FR Americas: 13 Ligier JS F3s at NOLA Park to kick off the 2022 season
8 - 10 April 2022 – The Ligier JS F3s of the FR Americas Championship are back in action for another season. Three different teams and drivers shared victories in the three races of this first meeting. Race 1 was won by the #25 Future Star Racing Ligier JS F3, Race 2 by #27 TJ Speed Motorsports and Race 3 by the #14 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport. Here is the story of the first weekend of competition.
The season started with the free practice session on Thursday 7 April. The #27 TJ Speed Motorsports Ligier JS F3 driven by Raoul Hyman topped the timesheet with a best time of 1:33.617s.
On Saturday 9 April, the #27 Ligier JS F3 driver dominated his rivals once again and took pole position in the first race. Raoul Hyman was the fastest with his lap of 1:32.807s, almost a second ahead of the #25 Future Star Racing car with Mac Clark at the wheel.
Mac Clark wins race 1 for his FR Americas debut
The action began later in the day with the very first race of the season. Qualified sixth, the #25 Ligier JS F3 driver Mac Clark made his mark by leaping to the front of the field. In the first corner of the first lap, he passed poleman Raoul Hyman in the #27. He led the race to the finish line and took his first win of the season after finishing runner-up in the 2021 U.S. F4 Championship.
“It feels amazing,” said Clark. “To come to the championship and win the first race with a brand new team—and me being a rookie in the series. I actually made a really good jump off the line like we've been practicing, and from there it was just keeping my head down and hitting my marks.”
For the full article on race 1, CLICK HERE.
Raoul Hyman secured his first win in race 2
The #27 Ligier JS F3 got its revenge the following day, Sunday 10 April, in race 2. As the lights went out, Raoul Hyman started from pole position and dominated the pack until the chequered flag.
“After yesterday I was pretty annoyed that my start let me down because I thought we had great pace in the race. I was quite happy with the start. I was challenged into Turn 1, but it was under control. It was a good race all-in-all.” explained Hyman.
For the full article on race 2, CLICK HERE.
Dylan Tavella clinched victory in race 3
The #14 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3, driven by Dylan Tavella, started third and then took on the #22 VRD Racing car driven by Nico Christodoulou and the race leading #27 car on the second lap. After two podiums in the two previous races, the #14 driver, who was present in the FR Americas last season, came home with a win.
“It was pretty crazy the first couple laps battling with Raoul [Hyman] and [Nico] Christodoulou,” said Tavella, walking us through the battle. “Going into [Turn] 1, me and [Raoul] rode fairly deep—both well past our braking zone—but we still made it stick. I went around on the outside, I had to put a couple wheels in the dirt, and then we just charged all the way into [Turn] 2, three wide. Then, I had to out brake both of them and that was kinda sketchy.”
For the full article on race 3, CLICK HERE.
The FR Americas Championship will be held May 19-22 at Road America, along with the F4 U.S. Championship.
Photo credit: Gavin Baker