ALTON, Va. — Formula Regional Americas Championship (and Formula 4 United States Championship reconvene with Ligier Junior Formula Championship for their penultimate round of the season at Virginia International Raceway this weekend.
Back on the 3.27-mile circuit, all three championships will contest two races as part of the four days of on-track action alongside the Trans Am Series, Sportscar Vintage Racing Association and International GT.
Five In The Hunt
With four races and 100 points remaining in the 2026 season, five drivers are still mathematically eligible for the FR Americas championship and its $100,000 prize.
Brady Golan (No. 40 Toney Driver Development Ligier JS F3) took over the points lead following a difficult weekend for Evagoras Papasavvas (No. 71 Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F3) at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP).
However, Papasavvas rebounded to win Race 3, keeping the championship battle tight with just 10.5 points separating the two rivals.
While Golan and Papasavvas remain the most obvious contenders for the $100,000 prize, Cooper Shipman (No. 10 Driven Dynamix / Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) is still within striking distance, just 47 points behind the leader.
Trailing by 95.5 and 98.5 points, respectively, both Kekai Hauanio (No. 29 N-E-Where Transport / Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F3) and Christian Bogle (No. 7 Pelican Energy Consultants / Toney Driver Development Ligier JS F3) are still mathematically eligible, but would need the dominos to line up perfectly for their Cinderella stories to take shape.
Janzen Keeps Hopes Alive
Canadian Kevin Janzen (No. 24 US Power Group / Data Center Solutions / Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F3) used a home-track advantage at CTMP to stay in the fight for the Masters Cup Championship.
With two wins in three races, Janzen remains second in the standings, just 40.5 points behind Whitney Strickland (No. 21 TF Companies / Hillenburg Motorsports Ligier JS F3), and holding a 9.5-point advantage over third-place Anthony Autiello (No. 07 Hope For The Warriors / Momentum Motorsports Ligier JS F3).
Continued Success
When FR Americas last visited VIR, Toney Driver Development (TDD) was the team to beat. Sweeping the weekend with driver Christian Brooks in 2025, TDD also celebrated a 1-2 finish, as Brady Golan (No. 40 Toney Driver Development Ligier JS F3) followed Brooks across the finish line in Race 1.
Now, they return to VIR looking to build on that success in the 2026 Team Championship battle. TDD enters the weekend with a 14-point advantage over Crosslink Motorsports. With just four races remaining, every position will be critical.
Shipman Eyes Victory Lane
Last season, Cooper Shipman (No. 10 Driven Dynamix / Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) scored back-to-back victories at VIR to lock the 2025 F4 U.S. championship. This year, he returns looking for another trip to Victory Lane while keeping his FR Americas championship hopes alive.
With two wins this season, Shipman enters VIR third in the standings, 47 points behind the leader. If he wants to remain eligible for the title when the series enters its final round at Barber, he must leave VIR no more than 50 points behind the leader.
Powers Gaining Momentum
In his rookie FR Americas season, Luke Powers (No. 5 Wallace Heating & Air/Toney Driver Development Ligier JS F3) is building momentum at TDD. After scoring his first victory at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) in early August, Powers followed it up with his strongest weekend of the season at CTMP, scoring a pair of runner-up finishes. In 2025, Powers enjoyed his strongest F4 U.S. weekend at VIR.
Now, after breaking through for his first FR Americas win and adding two more podiums at CTMP, he returns to a track where he has already found success, giving him another opportunity to see just how far his rookie season can go.
Championship Scenarios
Gastón Irazú (No. 27 Elia Group / Baly / Canal 4 / Ancap / Champagne Racing Ligier JS F422) has a chance to clinch the 2026 F4 U.S. title and the FR Americas scholarship. With a 66-point lead entering VIR, the Uruguayan could secure the title as early as Race 2 at VIR—provided he leaves the round with at least a 50-point margin over second place.
At CTMP, Zach Fourie (No. 15 Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422) moved into second in the standings ahead of his Kiwi Motorsports teammate, Caleb Campbell (No. 68 Steele Auto Group / Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422), after scoring his first F4 U.S. victory.
With 100-points still available this season, Cole Medeiros (No. 77 Firano Motorsports / MLT Motorsports Ligier JS F422) remains mathematically eligible after scoring his first F4 U.S. win at CTMP, and leaving the weekend 99 points behind Irazú.
Championship Clinch
With five wins and 19 podiums to date, Kiwi Motorsport has clinched its eighth F4 U.S. Team Championship title. With drivers Zach Fourie (No. 15 Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422), Clemente Huerta Raab (No. 17 Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422), Ayden Kohut (No. 18 The Builders Source / The Genie Company / Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422) and Caleb Campbell (No. 68 Steele Auto Group / Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422) all flying under its banner, the championship will mark the fifth-consecutive title for team owners Garry Orton and Teena Larsen.
Breakthrough Firsts
Several drivers had breakout performances at CTMP earlier this month, including first-time F4 U.S. winners Zach Fourie (No. 15 Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422) and Cole Medeiros (No. 77 Firano Motorsports / MLT Motorsports Ligier JS F422). Fourie had been knocking on the door all season with 10 podiums and five runner-up finishes, but Round 12 at CTMP marked not only the South African’s first series win, but his first victory in a single-seater racecar. After scoring two third-place finishes earlier in the season, Medeiros began to hit his stride at NJMP last month, where he kicked off a run of five-consecutive podiums.
The Canadian’s first F4 U.S. victory was made even more special by coming in his home province of Ontario. Fernando Rivera (No. 16 Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F422) also celebrated a breakthrough at CTMP, claiming his first F4 U.S. podium with a third-place finish in Round 13.
Jacir Seeks Title
Beckham Jacir (No. 7 Stonica / Bell / OMP / P1DOKS / Behind the Wheel / Champagne Racing Ligier JS F4) has a 66-point advantage in the Ligier JFC Gen. 1 class—meaning he could lock in the 2026 Drivers Championship as soon as this weekend.
While a clinch isn’t mathematically possible until at least Race 2 at VIR, Jacir could wrap up his season with one weekend to spare.
Behind him, Lazaro Bainotti (No. 11 Fundacion Fangio Rus seguros Cordoba deportes / Speed Factory Ligier JS F4) remains the only other driver with a statistical chance at the championship. As the only other driver to stand atop the podium in 2026, the Argentinian has tallied two wins and 10 podiums this season.
David vs. Goliath
The battles for the Team Championship titles have proven to be just as dramatic as the driver championship fights. In the Ligier JFC Gen. 1 class, it’s David vs. Goliath, with Champagne Racing’s single-car entry going head-to-head with multi-car powerhouse, Berg Racing.
Despite fielding just one car, Jacir’s flawless season has kept Champagne Racing on top of the standings, with the team entering VIR holding a five-point advantage over Berg Racing.
In the Ligier JFC Gen. 2 class, the Team Championship standings mirror the Driver Championship standings with Speth’s Kiwi Motorsport holding a one-point advantage over Kennedy’s MLT Motorsports heading into this weekend’s event at VIR.
Savage Momentum
Alexander Savage (No. 33 KymaBoats.com / Triple Aim Medical Solutions / Nature Coast Health Care / G Tech Motorsports Ligier JS F4) has been on a roll lately.
After scoring his first podium in Round 8 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, the 14-year-old went on to earn third-place finishes in each of the next three rounds, extending his streak to four-consecutive podiums. With the season winding down, Savage hopes to check off one more box before the year’s end—his first race win.
