Emerson Harvey withdraws from Formula 4 Asia Pacific Cup citing "financial risk"

Junior Australian driver Emerson Harvey has withdrawn from the ‘Team Australia’ entry in the inaugural Formula 4 Asia Pacific Cup, citing “financial risk” and “moving […] goal posts”.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Harvey said that “we have decided the financial risk to compete in the Asia Pacific is too great.”

The Formula 4 Asia Pacific Cup is open to the top three finishers from the Australian, Chinese, Japanese, and South East Asian Formula 4 championships, plus a wildcard from each series. It is slated to run over October 17-19 at Ningbo International Speedway.

Harvey was selected as the wildcard entry for Team Australia after winning ‘Rookie of the Year’ in the 2019 CAMS PAYCE Australian Formula 4 Championship.

He has also had to cancel a fundraising event with radio host and comedian Lawrence Mooney.

Harvey expressed his disappointment at the closure of the Australian Formula 4 series, stating his aim for 2020 was to “have a real crack at winning races and go after the title as they say”.

A spokesperson for CAMS said “It’s up to each driver to determine if they believe competing in an event is suitable for them.”

“CAMS provided admin support and some limited financial assistance to drivers interested in competing.”

Harvey blamed the promoter of the F4 Asia Pacific Cup, Mitime Sports, for continuously increasing the entry fees. Mitime is the current promoter of the Chinese Formula 4 Championship, and part of the Geely group, which owns the Lotus, Proton, and Volvo brands, among others.

A spokesperson for CAMS said that they did not submit a bid for the event to be hosted in Australia.