No time to waste in Jimmy Piszcyk's debut year in Formula 4
Making the step up from Formula Ford to dual Formula 4 campaigns in 2023, Jimmy Piszcyk says he has to give it all from the start.
Jimmy Piszcyk during testing for the 2023 F4 United Arab Emirates championship. (Dutch Photo Agency / Supplied)
"I don't want to treat it as a learning year," says Piszcyk.
From Adelaide, Piszcyk started in go karts at seven years-old before two years in Australian Formula Ford.
With two days of testing complete for the Formula 4 United Arab Emirates series, Piszcyk is about to depart his hotel for the first practice session of round one.
"It's a bit of a plane ride, about 13 and a half hours to Dubai."
"We used the Monday sessions to get all the drivers back into a groove after a bit of a break, simple stuff."
"Yesterday was when we started really cracking down on what we need to learn."
"It was actually a great day for me."
Piszcyk made his competitive debut in Formula 4 at the Abu Dhabi grand prix last year, in the F4 UAE trophy race run in preparation for the 2023 season.
He tested F4 machinery with AGI Sport in Australia before seven days of testing with Hitech GP in the United Kingdom.
Hitech is approaching the UAE championship as vital preparation for their British campaign, with Piszcyk in agreement.
"I'm learning the car, just getting as much information and readings on the car."
"Quali sims, race sims, all of that. Getting used to it before the British F4."
"I do want to do well myself though, to see if I can get some podiums."
Jimmy Piszcyk on track in Dubai. (Dutch Photo Agency / Supplied)
It's a measured approach from the softly-spoken South Australian, but it doesn't take long before Piszcyk's competitive edge starts to glimmer through.
"I had two years in Formula Ford, so I want to achieve some good results."
"I want to push myself and hopefully only be in Formula 4 for one year and keep progressing through the categories."
"But time will tell and we'll see how it all unfolds."
"I'm going to give it a hundred percent, I always do, and see how it ends up."
Previewing the UAE series, the huge field is no barrier for Piszcyk coming from Formula Ford.
Unlike Formula Ford, every driver is in the same machinery, and with testing showing a tightly-packed field, the Hitech driver is positive.
"It's really close."
"You improve a couple of tenths and it's like, you're up five extra positions."
Experience on Formula 1 tracks is a bonus as well, with Piszcyk interested in how the field will fare in Kuwait.
The Grade 1 circuit only opened in 2019 and has seen little international competition, so far.
"It's pretty new, so I think it's going to level out the field."
"You'll see really who the better drivers are or who can learn the tracks quicker, and none of the teams have really been there."
With a 12-day gap for transit to Kuwait City, Piszcyk is making the most of the Dubai setting.
His mother and sister have just arrived, with a plan to spend the week as a family before the season enters high gear.
It's a worthwhile plan, because once Piszcyk puts the helmet on and lets his ambition out on track, there's no telling just how far he will go.
