LEXINGTON, Ohio (June 23, 2024) – Kekai Hauanio (No. 29 N.E.Where Transportation / New’T Racing Ligier JS F4) earned his second Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.) win of the day, and second win of the Mid-Ohio SpeedTour weekend, on Sunday afternoon. Starting the race from the pole, Hauanio survived multiple restarts to claim his fourth win of the 2024 season.
Notes of Interest:
- Kekai Hauanio entered the weekend with just two victories this season, but raised that number to four, winning both of Sunday’s races.
- Teddy Musella earned his seventh podium of the season with his runner-up finish.
- Jake Pollack tied his career-best result with a third-place finish on Sunday afternoon.
- Jacob Lawter earned his career-best finish with a fourth-place result at Mid-Ohio.
- Roman Felber finished sixth, marking his best result in his JS F4 debut weekend.
- Cash Felber finished ninth to earn his first-career JS F4 points.
Heavy rain passed through the area just before the scheduled start of JS F4’s Race 3, causing flooding in some areas and rivers to flow across the track in others. Track crews worked to dry the surface, and Race Director Scott Goodyear declared the race a “wet race,” requiring all drivers to start on treaded Hankook rain tires. Hauanio led the field down the starting grid with Jake Pollack (No. 1 JENSEN Ligier JS F4) in second. Third-place starter Bacon Zelenka (No. 45 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4) immediately jumped up next to Pollack for the runner-up position, while Maite Cáceres (No. 6 Abitab / Supermatch Ligier JS F4) was challenged by Teddy Musella (No. 25 Scuderia Buell Ligier JS F4) for the fourth spot. With Zelenka and Musella both winning their battles, the field slowed seconds later, as Cáceres and Zelenka both spun in separate incidents. Cáceres was stuck in the Turn 11 gravel trap, while Zelenka regrouped to rejoin the race in the second-to-last position.
The race restarted with Hauanio still in the point position. Running second, Pollack was under fire with Musella tight on his gearbox. Musella got a good run on the backstretch and was able to make his move in Turn 4 to complete the pass. The pressure wasn’t over for Pollack, who next found Brad Majman (No. 95 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F4) filling his mirrors. Side by side in Turn 9, Majman went wide forcing Pollack off the racing surface as he overtook third.
With another competitor getting stuck in the gravel, the red flag was displayed to stop the clock and give drivers the best chance at a run to the checkered flag. Hauanio held on through another restart, with Musella just behind him. Majman and Pollack continued to duke it out for third.
The damp track with wet spots throughout proved to be tough conditions, with multiple drivers slipping and sliding over the racing surface. Another full course caution ensued, with the race ultimately finishing under yellow-flag conditions. Hauanio was the first to take the checkered, with Musella in second and Majman in third.
After the race, the Stewards reviewed an incident involving Majman and Pollack, determining that Majman forced the No. 7 of Pollack off the track, and issued a five-second penalty. As a result, Majman dropped to eighth in the final results, with Pollack being promoted to third.
READ MORE: Race 3 Official Results
“It was a pretty good race,” said Hauanio atop the podium. “I wish we got to race more, but I’ll take it. I’d like to thank all my sponsors who helped me get here, my grandpa, N.E.Where Transport, and of course, my amazing team at Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport.”
Next, JS F4 takes on New Jersey Motorsports Park for the New Jersey Lottery SpeedTour, July 25-28. Tickets for the event at available at SpeedTour.net. Live timing and scoring can be accessed on the Race Monitor app, and additionalnews and updates about Ligier JS F4 are available on the series’ Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.