FR Americas : Three winners to open the 2024 season
The first round of the FR Americas championship took place from 11 to 14 April 2024 in Louisiana at NOLA Motorsports Park and saw three different drivers and two different teams take victory: Cole Kleck (#11 JS F3, DD Autosport), Patrick Woods-Toth (#27 JS F3, Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport) and Ryan Shehan (#66 JS F3, Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport).
- Fifteen Ligier JS F3s were on the grid for the opening weekend of the 2024 season. Patrick Woods-Thot, who had already set the fastest time in the second free session (1:34.597), took pole position in 1:33.638 on his FR Americas debut (#27, Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport).
Race 1:
- Cole Kleck put in a superb performance in Race 1 at the wheel of the #11 DD Autosport Ligier JS F3 on Saturday 13th. Starting fifth, he moved into the lead after just six corners. He maintained a margin of 1.121 at the finish despite two neutralisations: “we shot off the line well, came out third in Turn 1, and then battled for second exiting the turn. We got Patrick [Woods-Toth] in Turn 6 [to take the lead].”
- Woods-Toth and Nicolas Ambiado (#55 Tlink Allegro) took their first FR Americas podiums in that order.
For the article on Race 1, CLICK HERE.
Race 2:
- Race 2 is hotly contested. Kleck battled with Ambiado, with Woods-Toth in hot pursuit.
- A few minutes from the finish, contact with Kleck sent Ambiado into the tyre wall at Turn 3. Woods-Toth managed to overtake Kleck just before the race was finally brought to a halt by the red flag. Kleck saves second place ahead of Hayden Bowlsbey (#22, Save22).
For the article on Race 2, CLICK HERE.
Race 3:
- Race 3 on Sunday 14 was dominated by Ryan Shehan. He opened up a two-second gap but then came under pressure from Woods-Toth, who was back in second place.
- The two frontrunners went on to build up a 12-second lead over third place, which Kleck managed to hold on to against two Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport drivers, Titus Sherlock (#31) and Jett Bowling (#02), before a neutralisation brought the race to an end.
- Shehan explained: “It was a tough race. Of course, I had to win the race that had the most green laps, but I'll take it. I was just trying to stay consistent throughout the whole race. I think I cooked the tires a little too much on the start, so I got a bit worried, but it seemed like the gap was pretty good. We have a new tire compound this year, so a lot of this weekend was figuring out how to manage the tires well in competition. Happy we were able to get it done in the last race, now we just need to focus on keeping it consistent and racking up those championship points throughout the season.”
For the article on race 3, CLICK HERE.
Patrick Woods-Toth finished on the podium in all three races, as did Cole Kleck. The only lady on track, Nicole Havrda (#6, Crossling Kiwi Motorsport) finished in the top 10 in races 1 (9th) and 2 (6th).
The next round of the FR Americas Championship will take place from 16 to 19 May at Road America (Wisconsin).
For more information:
Ligier JS F3, CLICK HERE.
FR Americas, CLICK HERE.
Credit photo:
Gavin Baker