The Formula Regional Middle East Championship certified by FIA (FRMEC) was the domain of the sensational Tuukka Taponen over the course of the second round on the full 5.281km Formula 1 layout of the Yas Marina Circuit. The 17-year-old Finn, who is backed by the Ferrari Driver Academy, topped both qualifying sessions and then drove his R-ace GP car to his first two victories in the category. 

Freddie Slater and Keanu Al Azhari were the stars of the second round of the Formula 4 UAE Championship Certified by FIA (F4 UAE) at the Yas Marina Circuit. While Al Azhari secured two wins on the full 5.281km Grand Prix layout, it was Slater who romped to victory in the opener and took the biggest points haul across the three races to extend his championship lead.

Reigning GB3 Team Champion JHR Developments has confirmed young Australian racer Patrick Heuzenroeder as its first signing for the 2024 season.

Trident Motorsport is delighted to announce that Czech driver Roman Staněk will compete in the 2024 FIA Formula 2 Championship under its banner. Lining up with the Milan-based squad, Staněk entered the 2022 FIA Formula 3 Championship, ending up fifth overall in a brilliant season that included one win at Imola, four podiums, and two fastest laps.

Leading Formula 2 outfit DAMS and Lucas Oil will strengthen their existing partnership, starting with the French team being re-named DAMS Lucas Oil ahead of the upcoming campaign. Founded by Forrest Lucas in 1989, Lucas Oil remains a family-owned business and is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of oils, additives, lubricants and other workshop accessories.

Vietnamese-licensed racer Owen Tangavelou has joined MP Motorsport for the team’s second season in Eurocup-3. The talented 18-year-old who will embrace his Asian roots as he continues to climb the single-seater ladder is the third driver to be announced for a seat with the Dutch team in the fledgling series aiming to expand further into Europe in 2024.

Rafael Villagómez steps up the motorsport ladder as he readies himself to compete in the 2024 edition of the FIA F2 Championship. With that, Villagómez completes VAR’s F2 driver line-up, set to race alongside his recently announced team-mate Enzo Fittipaldi.

Reigning British F4 champion Louis Sharp will remain with the Rodin Motorsport team as he graduates to the GB3 Championship in 2024.

Reigning Italian Formula 4 champion Kacper Sztuka will race in the 2024 Formula 3 Championship after concluding a deal with Dutch outfit MP Motorsport. The rapid Polish youngster joins MP as a fresh member of the Red Bull Junior Team.

Hitech Pulse-Eight has confirmed that its British F4 runner-up, Will Macintyre, will graduate to the GB3 Championship with the team in 2024. 

Young Spanish karting star Lucas Fluxá will get his single-seater promotion after signing with MP Motorsport for the 2024 season. The 15-year-old from Palma de Mallorca will make his debut in the Spanish Formula 4 Championship to be part of a strong line-up that now includes five drivers.

PREMA Racing has signed Maya Weug for the 2024 F1 Academy series, the team announces today. The Ferrari Driver Academy member is completing the Italian squad's lineup for its title defense after it cruised to a dominant title in the inaugural season.

Williams Racing is pleased to welcome Alessandro Giusti and Sara Matsui to the Williams Racing Driver Academy.

Quick German racer Tim Tramnitz is heading for the FIA Formula 3 Championship after signing to join MP Motorsport for the 2024 season. The 19-year-old from Hamburg is the first to sign up with the Dutch team, with more announcements to follow soon.

20-year-old racing rising star Doriane Pin has officially joined the esteemed ranks of Mercedes-AMG as a member of its Junior Programme and will represent the iconic brand in Formula 1 Academy with the support of the PREMA Racing team.

Van Amersfoort Racing is happy to welcome Alvise Rodella to the team for the upcoming Italian F4 and Euro 4 championships. This will be the second season of the 16-year-old Italian driver in Formula 4, after stepping up from karting last year.

Van Amersfoort Racing announces that Japanese racer Hiyu Yamakoshi will compete with the team in the 2024 Italian F4 and EURO 4 Championships. Hiyu joins his recently announced teammate Alvise Rodella.

Freddie Slater emerged from the opening weekend of the 2024 F4 UAE Championship at the Yas Marina Circuit with the series lead following his first win in single-seater racing, and a hat-trick of finishes in the top four. The 15-year-old British talent, who only moved into F4 in August 2023, was a force all weekend with Mumbai Falcons Racing. Slater finished third in the opening race, then charged from 10^th in the starting line-up for the reversed-grid sequel to snatch fourth place on the sprint to the finish line. Slater rounded out the weekend by claiming victory in the weekend’s final race.

This partnership is a big step forward as Birel and VAR share their experience and racing know-how. The strategic alliance aims to improve the skills of VAR by Birel drivers by offering a comprehensive program to maximize their karting abilities and begin testing in the F4 series.

Leading us off this morning, the driver of the No. 21, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet, beginning his fifth season in the NTT Indycar Series. Two NTT P1 awards in his career and of course that memorable win on the IMS road course. Rinus VeeKay joining us this morning. Ready to go today?