BOWMANVILLE, Ontario — As FR Americas enters the Labour Day Weekend Sprints at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, only just seven checkered flags remain in the season.
Bruno Ribeiro (No. 01 Alfa Cem / Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) continues to lead the series with an 11-point advantage over Nicolas Ambiado (No. 55 Velox USA / Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3).
Both drivers claimed a checkered flag during the most recent round at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP), ensuring the close race continues for the coveted $100,000 cash prize that will be awarded to the championship-winning driver.
Even closer is the fight for third place in the standings, as Titus Sherlock (No. 31 Rayne Nutrition / Ronald McDonald House Charities / Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F3) closed in on Jett Bowling (No. 22 Bullhorn / Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) to tie him, just 45 points behind Ambiado.
Rookie of the Year
With the season finale inching closer, a new honor will be recognized — Rookie of the Year. Presented to the rookie driver who has accumulated the most points throughout the season, the award will include a $5,000 cash bonus.
Atop the points, Bruno Ribeiro (No. 01 Alfa Cem / Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) leads the charge over Brady Golan (No. 80 Attire / Toney Driver Development Ligier JS F3), who is the second-highest rookie while ranked fifth in the standings.
FR Americas Debut
Callum Baxter (No. 45 Chapman’s Certified Collision Centres / Road to Racing Canada / Atlantic Racing Team Ligier JS F3) is set to make his FR Americas debut at CTMP.
A three-time Canadian national karting champion and F1600 Canada champion, the 19-year-old has most recently been racing in the United Kingdom while driving for Graham Brunton Racing in GB4 Championship.
Canadian Home
Canadian drivers and teams will get to enjoy a rare home race when FR Americas pulls into CTMP this week. Teammates Callum Baxter (No. 45 Chapman’s Certified Collision Centres / Road to Racing Canada / Atlantic Racing Team Ligier JS F3) and James Lawley (No. 88 Pentagon Properties / Atlantic Racing Team Ligier JS F3) will both make the trek from their current homes in Nova Scotia, where Baxter hails from Hammonds Plains and Lawley from Halifax.
They’ll both be able to follow their team transporter, as Atlantic Racing Team, a proud family-owned Haligonian team, makes the 1700-kilometer journey from their headquarters in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The team will enter the CTMP race three-strong, uniting Baxter and Lawley with American racer Connor Roberts (No. 46 Apexspeed.com / Entropy Cellars / Atlantic Racing Team with Team Roberts Ligier JS F3).
Kevin Janzen (No. 24 US Power Group / Data Center Solutions / Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) may call Deerfield Beach, Fla., home now, but the Calgary, Alberta native still carries the Canadian flag on his car. Janzen looks to set a new career-best finish after tying his current best effort (seventh) at CTMP last summer.
Podium Search
James Lawley (No. 88 Pentagon Properties / Atlantic Racing Team Ligier JS F3) arrives at CTMP aiming for his first podium finish.
The Nova Scotian matched his career-best result with a fourth-place run at NJMP last month—equaling the same result he earned at his home track last season. With steady progress each round, Lawley now looks to take the next step and break onto the podium.
Masters Title
The fight continues for the 2025 FR Americas Masters Championship. A contingency program available to drivers ages 35 and over, Anthony Autiello (No. 07 Hope For The Warriors / Momentum Motorsports Ligier JS F3) and Kevin Janzen (No. 24 US Power Group / Data Center Solutions / Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) have been duking it out all year. Only seven races remain as 5.5 points separate the two drivers with a trophy and bragging rights on the line.
Shipman’s Momentum
Cooper Shipman (No. 14 Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422) is on a roll after winning the last four-consecutive F4 U.S. races.
With weekend sweeps at both Mid-Ohio and NJMP, Shipman has a 17-point advantage over second-place Kekai Hauanio (No. 29 N-E-Where Transport / Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F422), who’s racked up three wins of his own this season. Alex Popow (No. 55 Dr. Michael Thompson MS DDS PPLS / MLT Motorsports Ligier JS F422) is currently ranked third after winning two races at NOLA Motorsports Park earlier this year.
Savoie Joins F4 U.S.
Oliver Savoie (No. 88 YXE Auto / Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422) joins the F4 U.S. grid as the third entry from Kiwi Motorsport. Making his car racing debut, the Saskatchewanian is a graduate of the Radford Racing School’s F4 program, which is the same program 2024 FR Americas and 2023 F4 U.S. Champion Patrick Woods-Toth used to make his transition to formula car racing.
Secret Weapon
With one F4 U.S. victory under his belt this season, Caleb Campbell (No. 68 Kids Help Phone / Camtacc Properties / Legacy Foundation of Canada / LC Racing Ligier JS F422) is looking for more, and as the series heads to CTMP, Campbell has a special secret weapon that may prove to be very valuable—2023 F4 U.S. Champion, Patrick Woods-Toth.
Just last year, Woods-Toth swept the CTMP weekend to lock in his FR Americas Championship, while becoming just the third driver in F4 U.S/FR Americas history to win back-to-back championship in the two series. This year, Woods-Toth returns to CTMP as Campbell’s driving coach.
• Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas) and Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.) will partner with Mosport Karting Centre for this weekend’s races at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
Each championship officially known as Formula Regional Americas Championship presented by Mosport Karting Centre and Formula 4 United States Championship presented by Mosport Karting Centre, respectively.
• A Canadian motorsport legend is set to make a special homecoming this weekend, as Scott Goodyear returns to CTMP with F4 U.S. and FR Americas.
One of Canada’s most celebrated international racers, Goodyear now serves as the race director and president for the two FIA-sanctioned championships on the Road to Formula 1. Goodyear was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.
Watch all of this weekend’s races on SpeedTour.Tv.
