Fresh from the marathon double-round at Winton Motor Raceway, the penultimate round of the CAMS PAYCE Australian Formula 4 Championship next visits Sydney Motorsport Park later this month.
The championship first visited the Shannons Nationals at Sydney Motorsport Park back in 2016, and produced thrilling racing across three races.
2015 graduates Luis Leeds and Harry Hayek returned for a one-off appearance at the Sydney Motorsport Park round, with the duo at the time then racing in the British F4 Championship.
Leeds, who this year returned to Australia in the Porsche Michelin GT3 Cup Challenge with 23red Racing, claimed his first Australian Formula 4 career victory in the third and final race of the round.
The round was a breakthrough result for AGI Sport and Nick Rowe, with the team and driver claiming their first respective round wins in Formula 4.
“We had great car speed,” Rowe said.
“We were really looking forward to this weekend, so to get the round win – what else could you want?”
Though Rowe would have to wait until 2017 to walk away with the championship, 2016’s eventual champion Will Brown was runner-up to Rowe in Sydney.
Hayek also claimed his first outright podium for the round to finish, with the Sydneysider choosing to return to Australian Formula 4 for the remainder of the season – later winning rounds at Queensland Raceway and the Gold Coast.
“I had a lot of fun. It’s good to be with a good team. I think it’s very important to have the right people around you… I’ve really enjoyed myself this weekend,” Hayek said in 2016.
Now racing in the Porsche Michelin GT3 Cup Challenge, then Formula 4 rookie Simon Fallon impressed in fifth overall at his first appearance in Sydney in an F4 car to claim Burson Auto Parts Rookie of the Round honours with DREAM Motorsport.
The round featured a who’s who of future racing talent, with the majority of the field later campaigning this year in Super2, Carrera Cup, V8 Touring Cars and GT3 Cup Challenge.
Drivers will battle for Castrol Pole Position honours, before embarking on three races during the Shannons Nationals weekend on 21–23 September.
