Irazú takes U.S. F4 Race 2 and 3 wins in New Jersey

Gastón Irazú returned to the podium for the second time this weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park on Sunday, continuing his Formula 4 United States Championship win streak.

Cole Medeiros secured a career-best second-place finish, recording his third podium of the season with MLT Motorsports.

For the eighth time this year, Zach Fourie finished on the podium with a third-place result for Kiwi Motorsport.

Irazú (No. 27 Elia Group / Baly / Canal 4 / Ancap / Champagne Racing Ligier JS F422) started Race 2 from pole after setting the fastest lap in yesterday’s race, but it was second-place starter Zach Fourie (No. 15 Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422) who made a move to take the position from Irazú racing into Turn 1. Irazú reclaimed the spot the following lap and spent the next several circuits building up nearly a two-second lead. At the same time, eighth-place starter Cole Medeiros (No. 77 Firano Motorsports / MLT Motorsports Ligier JS F422) raced his way through the pack to reach Fourie’s rear wing and challenge for the second position. Once Medeiros completed the pass on Fourie, the top three of Irazú, Medeiros and Fourie settled into line as the minutes ticked by.

Debris on the track led to a late-race safety car, gathering the field and erasing Irazú’s advantage. As the green flag waved with less than five minutes left on the clock, Irazú came under pressure from Medeiros. Briefly racing wheel to wheel, the Uruguayan edged the Canadian as they continued on to the checkered flag.

Crossing the finish line, Irazú was followed by Medeiros and Fourie.

“This one was a hard one,” said Irazú atop the podium. “I had a lot of good battles with Zach [Fourie] and [Cole] Medeiros. I want to thank my team, Champagne Racing. They gave me a really fast car today and this win is for them.”

Race 3: Irazú completes sweep at NJMP

Gastón Irazú brought home his third win of the New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) weekend, completing the sweep in Formula 4 United States Championship competition. Marking his second weekend sweep of the season, the effort moved the Uruguayan into the championship points lead with just six races remaining on the 2026 F4 U.S. calendar.

The Race 3 victory marked Gastón Irazú’s sixth F4 U.S. win of the season. Winning all three F4 U.S. races at NJMP this weekend, he remains undefeated at the 2.25-mile circuit. Last year, he also swept the NJMP weekend while racing in Ligier Junior Formula Championship (Ligier JFC).

Racing from last to second, Cole Medeiros scored his fourth podium of the season with a runner-up result.

Clemente Huerta Raab returned to the podium for the second time this weekend, tying a season-best third-place finish.

Rookie Fernando Rivera (No. 16 Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F422) matched his career-best finish with another fourth-place result.

Three countries were represented on the podium with Irazú hailing from Uruguay, Medeiros from Canada, and Huerta Raab from Chile.

With a scholarship to compete in FR Americas in 2027 on the line, Caleb Campbell entered the weekend as the F4 U.S. points leader. However, a tough weekend for the Canadian paired with a dominant performance by Irazú allowed the Uruguayan to claim the points lead. With six wins to Campbell’s four, Irazú now holds a 37-point advantage in the standings with just six rounds left on the 2026 calendar.

Leading the field for the two-by-two rolling start, the most pressure-filled moment for Irazú (No. 27 Elia Group / Baly / Canal 4 / Ancap / Champagne Racing Ligier JS F422) came on the initial start as second-place starter Zach Fourie (No. 15 Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422) looked to the outside, while third-place starter Clemente Huerta Raab (No. 17 Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422) looked for a move to the inside. Unfazed by the advances, Irazú pulled clear into Turn 1 to take control of the race. In fact, he stayed in that position all the way to the checkered flag.

Behind him, Huerta Raab made the pass for second, while Fourie settled into third. It wasn’t long before Cole Medeiros (No. 77 Firano Motorsports / MLT Motorsports Ligier JS F422) reached Fourie’s rear wing. The true "big mover" of the race, Medeiros started in the last position serving a penalty from the previous round at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Completing the pass on Fourie, Medeiros settled into the third and final podium position, behind both Irazú and Huerta Raab.

During the closing laps of the race, Fourie fell into the clutches of his teammate, Caleb Campbell (No. 68 Steele Auto Group / Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422). The two raced side-by-side down the front straight before Fourie was forced off the track and spun through Turn 1. With the full-course yellow displayed, Irazú's advantage was erased, giving both Huerta Raab and Medeiros another shot at the lead.

As the race restarted, Irazú kept his head down to maintain the same focus he had earlier in the race and drove away. Medeiros then turned his attention to Huerta Raab and completed the pass to take second.

Crossing the finish line, Irazú led Medeiros and Huerta Raab.

F4 U.S. returns to the track for Labour Day Weekend Sprints at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Sept. 3-6.