F4 SEA gets Formula 1 stage to kick off 2017-18 season
Six F4 Support Races at Singapore and Malaysia
The six-event sophomore season of the F4 SEA will kick off with the first two events to be staged as support events at two of the most prestigious motor racing events – the 2017 Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix and the 2017 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix.
Season two of the entry-level junior formula category will kick-off this September on the island state of Singapore with two (2) support races at the 2017 Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix scheduled from 15 to 17 September.
From Singapore, the F4/SEA will travel the short distance to the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia for the second event, this time with four (4) races at the 2017 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix from 29 September to 1 October.
The third event in the season will take place in the Philippines at the Clark International Speedway from 20 to 22 October before heading to the Sentul International Circuit in Indonesia for the fourth leg from 24 to 26 November. The championship will continue in the new year at Thailand’s Buriram International Circuit from 12 to 14 January before making a return trip to Sepang for the season finale event from 8 to 10 February.
Peter Thompson, Chairman, Asian Autosport Action Group: “In preparation for season two of the F4 SEA, we wanted to emphasise efforts to further profile and promote junior driver development efforts in Asia. Working together with Chase Carey, Chairman of Formula 1 and his team, these six (6) F1 support race slots we feel will enhance youth brand enthusiasm for formula car racing in the region. This also fits perfectly with our ethos of ‘Is F1 your dream?’ by providing the opportunity for our heroes to live their dream and promote their talent through the F4 SEA platform.”
Ross Brawn, Sporting Director at Formula 1: “I am delighted that the F4 SEA Championship – certified by FIA will have its first two stages of the second season hosted during the Formula 1 Singapore and Malaysia Grands Prix. It’s important that a Formula 1 Grand Prix can offer not only a great show in terms of racing but also can attract the interest of the younger generations and make them closer to motor sport grass roots. Its presence at the Formula 1 events will have a double benefit: for these young drivers who will have the chance to live an event side by side with the Formula 1 world, for the spectators who will have the chance to see exciting races and maybe discover the talents of the next future!”
As one of 12 worldwide championships in the FIA’s F4 global format, the FIA single-operated F4/SEA Championship – certified by FIA designed to help young aspiring motorsport talents fulfil their racing ambitions.
This most comprehensive and cost-effective F4 programme is the only driver development championship in Asia, and provides young racers with 30 race starts, extensive track time, experienced engineers and coaches with shared data to build their motorsport careers. Most importantly, F4 SEA drivers begin to collect their FIA Super Licence points on this first FIA step to F1 in Asia.
