The Junior Open-Wheel Update, Aug 27-29

As F1 goes to Spa, and IndyCar takes a break, there is a flurry of junior open-wheel activity this weekend, along with some driver news and rumors. USF2000 and Indy Pro 2000 both go to New Jersey Motorsports Park, where they will be joined by none other than NRN. Our staff will be there, giving you the news from the ground in New Jersey. Title fights are tight heading into NJMP, as Braden Eves is 32 points behind Christian Rasmussen in the IP2K standings, and Michael D’Orlando sits 19 points behind Kiko Porto in USF2K as he heads to his home track. FIA Formula 3 and the W Series are on the bill to support F1 in Belgium this week, with a tight points battle in the W Series and new drivers in F3. British FIA Formula 4 follows BTCC to Thruxton, with some surprising driver changes and a tight battle for points.

FIA Formula 3 returns after the F1 summer break with a points battle, driver news, and a chance to reset the schedule. Carlin driver Kaylen Frederick tested positive for Covid-19 during pre-race weekend checks, and will noFormula 3 follows F1 to Belgium this week, and brings exciting news of a points battle, driver changes, and a Covid related absence. Carlin driver Kaylen Frederick tested positive before the race weekend and will not participate at Belgium. He missed the last round at the Hungaroring due to an injury, so Frederick will be severely hampered by this. Charouz has announced a driver change for Spa, as the 2020 F4 US champion Hunter Yeany and Euroformula Open driver Zdeněk Chovanec will replace Enzo Fittipaldi and Reshad de Gerus. Charouz has been chronically underfunded, and the rumors circulating of Fittipaldi moving to F2, some have seen this as a sponsor backed switch. Dennis Hauger has built a sizable cushion in the points, but with three rounds to go, he needs to keep his foot down, as both his Prema teammate Olli Caldwell and Trident driver Jack Doohan are neck and neck, and Mercedes junior Frederick Vesti is rounding into form in P4. FIA Formula 3 has three races this weekend, 4:35 am ET Saturday, 11:55 am ET, and 4:40 am ET. All races can be seen on F1TV.

The Road to Indy heads to New Jersey Motorsports Park, for three races in both USF2000 and IP2K. Indy Pro driver for Juncos Kyffin Simpson is the man to watch, as the points leader in Formula Regional Americas, and the rumored first driver for TJSpeed in Indy Lights next year. A tight points battle in Indy Pro between Rasmussen and Eves comes to this weekend, with both competing for the all important scholarship to Indy Lights next year. USF2000 brings in a few storylines as well, as several drivers call the New York/New Jersey area home. The young Pabst Racing driver Josh Pierson has been announced as a driver for United Autosport in WEC in 2022. In his visit to his home race, Michael D’Orlando trails Kiko Porto by only 19 points, which can be made up in the three races. USF2K races Saturday at 2:30pm ET, and Sunday at 11:30 am ET and 2:30 pm ET. IP2K races Saturday at 4:30pm ET, and Sunday at 1:30pm ET and 4:45pm ET. NRN writers and the bossman himself will be up in Jersey, watching the action and talking to drivers. Be sure to catch the next episode of Pizza at the Pagoda for a special RTI talk, where we will discuss all the topics surrounding the Indy ladder.

British F4 heads to Thruxton this week, and the major headline is James Hedley pulling out of Fortec and switching to Carlin mid-season. Hedley is P2 in the championship, so he needs to make sure he doesn’t miss a step.