Latest news with #Formula4
Time of India
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
JK Tyre showcases luxury tyre range at Mumbai supercar event
JK Tyre & Industries on Monday showcased its premium tyre range, Levitas, reaffirming its push into the high-performance and luxury tyre market at an event in Mumbai, it said in an official press release. 'The Levitas range is pushing the boundaries of what a luxury tyre can represent, blending sophistication with cutting-edge performance. Through the 'Fast & Fabulous' event, we have brought this vision to life, showcasing the style, control, and premium appeal our products are built to deliver,' said Anshuman Singhania, MD, JK Tyre & Industries. The company showcased two key variants: The Levitas Ultra , aimed at the premium passenger car segment, and the Levitas XTREME , designed for ultra-high-performance vehicles. Engineered with advanced compounds and precision tread designs, the tyres reflect the company's strategic shift towards catering to high-end automotive segments. The event also served as a launchpad for the 2025 season of the India Racing Festival, featuring Formula 4 and Formula Wolf cars.
Newsroom
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsroom
Kiwi racing driver's narrow road to the top
Rianna O'Meara-Hunt is racing towards the history books. The talented 23-year-old driver is currently based in the UK as she looks to accelerate her motor sport dreams and become the first Kiwi woman to drive in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans race. En route, she also has her sights on becoming the first New Zealander to secure a drive in F1 Academy, the female-only Formula 4 single seater racing championship founded by the Formula One group. Currently in its third season, F1 Academy also has its own Netflix series, to go alongside the trailblazing 'Drive to Survive.' Raised as an only child in Wellington, O'Meara-Hunt wasn't born into a racing family. But Martin found car racing when Rianna was a child, buying himself a suitable vehicle, with Rianna going to the track each and every time to watch. 'I ended up falling in love. They could see how my eyes lit up and how much I was passionate about trying to help the mechanic, at four-years-old, and cleaning the car and helping them out in any way I could really,' says O'Meara-Hunt. When she was eight, she went to a racetrack at Kaitoke in Upper Hutt and there was a go-kart for sale. She tried it out and by the end of the day it was hers. That was the start of the journey that has taken her halfway around the world, to the birthplace of Shakespeare, Stratford-upon-Avon, where O'Meara-Hunt now lives. Rianna and her mum Katrina and dad Martin after taking the win at Bolivar, Australia. Before long, O'Meara-Hunt and her parents were travelling New Zealand most weekends, racing the go-kart in the cadet classes (aged 6-10) wherever they could. When she advanced to junior classes (up to 16), the family brought in coach Arie Hutton to try and take her talents to the next level. It worked, as she saw an improvement in her skills, alongside an increased confidence. Hutton didn't miss a weekend for about four years, and was like an older brother to her. With plenty of success in her home country, the natural progression for O'Meara-Hunt was to head to Australia. But as a 15-year-old, it was a step up in class and intensity. 'It was eye-opening. It was a lot more aggressive, more fierce, and coming in as a Kiwi, I wasn't loved. It was really wild,' she says. Mum and Dad took her to one side; if she wanted to continue competing in Australia, it was a lot more money, a lot more time away from school. They said if her grades dropped, the racing was going to stop. But O'Meara-Hunt was determined and her schoolwork didn't suffer. Her go-karting CV grew, with race wins and podium places coming on a regular basis across multiple events and classes. In 2022, she took her first steps into the world of car racing behind the wheel of a Toyota GT86 in the Toyota 86 Championship in New Zealand Later that year came other huge opportunity, as O'Meara-Hunt entered the Heart of Racing shootout, which would provide two female drivers the opportunity to compete in the SRO GT4 America SprintX Championship. Rianna at her first race in the States, at Sonoma Raceway. Photo: Supplied O'Meara-Hunt reached out to Kiwi motorsport legend Greg Murphy to help her and the pair worked together for two days at Hampton Downs. 'He took time out of his mega busy schedule and taught me the fastest ways to learn this car,' she says 'It was amazing. He sat in the passenger seat which not many people do anymore, because obviously you've got no control, but his trust in me was amazing. He coached me through the laps and we went from 10 seconds off the pace to two seconds off his lap time which was really cool.' After those two days, O-Meara-Hunt received an email saying she was one of nine drivers selected from more than 100 applicants to move to the next stage of selection. She was flown to Phoenix, Arizona, for three days that would decide the two drivers to be chosen. The intense few days not only covered her driving abilities, but also fitness, ability to take on data, skills in dealing with the media, as well as her ability to fit in with the other drivers and team members. Three weeks later the decision came through – she had been chosen as one of the two winners, landing a seat alongside American driver Hannah Grisham for the 2023 GT4 season. 'With the opportunity, I couldn't say no, so I just went into the deep end. It was a long year of travel back and forward to America,' O'Meara-Hunt says. O'Meara-Hunt's first weekend racing in the UK, with Forsetti motorsport, and trophies she collected over that weekend. Photo: Supplied Behind the wheel of an Aston Martin GT4, the pair made history in 2023, becoming the first all-female drivers to win a race driving that car, with their victory coming at the famous Indianapolis track. After the success of 2023, O-Meara-Hunt continued her development overseas from her UK base. She collected more podiums driving a BMW GT4 and also competed in her first 24-hour race, in Dubai. That experience cemented her ambition to drive at Le Mans. 'That's the moment I knew this was exactly what I wanted to do, this is what it's all about,' she says. At the start of 2024, O-Meara-Hunt was chosen to be a part of the Aston Martin driver academy, but she is realistic and knows that the path to the very top gets harder the closer you get 'It's been a year of trying to connect to as many people and businesses as I can to create this dream further,' she says. 'My end goal is still to be the first Kiwi female to go and do 24 hours at Le Mans, but I'm finding that the road that I thought I needed to take to get there is probably not the fastest road. My eyes got opened to the idea of F1 Academy last year in about November. I had a few teams show interest but I need to get the single seater experience before they can say, yeah, you're in.' As she looks to secure an F1 Academy spot for 2026, O'Meara-Hunt has test sessions booked for this month at one of the UK's most famous tracks, Donnington Park, and is hopeful new sponsors are on the way to help her cause. Ultimately, she wants to create more history for herself and her country and has the drive and belief to hopefully make it a reality. 'Kiwis can do very cool things in sport and we've proven that for a very long time.'
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Formula 4 race suspended after horrifying 15-car pile-up on start line
A Formula 4 race had to be suspended after fifteen cars were involved in a horror crash shortly after the race got underway. The shocking incident occurred at the iconic Imola circuit in Italy on Saturday (AEST), The Sun reports. The second race of the day saw a car fail to move as the lights went out. As it sat stationary, the driver directly behind swerved out the way and accidentally wiped out a rival. Watch the horror 15-car pile-up in the video player above The car was sent flying off the track and onto the grass as debris scattered across the start line. Several yellow flags were immediately waved but those at the back of the grid did not spot them. A car went smashing into the back of the still stationary vehicle and it led to a horror pile-up. The collision saw red flag was raised after just 17 seconds. In total, 15 cars retired from the race. Some immediately got out the driver's seat but others worryingly remained inside. It has since been reported that all involved are OK. The names of those involved have not been confirmed. Chiefs initially decided to suspend the action before then allegedly abandoning the race due to the track's noise curfew. There is no information as to when the race will be rescheduled for.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Formula 4 race abandoned after 17 seconds as FIFTEEN cars involved in horror crash
There were manic scenes at the Imola race as drivers scrambled to swerve away from a stationary car at the start line, with cars flying into each other after failing to see the yellow flags being waved A Formula 4 race descended into chaos on Saturday as 15 drivers were caught up in a horror crash at the start line, with the event suspended after just 17 seconds. The incident happened at Italy's Imola circuit in the second race of the day when one car failed to move once the lights had gone out. A clip show havoc unfolding as other drivers attempted to drive around the stationary car, with one swerving out of the way and clattering into another rival. A number of drivers struggled to get clear a handful of collisions visible, before a huge crash occurred at the back of the 39-car grid, with debris scattered across the start line. Yellow flags could be seen waving manically at the start of the race, but many of the drivers on the grid could not see them. After the huge pile-up, a red flag was waved just 17 seconds in. It is understood that all drivers involved in the crash were unharmed. Officials initially opted to suspend the race but later decided to abandon it altogether because of the track's noise curfew, according to the Sun. It's not currently known when the race will be rescheduled. Some motorsport fans questioned why there were so many cars on the grid for this particular race, given that a regular Formula 1 race has 20 cars. One fan wrote on Twitter: "You think 39 cars is a bit too much??!" Another said: "It's stupid that they have so many cars on the grid." A third asked how drivers were not able to spot the unusual amount of yellow flags, as they said: "Was double waved flags not a clue to slow down?" "What a monumental accident," said another fan. "One of the biggest single seater pile ups ever. Thank heavens everyone emerged unscathed from such a massive calamitous start." In the earlier Formula 4 race - which was the promotion's first at Imola - Gabriel Gomez won by 0.616 seconds over rival Salim Hanna Hernandez.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Complete carnage at Formula 4 race as FIFTEEN cars are involved in crash at iconic Imola circuit
A Formula 4 race at the iconic Imola circuit descended into chaos as a 15-car crash unfolded on Saturday. On a weekend where the world of motorsport turns its attention to the Hungarian Grand Prix, a number of budding drivers took to the track in Italy to gain valuable experience. Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri spent time in Formula 4 before making their way to biggest stage and drivers aiming to follow in their footsteps turned out at the former home of the San Marino Grand Prix. Unfortunately however, what should have been a showcase of future stars the sport nearly ended in tragedy. During the second race of the day, and with 39 cars on the grid, carnage ensued after a driver failed to move when the lights went out. The other competitors attempted to avoid the stationary vehicle on the start line by swerving out of the way. All 15 drivers involved in this huge start-line crash in today's second Italian Formula 4 race at Imola are okay according to the series organisers. The race, which started with 39 cars on the grid, was suspended. — RaceFans (@racefansdotnet) August 2, 2025 Chaos unfolded during a Formula 4 race on Saturday as fifteen cars were involved in a crash A collision subsequently ensued involving several cars, with debris sent flying across the track. Yellow flags were immediately raised but the proximity of the cars led to a pile-up. Stewards then opted to suspend the race before abandoning it entirely, reportedly due to the track's noise curfew. Astonishingly, despite the carnage, none of the drivers involved are said to have been injured in the incident. The shocking scenes come just months after a similar pile-up occured during a Formula 2 feature race in Monaco. No fewer than 11 drivers found themselves on the list of retirements after an early collision between Alex Dunne and Victor Martins, with red flags waved to suspend the race.
