Event Preview: FR Americas, F4 U.S. and Ligier JFC at Barber SpeedTour

Champions Crowned at Barber

Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas), Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.) and Ligier Junior Formula Championship (Ligier JFC) contest their final round of the 2025 season at Barber Motorsports Park this weekend. With Ligier JFC making their series debut at the 2.38-mile facility, both FR Americas and F4 U.S. will return to the circuit for the first time since 2020. The three championships will be joined by the Trans Am Series, Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) and International GT (IGT) for three days of non-stop racing action. Kids 12 and under are admitted free all weekend, while adult tickets are available now at SpeedTour.net.  

Meet the Drivers of FR Americas, F4 U.S. and Ligier JFC

Fans will have two opportunities to meet the drivers of FR Americas, F4 U.S. and Ligier JFC during the Barber SpeedTour weekend. On Saturday at 11:40 a.m. CT, the drivers of FR Americas and Ligier JFC will host an autograph session at the SpeedTour Sim Trailer in the Paddock. Then, on Sunday, fans will have the opportunity to meet the drivers of F4 U.S., as they host a special pre-race fan walk on Pit Lane at 11:15 a.m. CT. 

FR AMERICAS
Three Enter With a Chance, One Crowned Champion

Continuing his momentum after a weekend sweep at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in August, Titus Sherlock (No. 31 Rayne Nutrition / Ronald McDonald House Charities / Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F3) was able to capitalize on a strong weekend at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) to overtake the championship points lead as FR Americas races toward its final round. Holding a 13.5-point advantage over Nicolas Ambiado (No. 55 Velox USA / Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3), Sherlock left the race weekend as the points leader for the first time since Round 6 at Road America in May. In third, just seven points behind Ambiado and 20.5 points out of the lead, Bruno Ribeiro (No. 01 Alfa Cem / Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) remains in the title fight, making it a three-man battle. The stakes are high, as the 2025 FR Americas Driver Champion will be awarded a $100,000 cash prize, while second place receives $25,000 and third place takes home $15,000. 

Kiwi Motorsport has locked in their third-consecutive FR Americas Team Championship, though the 2025 title marks their first operating as a solo entity, separate from former partner Crosslink Motorsports. Having won both the team and driver championships in 2023 with Callum Hedge, and 2024 with Patrick Woods-Toth, Kiwi Motorsport hopes to do the same in 2025 by claiming the driver title with either Nicolas Ambiado or Bruno Ribeiro. However, to do so, either driver will have to outperform Titus Sherlock, who hails from the Crosslink Motorsports camp. 

Masters Championship Comes Down to Final Round 

With just three points separating Anthony Autiello (No. 07 Hope For The Warriors / Momentum Motorsports Ligier JS F3) and Kevin Janzen (No. 24 US Power Group / Data Center Solutions / Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3), the fight for the Masters Championship title will come down to the final round at Barber Motorsport Park. Autiello currently tops the standings, but it’s been a tight battle all season between the two drivers, as Autiello’s six top-10 finishes perfectly matches Janzen’s effort, as he has also amassed six top-10 finishes. Already a two-time Masters Champion, Janzen is hoping to bring home his third-consecutive title, whereas Autiello is fighting for his first. 

F4 U.S.
Hauanio and Popow Fight to Finish for Vice Championship

Following a record-setting nine-consecutive victories, Cooper Shipman was able to lock down the F4 U.S. Driver Championship with one round to spare. The accomplishment enables the 17 year old to advance to FR Americas for the final round of the 2025 season, to get experience ahead of his expected 2026 campaign. Meanwhile, Kekai Hauanio (No. 29 N-E-Where Transport / Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F422) and Alex Popow (No. 55 Dr. Michael Thompson MS DDS PPLS / MLT Motorsports Ligier JS F422) face off against each other in the fight for the Vice Championship, with just 10.5 points separating the rivals. The two drivers have been mainstays at the front of the field since the opening weekend at NOLA where Hauanio won Round 1, followed by Popow taking Rounds 2 and 3. Since then, Hauanio has earned two additional wins and 11 podiums, whereas Popow has notched 10 podiums. With just 50 points left in the season, the Vice Championship is likely to stay undecided until the final checkered flag waves. 

Kiwi F4 U.S. Team Champions for Seventh Time

Kiwi Motorsport has clinched their seventh Team Championship title in F4 U.S. competition, marking the third time that the organization has clinched both the driver and team championship in the same season. While Joshua Car (2019) and Patrick Woods-Toth (2023) have carried the flag for dual-championship runs in years past, it was Cooper Shipman who led the charge this season. Shipman combined with teammates Clemente Huerta Raab (No. 17 Velox USA / Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422) and Oliver Savoie (No. 88 YXE Auto / Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422) to earn Kiwi Motorsport nine wins and 18 podiums to date in 2025. This year will mark the first time Kiwi Motorsport earns the championship as a solo organization, as they’ve partnered with Crosslink Motorsports to bring home each of their previous six titles.

Ligier JFC
Irazú and Szuch Go Head to Head for F4 U.S. Scholarship 

Two drivers remain in the hunt for the 2025 Ligier JFC Driver Championship as the series enters its final round of the season—Gastón Irazú (No. 42 Elia Group / Baly / Canal 4 / Ancap / Champagne Racing Ligier JS F4) and Drew Szuch (No. 28 Trend North / TEAM Concept Printing / Berg Racing Ligier JS F4). Szuch won Race 1 at VIR last month to keep his championship hopes alive, while Irazú faced a myriad of obstacles in the event, including a spin while running third and a penalty for a false start. In Race 2, the rivals were involved in the same opening-lap incident, bringing an early end to both of their races and ensuring the championship couldn’t be decided before the final weekend of the year at Barber. With just two checkered flags left, 23 points separate the drivers as Uruguayan Irazú tops the leaderboard and sophomore driver Szuch trails in second. 

The winner of the 2025 Ligier JFC Driver’s Championship will be awarded a scholarship to compete in F4 U.S. next season—including a chassis and engine lease from Ligier Automotive, race tires from Hankook Motorsports and race entries from Parella Motorsports Holdings, in a prize valued at more than $197,000.

Team Championship Battle Comes Down to Barber

Team rivals Champagne Racing and Berg Racing have been neck and neck all season, and now the fight for the 2025 Team Championship will come down to the final round. Entering four drivers in most rounds this season, Champagne Racing has amassed seven wins and 17 podiums, with Gastón Irazú (No. 42 Elia Group / Baly / Canal 4 / Ancap / Champagne Racing Ligier JS F4), Cash Felber (No. 11 BioLongevity Labs / TownHall / Rebol / DWT / Matrix Mind Water / Phantom Fireworks / Champagne Racing Ligier JS F4) and Roman Felber (No. 73 BioLongevity Labs / TownHall / Rebol / DWT / Matrix Mind Water / Phantom Fireworks / Champagne Racing Ligier JS F4) all winning for the organization. The trio also stood atop the podium in Round 11 at New Jersey Motorsports Park to secure the organization’s first podium sweep. 

On the flip side, Berg Racing has been a constant fixture, with both Drew Szuch (No. 28 Trend North / TEAM Concept Printing / Berg Racing Ligier JS F4) and Harbir Dass (No. 23 Northcoast Medical Group / Dubby Energy / Dass Psych LLC / Berg Racing Ligier JS F4) racing under their banner. While Szuch led the way with four victories, Dass also contributed with a multitude of podiums, as the organization tallied 12 top-three finishes this season. Expanding to a four-car team for the final two events of 2025, the fight is on for the Team Champion title, as just 76.5 points separate the two organizations entering the final round.