bryson Morris and the #45 Velocity Racing Development with Matt Christensen. As the #45 took the lead and built up a three second gap, the #39 gradually made its way up the field and passed it four laps before the end of the race. Already entered in 2021, this is Bryson Morris' second win in the championship.
“It was a really good race,” said Morris. “Matt [Christensen, Ligier JS F4 #45] was really far ahead, and I didn't think I had him. I was just kinda going in second place. Then, I noticed that I was closing the gap slowly, and eventually I got there. I'm just super happy to take the win.”
For the full article on race 2, CLICK HERE.
Nicholas Rivers topped the podium in race 3
Last race of the weekend for the F4 U.S. Championship. The #39 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4 was passed on the third lap by the #24 Velocity Racing Development car driven by Nicholas Rivers. The latter maintained his position despite two restarts but lost the lead to another of the team's cars, the #65 with Noah Ping at the wheel. On the final lap, Nicholas Rivers managed to overtake his rival, thus taking the top step of the podium.
For the full article on race 3, CLICK HERE.
Rendez-vous from May 19 to 22 for the second round of the championship at the Road America circuit in Wisconsin.
Photo credit: Gavin Baker