Champions Crowned at YACademy F4 Winter Series
“Winter Series concludes at Sebring International Raceway”
Feb 17, 2021 – The YACademy F4 Winter Series came to a close this past weekend at the famed Sebring International Raceway. After six wheel-to-wheel races across two popular Florida venues, Velocity Racing Development was named the Team Champion while Nico Christodoulou claimed the driver’s title. With huge growth from year-to-year, the YACademy F4 Winter Series is quickly become the training ground for drivers looking to make the move from karts to cars and prepare for a season of national level racing.
“The 2021 version of the YACademy Winter Series was definitely bigger, better, more proper and more competitive than it was last year,” explained Series Promoter Gustavo Yacaman. “The upward trends that we had with our competitors was impressive. The competition and how close it was and the close racing that we had was great. The lack of contact that we had was something that we are proud of, even with the really close racing that our series has become known for. Our drivers are able to go through a whole race while racing and gaining experience along the way.”
Christodoulou claimed the event’s Ettrone Pole Position award at Sebring and turned that into a second-place result at the end of the three-race format. Garnering enough points to earn the title, the Velocity Racing Development driver was the competitor of the series and will be a threat for national race wins in 2021. Matt Christensen and Jay Howard Driver Development scored the overall Sebring victory based on their three-race performance while VRD put two drivers on the podium with Jason Alder coming home third.
“I have been so happy with all the results that we have been achieving for both me personally and the entire VRD team,” explained the YACademey Winter Series Champion Nico Christodoulou. “Congratulations to Matt on the race three win. It was really close in the end, but we did not get the run that we were quite hoping for the pass, but I was just hoping it would stick. Either way, good clean racing and it was a great way to finish. The extra track time this year boosts my confidence heading to the F4 US Championship and we will see what happens when we get there.”
“I am very happy with the performance of my drivers,” stated Velocity Racing Development’s Dan Mitchell. “Nico did a great job to bring another championship to VRD and continue our winning streak. Nikita Johnson was fantastic with only some bad luck in the end which prevented him from being on the top step of the podium in the final race and on the championship podium. Jason was great and learned a lot. He utilized what the YACademy is designed for and he drove from last to third in the final race which was pretty impressive. VRD Academy driver Jimmy Lockhart did a great job in his first ever F4 race so overall the YACademy Winter Series was a success for VRD and we look to carry that success throughout 2021.”
Yacaman added, “We had four different race winners in six races as well as different race teams represented at the top step of the podium which really shows how competitive the championship was. In 2020, we had two different winners, this year we had four which proves the increased competition in our program. There were several difficult calls but as a promoter, I am happy with all decisions. It is always difficult to make everyone happy, but I think my team did a great job. A huge thank you to all the teams, competitors and supporters for their belief in our program. Thank you!”
Experiencing huge growth from year-to-year, an increase in teams, competitors, competition and race programs highlighted the 2021 campaign.
YACademy Points Overall:
1. Nico Christodoulou
2. Mac Clark
3. Matt Christensen
Teams in YACademy Programs:
Juncos Racing
Sara Fisher Racing
Jay Howard Development
Velocity Driver Development
Turn3 Motorsports
Gonella Racing
Force Indy
Miller Vinatieri Motorsports
DC Autosport
Newman Wachs Racing
Pabst Racing
TJ Speed
Exclusive Motorsport
RP Motorsport
Pole Position
Series Offered in the YACademy Program:
Formula Regional
Formula 4 USA
Indy Pro 2000
Indy Lights
USF2000
Tracks in the YACademy Program:
NOLA Motorsports Park - testing
Circuit of The Americas - testing
Barber Motorsport Park - testing
Sebring International Raceway - testing and race
Homestead Miami Speedway - testing and race
Next up for the YACdemy program will be test and track days at Barber Motorsports Park in March. Stay tuned to www.YacademyDrive.com for more information.
For more information on the YACademy F4 Winter Series, please contact Gustavo Yacaman via email to gusty@gustavoyacaman.com.
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