AVONDALE, Ariz. — Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas), Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.) and Ligier Junior Formula Championship (Ligier JFC) open their 2026 race seasons this weekend at NOLA Motorsports Park.
With valuable scholarships on the line for each of the championships that comprise Racing America’s Formula Ladder, drivers from around the world will gather at NOLA, each with the goal of eventually winning the 2026 title.
Ligier Automotive, Hankook Motorsports and Mountune USA all return as key partners for the 2026 season, continuing their integral role in the success and stability of Racing America’s Formula Ladder.
Returning Drivers
A half dozen drivers are returning to FR Americas for another season with renewed hopes of winning the championship prize. With eight rounds on tap in 2026, drivers will be racing for a $100,000 cash prize that will be awarded to the Champion at the completion of the year. In addition, the Vice Champion will be awarded $20,000 cash, and the Third-Place Champion will win $10,000.
Those returning to FR Americas in 2026, include: Barrett Wolfe (No. 13 Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F3); Kevin Janzen (No. 24 US Power Group/Data Center Solutions / Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F3); Brady Golan (No. 40 Toney Driver Development Ligier JS F3); Jake Pollack (No. 77 Atlantic Racing Team Ligier JS F3); James Lawley (No. 88 Pentagon Properties / Atlantic Racing Team Ligier JS F3); Anthony Autiello (No. 07 Hope For The Warriors / Momentum Motorsports Ligier JS F3)
In addition to the six drivers returning to FR Americas for another season, another six will move up to the top level of Racing America’s Formula Ladder after spending time in either F4 U.S. or Ligier JFC: Luke Powers (No. 5 Toney Driver Development Ligier JS F3); Harbir Dass (No. 9 Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3); Eric Wisniewski (No. 25 REMAX Commercial / Hillenburg Motorsports Ligier JS F3); Kekai Hauanio (No. 29 N-E-Where Transport / Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F3); Jonathan Cottrill (No. 75 MLT Motorsports Ligier JS F3); Cooper Shipman (No. 84 Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3).
Champion’s Scholarship Moves Shipman to FR Americas
The 2025 F4 U.S. Champion, Cooper Shipman (No. 84 Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3), advances to FR Americas this season with help from the Champion’s Scholarship. Through the program, Shipman was provided with the lease of a Ligier JS F3 chassis from Ligier Automotive, the lease of an F3 engine from Mountune USA, race tires from Hankook Motorsports, and race entries from Racing America.
Crosslink Partners with AJ Foyt Racing
AJ Foyt Racing and Crosslink Motorsports have created a strategic partnership that will see Crosslink Motorsports serve as a driver development program for AJ Foyt Racing. The collaboration connects Crosslink Motorsports’ presence in FR Americas, F4 U.S. and Ligier JFC with AJ Foyt Racing’s programs in both IndyCar and Indy NXT. Through the collaboration, Crosslink Motorsports drivers will gain increased exposure, along with opportunities to interact with AJ Foyt Racing engineers, staff, and driver development resources as they continue progressing through the formula racing ladder.
Kiwi Continues Relationship with Chip Ganassi Racing
Kiwi Motorsport will continue their relationship with Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR), providing another direct link between Racing America’s Formula Ladder and the IndyCar paddock. Tagged as one of Ganassi’s partner teams when they launched their driver development program in 2024, Kiwi’s drivers are included in CGR’s programs based out of their state-of-the-art shop in Indianapolis, including physical, mental and media training, technical education, simulator training, business development and a presence at select INDYCAR events.
Hillenburg Motorsports Joins FR Americas
Hillenburg Motorsports will make the trek from Alvin, Texas for their FR Americas debut at NOLA Motorsports Park. With Whitney Strickland (No. 21 TF Companies / Hillenburg Motorsports Ligier JS F3) and Eric Wisniewski (No. 25 REMAX Commercial / Hillenburg Motorsports Ligier JS F3) behind the wheel for the multi-car effort, the move marks an exciting new chapter for the well-established open-wheel program, which has deep roots in sprint car racing and a proven track record across Formula Mazda, Indy NXT, F4, and a current leadership role in SCCA Club Racing.
Indy NXT Drivers Choose FR Americas
Christian Bogle (No. 7 Pelican Energy Consultants / Toney Driver Development Ligier JS F3) and Evagoras Papasavvas (No. 71 Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F3) both spent time in INDY NXT, but that’s not stopping them from chasing the FR Americas title in 2026. The Ligier JS F3 car is often called out by racers for its similarities to the cars raced in INDY NXT and the great training ground it provides.
Bogle started his open-wheel career in F4 U.S., and became a two-time winner when he notched back-to-back victories at Circuit of The Americas in 2019. He completed a partial season in FR Americas in 2021, making the NOLA opener a bit of a homecoming.
Gastón Irazú Moves to F4 U.S. With Champion’s Scholarship
After winning the Ligier JFC title last year, Gastón Irazú (No. 27 Elia Group / Baly / Canal 4 / Ancap / Champagne Racing Ligier JS F422) will advance to F4 U.S. with assistance from the Champion’s Scholarship. Through the program, Irazú was awarded the lease of a Ligier JS F422 chassis and Ligier Storm engine from Ligier Automotive, as well as race tires from Hankook Motorsports and race entries from Racing America.
Six Countries, One American
F4 U.S. continues to have global appeal with six countries represented on the grid at NOLA. Even more notable than the diversity from around the globe is that only one driver actually hails from the United States. Ayden Kohut (No. 18 Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422), a native of Plano, Texas, will hold home-country advantage, as he’s joined on the grid by drivers from Canada, Mexico, Uruguay, Chile and South Africa.
Campbell and Huerta Raab Back for More
Caleb Campbell (No. 68 Steele Auto Group / Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422) and Clemente Huerta Raab (No. 17 Velox USA Ligier JS F422) return to F4 U.S. for a second season in 2026. Both look to improve on their 2025 records, where they found themselves battling for fourth in the standings during the season’s final events. While Campbell secured one win and three podiums last season, Huerta Raab is still searching for his first F4 U.S. victory despite earning six podiums last year.
MLT and Momentum Team Up
Longtime competitors MLT Motorsports and Momentum Motorsports will join forces this year, working in alliance for the 2026 season. With both teams active in both F4 U.S. and FR Americas, the two decided to extend beyond their already often-shared test days at Carolina Motorsports Park to collaborate this season, setting up awning to awning and pit box to pit box during race weekends.
