F4 AUS: Chasing the Rookie Title at Sepang

Round 4 of the Australian Formula 4 Championship took us to the iconic Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. With its challenging layout and intense heat, it was set to be a thrilling weekend. Heading into this second-last round of the season, I was sitting in fourth place overall, just behind Sebastien Amadio, with my focus on extending my lead in the rookie standings. The pressure was on, but I was ready to give it everything and make the most of this crucial race weekend.

Heading into Sepang for Round 4 was an exciting milestone—it marked my first time racing overseas, and I couldn’t wait to take on the challenge. Stepping into the circuit for the first time, I felt a rush of excitement, knowing that I was about to race on one of the most renowned tracks in the world.

In preparation, I spent countless hours training on the simulator, getting to know every turn and straight of the Sepang layout. The simulator gave me confidence, and by the time I arrived at the circuit, I felt well-prepared and eager to put everything I’d learned into practice. The weather was hot and humid, but my energy was high, and I was ready to give my all as the weekend approached.

Qualifying for Round 4 at Sepang brought a new challenge, as we saw the entry of two new teams, Evans GP and Black Arts Racing. Their arrival raised the level of competition significantly, and it was clear that this would be one of the toughest sessions of the season. With more experienced drivers on the grid, the pressure was on to deliver a strong performance.

I knew going into the session that qualifying would be key to setting up a good race, so I focused on getting the most out of every lap. The new teams were fast, but I kept my head down, determined to do the best I could. The track conditions were tough, with the heat pushing both the drivers and cars to the limit, but I felt confident in my preparation and the car’s setup.

In the end, I qualified 8th in both sessions. While it wasn’t the front of the grid, it was a solid starting position, and I knew that with a strong race strategy, I’d be able to fight for points and continue my push in the rookie standings.

With three 25-minute races ahead of me, I knew the weekend was going to be a serious test of endurance and strategy. Each race was an opportunity to make up ground in the championship standings, and I was focused on battling hard while staying consistent.

In the first race, starting from 8th on the grid, I got into a rhythm quickly and found myself in some intense on-track battles with Sebastien Amadio, who is currently 3rd in the overall championship. We pushed each other hard throughout the race, and while I couldn’t quite get past him, I finished just behind in 9th overall, securing 2nd in the rookie standings and beating my main rival in the rookies, Imogen Radburn. It was a solid start, and the battles with Amadio were some of the most exciting moments on track.

Race two played out in a similar fashion. Again, I found myself going toe-to-toe with Amadio, fighting for position lap after lap. It was a clean but fierce battle, with both of us pushing our cars to the limit. By the end of the race, I crossed the line 8th overall, again securing 2nd among the rookies and ahead of Radburn. Another strong result, and I was feeling confident going into the final race.

The third race, however, didn’t go entirely as planned. Although I managed to finish 8th overall due to an unfortunate incident between Inigo Anton and Sebastien Amadio, and 2nd in the rookie standings once again, this time Imogen got the better of me. It was a tough race with fewer overtaking opportunities, but I pushed hard to hold my position and secure valuable points.

After the weekend's results—9th, 8th, and 8th across the three races—I’m now just 14 points behind Sebastien Amadio for 3rd place in the overall championship. The pressure is on as we head into the final round, but I’m ready to give it everything I’ve got.