May 17

May 17 WEEKEND PREVIEW: Luis Leeds takes Formula 4 lead to Sydney, Bart Horsten on the charge in the UK, and W Series returns

Welcome to your Weekend Preview for 18-19 May, 2019. Here’s your look at the Aussies who are competing around the world this weekend.

Luis Leeds takes Formula 4 lead to Sydney

Luis Leeds heads the CAMS Payce Australian Formula 4 championship as the series heads to Sydney Motorsport Park for Round 2. Leeds set the fastest time in today’s two practice sessions, ahead of teammate Antonio Astuti. “AGI had the car absolutely hooked up, I couldn’t really ask for too much more,” Leeds said.

“Balance was good, track was getting a bit hot towards the end of practice two, but looking forward to getting out there tomorrow and get some pace in qualifying.”

Leeds holds the championship lead after round 1 at the Australian Grand Prix, on 45 points. Ryan Shule is in second on 37, followed by Lochie Hughes (also 37), Antonio Astuti (33), Tommy Smith (18), Jackson Walls (9), and Emerson Harvey (0).

Smith has also completed two rounds of the F3 Asian Championship, with the announcement this morning that Walls would be racing in the series from Round 3 onwards. Walls joins Hitech GP and will be in good company, as the team currently leads the championship.

The round commences following the announcement during the week that Motorsport Safety and Rescue (MSR) group would be taking over the effective role of promoter of the Australian Formula 4 category from CAMS.

The weekend was also meant to feature the race debut of the S5000 series, which was delayed ‘for a combination of reasons’ until August. The new open-wheel format is aimed to eventually be the “premier open wheel class in the Australasian region”.

W Series to test Chadwick dominance at Zolder

The inaugural W Series season heads to Zolder, Belgium, for its second of six races for 2019. Jamie Chadwick, who led every session, and took the maiden race victory, will be looking to prove her dominance over the 18-driver field. Aussie Caitlin Wood scored the final championship point last time out and will similarly be wanting to consolidate her position.

This weekend will also feature new liveries for the brightly-coloured W Series cars, with larger names, numbers, and flags all designed to make drivers easier to identify after some confusion during the opening race.

Euroformula Open on the historic streets of Pau

Race 3 and 4 of the Euroformula open head to the French village this weekend for the Grand Prix de Pau. Championship leader, kiwi Liam Lawson, will be looking to make it his second Grand Prix victory of the year, after winning the New Zealand Grand Prix in his Toyota Racing Series championship campaign.

Australians Jack Doohan and Calan Williams will also continue their tilts at the Euroformula Open, with Doohan currently in tenth and Williams in fourteenth in the championship standings.

Elsewhere

Australian Bart Horsten will be confident ahead of the Thruxton round of the British F4 championship, after taking his first podium finish, and then first victory, last week at Donnington Park.

Kiwi Nick Cassidy will be similarly pumped up for the second round of the Japanese Superformula, after taking the round 1 victory at Suzuka.

Weekend Schedule

Friday

Formula 4 Australia Practice 1 - 10.40am AEST
Formula 4 Australia Practice 2 - 3.15pm AEST

Saturday

Formula 4 Australia Qualifying - 10.10am AEST
Formula 4 Australia Race 1 - 1.10pm AEST

Sunday

W Series Race - 00:10am AEST
Euroformula Open Race 1 - 00:15am AEST
British F4 Race 1 - 00:45am AEST
Formula 4 Australia Race 2 - 12.20pm AEST
Super Formula Race - 3.00pm AEST
Formula 4 Australia Race 3 - 3.55pm AEST
British F4 Race 2 - 08:20pm AEST

Monday
Euroformula Open Race 2 (Pau Grand Prix) - 01:20am AEST
British F4 Race 3 - 01:25am AEST