- More than 30 drivers at the start of the ninth season of the Italian series, the longest-running of the Formula 4 series.
- Among the most eagerly awaited talents are Rafael Camara, James Wharton and Maya Weug, Ferrari Driver Academy drivers.
- Eyes are also on Emerson Fittipaldi Jr., Brando Badoer and Charlie Wurz, all sons of former Formula 1 drivers.
Two weeks after the Made in Italy and Emilia Romagna Formula 1 Grand Prix, the young drivers of the Italian F4 Championship Certified by FIA will take to the track at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola. More than 30 Tatuus F4 T-421s powered by the 180 bhp Abarth 1.4 T-Jet engine will make up the starting grid of the ninth season of the Italian Formula 4, promoted by ACI Sport and WSK. Over the years, the Italian series has become the reference point at international level and, also in 2022, with the new car ready to make its debut, the numbers confirm the goodness of a project that has seen current Formula 1 drivers Lance Stroll, Mick Schumacher, Lando Norris and Guanyu Zhou take their first steps in single-seaters.
To defend the title won in 2021, Van Amersfoort Racing is fielding an international line-up with American Arias Deukmedjian, Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi Jr, son of the two-time Formula 1 World Champion Emerson, and Italian Brando Badoer, son of the former Ferrari F1 driver, Luca. The Dutch team's line-up is completed by Martinius Stenshorne, from Norway, and Belgian Jules Castro. One of the main contenders for the title will be Prema, the Veneto-based team that has won the team title five times and will be fielding five cars driven by the two Ferrari Driver Academy drivers James Wharton and Rafael Camara, Mercedes Junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, one of the most eagerly awaited drivers in the series, Charlie Wurz, son of ex-F1 driver Alex, and Conrad Laursen, in his second season in the series. Eyes will also be on Irishman Alex Dunne (US Racing), reigning rookie champion Nikita Bedrin (PHM Racing) as well as the two Italian F4 girls Maya Weug (Iron Lynx - Ferrari Driver Academy) and Victoria Blokhina (PHM Racing), a finalist in the FIA Girls on Track selection.
Also several Italian drivers will be on the track in 2022. In addition to Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Brando Badoer, Alfio Spina (BWR Motorsport), Andrea Frassineti (Cars Racing), Elia Sperandio (Maffi), Giovanni Maschio and Manuel Quodamcarlo (AS Motorsport).
The program for the first round of the season includes a collective test session on Friday morning at 9.35am, followed by two free practice sessions at 1.20pm and 6.35pm. On Saturday at 9.00 am the first two qualifying sessions will decide the starting grid for race 1, scheduled at 2.55 pm on Saturday, race 2, which will start on Sunday at 10.30 am and race 3, which will close the first season weekend on Sunday 8 May at 5.30 pm. All races will be broadcast with Italian and English commentary on the social channels of the series and on ACI Sport TV.
After Imola, the Italian F4 Championship 2022 calendar includes Misano (2-5 June), followed by the first race across the border at the legendary circuit of Spa-Francorchamps, in Belgium, from 16 to 19 June. The calendar also includes Vallelunga (30 June - 3 July), Red Bull Ring (8-11 September), Monza (6-9 October) and Mugello (20-23 October).
Turin, May 5, 2022
