Team owner confirms Australian Formula 4 plans

Well-known Sydney race team owner Adam Gotch (AGI Sport) has confirmed that a new Formula 4 series is planned for Australia next year.

As outlined in AUTO ACTION’s earlier exclusive story, Asian-based promoters Top Speed are said to be shipping their fleet of (current spec) F4 cars, which contest the UAE FIA Formula 4 Championship during the January/February period, to Australia for a five-round series, likely to kick off in April.

The new AGI Sport Formula 4 car during testing at Sydney Motorsport Park.

This series is set to come with Motorsport Australia’s endorsement and supporters and promoters of existing Australian national single-seater categories are said to be dismayed at the news.

However, Gotch confirmed to AUTO ACTION AGI Sport will be part of the new series.

“We’ll be running a four-car, maybe a five-car team with our brand new Tatuus cars in April through to September,” Gotch said.

“Although I’m not looking forward to the backlash with what happened with the F4 the first time around, but I think we’re in a different place now.

Australian Noah Lisle in action during a British F4 round at Donington Park. Photo by LAT Images

“I think that most can see that F4 is a vital part of the open wheel stairway after karting.

“All the major countries in the world have drivers stepping into F4 straight out of karts, and you just need to look at Liam Lawson for an example who was doing F4 over here in 2017 as proof of that pathway. It’s what helped launch him overseas.

“They’ll be competing here in the exact same car, the Tatuus Abarth combination, that they’ll be competing in over in England, Italy, UAE, etc.”

An AGI Formula 4 car in action at Sandown.

AGI Sport recently tested some brand new F4 spec cars at Sydney Motorsport Park and the chassis are being shipped to Shanghai on Sunday.

Gotch said a driver in the AGI Sport program would do between 60 and 70 days in an F4 car before graduating to the next level of motorsport.

He is excited by the prospect of a revived Formula 4 program in Australia.

“We’re not part of the organisation, but I’ve been kept in the loop for sure,” he said.

“AGI Sport has made a big investment in the new Tatuus cars and we’ll be taking those overseas as well for an extensive program across Asia, as well as operating here in the Australian F4 series.”

The 2023 UAE F4 season began with three pre-season test sessions at Dubai Autodrome.

He confirmed The Bend Motorsport Park and Sydney Motorsport Park as the two venues, but doubted others would be involved as they work to keep the costs of running the series own.

“I think it’ll be mostly Australian teams, but I think it would be great if some Asian teams come down for it, and I think that would be great,” Gotch continued.

Formula 4 was originally launched and funded in Australia by the Confederation of Australian Motorsport (now Motorsport Australia), but was discontinued following substantial losses.

Kiwi Louis Sharp leads Aussie Noah Lisle in British F4.

AUTO ACTION did contact Motorsport Australia for comment prior to its printed issue going to press but, to date, has received no response.

The full story is in this week’s Auto Action, on sale Thursday (digital version Wednesday evening).

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