F4 U.S.: Clean sweep at Road America for the Velocity Racing Development drivers!
21 - 22 May 2022 - The Ligier JS F4s arrived at the Road America circuit for the second meeting of the season. Matt Christensen in #45 won the first two races while his team-mate Noah Ping in #65 clinched victory in the third. A win-packed weekend for the Velocity Racing Development team, which was a permanent fixture on the podium!
The free practice session at Road America on Friday 20th May ended with the #22 Ligier JS F4 driven by Arturo Flores (Gonella Racing) topping the time sheets in front of his 18 rivals. He set the fastest lap in a time of 2m 31.028s.
The next day Lochie Hughes on board the #6 Ligier JS F4 entered by Jay Howard Driver Development bagged his first pole position of the season. He dialled in the best lap in 2m 18.719s almost three-tenths quicker than Matt Christensen in the #45 Ligier JS F4 run by Velocity Racing Development.
Matt Christensen scores his first victory of the season
The first race began in the early afternoon. Matt Christensen in the #45 Ligier JS F4 snatched the lead from Lochie Hughes in #6 (winner of a race in the opening round in Nola Park). The latter got back in front on lap four but Christensen wasn't giving up. After a wheel-to-wheel battle #45 managed to repass #6 and went on to clinch victory in race 1.
“It was a really good fight with Lochie,” said Matt Christensen. “I got him at the start in Turn 5 on lap 1, and then he passed me back. Then he pulled a little gap, then like he said he started to make mistakes and I just bounced him on the mistakes and caught him and then made that last lap pass.”
To read the complete article on race 1, CLICK HERE.
Christensen racks up win no.2!
The #45 Ligier JS F4 qualified on pole and held onto the lead at the start before being quickly hauled in by four other rivals all determined to finish on the topmost step of the podium. At the half-distance mark, the battle for victory raged between Christensen and #65 (Velocity Racing Development) in the hands of his team-mate, Noah Ping. The cars swapped places on several occasions until #45 got the upper hand and sealed victory for the second time on the bounce.
“It was a really good race,” said Matt Christensen after the finish. “Me and Noah started to pull away; I saw the gap and knew that at the end it would be a fight for the win. Overall, it was just clean passes and a really fun race.”
To read the complete article on race 2, CLICK HERE.
Revenge for Noah Ping in race 3!
Noah Ping in his #65 Ligier JS F4 set the fastest lap in the previous race which made him start from pole position in the final heat of the weekend. He dominated the race from start to finish clinching his first victory of the season into the bargain! His team Velocity Racing Development was the other big winner of the weekend as its drivers filled all three places on the podium with #45 second and #24 driven by Nicholas Rivers third!
“It's a really great feeling to be here in F4 on the topmost step of the podium,” said Noah Ping after the race. “There's nothing quite like it. Shout out to the VRD guys; obviously our cars were pretty quick here to go one, two, three. Congrats to my teammates it's a big accomplishment for us.”
To read the complete article on race 3, CLICK HERE.
Lochie Hughes, driver of the #6 Ligier JS F4 run by Jay Howard Driver Development remains in first place in the overall classification with 95 points. The next round will take place on 23 - 26 June on the Mid-Ohio circuit.
For more information on the Ligier JS F4, CLICK HERE.
Photo credit: Gavin Baker