Event preview: FR Americas, F4 U.S. and Ligier JFC at VIR

Track Facts:

Circuit: VIRginia International Raceway
Length: 3.27 miles / 18-turn road course
Race Direction: Clockwise

FR Americas Championship
Practice:                                 Friday, September 18 at 3:55 p.m. ET
Qualifying:                             Saturday, September 19 at 9:30 a.m. ET
Autograph Session:        Saturday, September 19 at 12:15 p.m. ET
Feature Race 1*:               Saturday, September 19 at 4:25 p.m. ET
Feature Race 2:                 Sunday, September 20 at 2:35 p.m. ET

F4 U.S. Championship
Practice:                                 Friday, September 18 at 2:25 p.m. ET
Qualifying:                             Friday, September 18 at 5:55 p.m. ET
Autograph Session:        Saturday, September 19 at 12:15 p.m. ET
Feature Race 1*:               Saturday, September 19 at 2:15 p.m. ET
Feature Race 2*:               Sunday, September 20 at 11:35 a.m. ET

Ligier Junior Formula Championship
Practice:                                 Friday, September 18 at 2:25 p.m. ET
Qualifying:                             Friday, September 18 at 5:55 p.m. ET
Feature Race 1*:              Saturday, September 19 at 10:30 a.m. ET
Autograph Session:        Saturday, September 19 at 12:15 p.m. ET
Feature Race 2*:               Sunday, September 20 at 10:05 a.m. ET

Races noted with an asterisk (*) will stream live at RacingAmerica.TV and YouTube.com/@RacingAmericaTV.

Championship pressure builds as season finale approaches

Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas) and Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.) reconvene with Ligier Junior Formula Championship (Ligier JFC) for their penultimate round of the 2026 season at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) 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 (SVRA) and International GT. With the season winding down and championship battles heating up, the weekend promises plenty of action both on and off the track. Kids 12 and under are admitted free all weekend, while adult tickets are available now at RacingAmericaTickets.com.  

Meet the stars of FR Americas, F4 U.S. and Ligier JFC

Fans can meet the drivers of FR Americas, F4 U.S. and Ligier JFC during the Nexgen Autograph Session on Saturday afternoon. Beginning at 12:15 p.m. in VIR’s North Paddock near the Garage Living and STAK Auto Lift displays, fans can stop by to collect autographs, take photos and meet the drivers competing across Racing America’s formula championships.

Take home FR Americas, F4 U.S. and Ligier JFC merch

Styled Aesthetic will bring its collection of FR Americas, F4 U.S. and Ligier JFC merchandise to VIR this weekend. Fans can shop the collection at the Racing America Merchandise Trailer, located in VIR’s North Paddock across from the TMI Racing Products Store and Sunoco fuel pumps. Fans who can’t make it to VIR this weekend can still shop the collection online from home. Enjoy worldwide shipping at StyledAesthetic.com.

Watch the action live on @RacingAmericaTV’s YouTube

Select races from the Racing America @ VIR weekend will stream live on the @RacingAmericaTV YouTube channel. John Fippin, the voice of FR Americas, F4 U.S. and Ligier JFC will call the action, joined in the booth by drivers from Racing America’s formula paddocks. Fans can watch by searching “Racing America TV” on YouTube, or by visiting YouTube.com/@RacingAmericaTV.

FR Americas Championship

Five remain in $100,000 Championship 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 Masters Cup hopes alive at home track

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).

TDD looks for continued success at VIR

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.

CTMP gave no indication of 2026 champion

For the last three seasons, the eventual FR Americas champion has swept the races at CTMP. That streak ended this year, with Brady Golan (No. 40 Toney Driver Development Ligier JS F3), Kekai Hauanio (No. 29 N-E-Where Transport / Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F3), and Evagoras Papasavvas (No. 71 Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F3) each taking a turn on the top step of the podium. The three different winners at CTMP reflects the depth of competition throughout the 2026 season. Five different drivers have earned race wins, nine have stood on the podium and five remain in championship contention heading into the penultimate round.

Shipman looks to return to VIR 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.

Rookies return at VIR

Three rookies will return to the FR Americas starting grid at VIR as they continue gaining experience in the championship. After making their debuts at NJMP last month, Aiden Zelaya (No. 1 Jensen Global Advisors / JENSEN Ligier JS F3) and Robert Arana Jr. (No. 2 DAV Panting and Drywall / Jensen Global Advisors / JENSEN Ligier JS F3) will return as a two-car entry for JENSEN. Eric Wisniewski (No. 25 REMAX Commercial / Hillenburg Motorsports Ligier JS F3) will also climb back in the cockpit, representing Hillenburg Motorsports at the 3.27-mile circuit.

F4 U.S. Championship

Championship clinch possible at VIR

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.

Kiwi team 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 at CTMP

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.

Irazú still searching for first VIR podium

Gastón Irazú (No. 27 Elia Group / Baly / Canal 4 / Ancap / Champagne Racing Ligier JS F422) enters the weekend with a chance to clinch the championship, but first he’ll need podium at one of the few tracks where he has yet to finish among the top three. Competing in Ligier JFC last season, Irazú did not finish one of the races at VIR and placed seventh in the other. With podiums in all but one race this season, the Uruguayan looks to carry that momentum into this weekend.

Day looks for another strong VIR weekend in F4 U.S.

Racing in Ligier JFC last year, Luca Day (No. 54 Zimperium / Momentum Motorsports Ligier JS F422) had his best weekend of the season at VIR last year, bringing home two top-10 finishes, including a season-best fifth-place result. This year, he returns to the circuit in F4 U.S., coming off of the excitement of his first home race and two top-five finishes on Canadian soil.

Rookie Ramirez continues development at VIR

Ben Ramirez (No. 32 U.S. Air Force / RASE Motorsports Ligier JS F422) returns to the cockpit for the third time this season, racing at VIR for the first time. A graduate of the Radford Racing School F4 U.S. Karts to Cars Scholarship School earlier this year, Ramirez made his F4 U.S. debut at Road America, before taking on Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course a few weeks later. With three top-10 finishes to date, the Californian looks to continue his development with more solid finishes this weekend.

Ligier Junior Formula Championship

Jacir looks to lock in Gen. 1 title at VIR

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.

Speth holds one-point advantage entering penultimate round

While the Gen. 1 Class title could be decided this weekend, the Ligier JFC Gen. 2 championship is guaranteed to go down to the final round at Barber. Entering the penultimate round, Jack Speth (No. 07 Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422) holds a slim one-point advantage over Edward Kennedy (No. 30 MLT Motorsports Ligier JS F422). Speth has three victories this season compared to Kennedy’s eight, but his remarkable consistency has kept him atop the standings. He has finished on the podium in all 11 rounds this season, giving him a one-point cushion heading into VIR. With the championship battle separated by just a single point, every position will matter this weekend.

David vs. Goliath in JFC Gen. 1 Team Championship battle

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.

Hanssen back at VIR after career-best weekend in 2025

Ava Hanssen (No. 26 One Powersports / Chiropractic Center of Elkhorn / NGK / Badger Mats Ligier JS F4) has come close to capturing her first Ligier JFC victory this season. She’s finished as high as second, started from the pole and led plenty of laps, but that first checkered flag has remained just out of reach. This weekend, Hanssen heads to one of her best tracks – her favorite track – VIR. Last season, she scored what was then a career-best finish, taking fourth in the final race of the weekend. Now, she hopes VIR can once again be the scene of a career milestone—her first trip to Victory Lane.

Savage carries momentum to VIR

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.

White eyes first podium

Another Ligier JFC driver on a hot streak is Ella White (No. 52 Berg Racing Ligier JS F4). After first getting behind the wheel of a racecar last year, the 18-year-old is showing more consistently in the top five. At the series’ most-recent round at NJMP, White scored a career-best fourth-place finish. Now, she looks to take the next step and capture her first podium result.