Woods-Toth Joins 2024 FR Oceania Grid
January 15th, 2024 - from Castrol Toyota FR Oceania: One of the strongest young Canadian talents to emerge onto the international motorsport scene is set to begin a big 2024 season in New Zealand.
Reigning Formula 4 United States Champion Patrick Woods-Toth (19) will race in the 2024 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship and will be one of the favourites for the title.
Canadian Woods-Toth, a former karter like many rising single-seater stars, won four races and climbed the podium an impressive 13 times on his way to the title in one of motorsport’s most competitive F4 championships. No fewer than 44 drivers competed in the 2023 F4 US Championship across six rounds.
His rapid rise to prominence began at the end of 2022, after winning a “Karts to Cars” scholarship as part of his championship season in Canada’s Ron Fellows Karting Championship.
As part of his prize, Woods-Toth was awarded a seat at the Radford Racing School in Arizona, as well as a test with Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport. Woods-Toth impressed immediately and was then promoted to the F4 US series by the Ron Fellows Karting Championship with the Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport team.
In a continuation of that partnership, the young driver will drive for the New Zealand operation of Kiwi Motorsport in the five-round back-to-back weekend championship.
Hailing from Quebec, also the home of the iconic Villeneuve motor racing family, Patrick is looking forward to his first international championship.
“I am thrilled to join Kiwi Motorsport for the 2024 Castrol Toyota FR Oceanoa Championship,” he said. “They are a team with great experience and reputation and together I know we have the chance to fight at the front.
“I will gain valuable experience racing outside of North America for the first time, and I can't wait to get on track.”
The Kiwi Motorsport team is looking forward to having him race for them in the five-round back-to-back weekend championship that begins in January and concludes with the 2024 New Zealand Grand Prix.
Team Principal Garry Orton is particularly delighted to have the youngster in his team, commenting: “We’re all very excited to have another one of our USA team drivers racing here in New Zealand.
“Patrick showed great speed and maturity to win the F4 US Championship and we look forward to seeing him develop his skills as he rises to the next level of the Formula Regional car.”
The New Zealand championship has a long history of providing a major stepping stone for up-and -coming racing drivers. Twenty three graduates have taken the wheel of F1 cars in official tests, GP practice sessions or races in the 18 year history of the championship.
The championship boasts more than 3,000 km of testing, practice, qualifying and racing mileage with all drivers competing in identical Tatuus-based Toyota FT60 cars.
The five-round Kiwi series will also be the first FIA Formula Regional championship to genuinely use 100% fossil-free fuel.
A Word From Ron Fellows Karting …
January 15th, Bowmanville, ON, Canada: As the recipient of the 2022 “Karts to Cars” scholarship award, the Motomaster Ron Fellows Karting Championship (MRFKC) is proud to see the progress and success of series alumnus Patrick Woods-Toth.
“We’re excited to be able to provide Patrick the opportunity to get to this next level in this highly competitve New Zealand championship,” said series co-founder and racing legend Ron Fellows. “With Orlando Corp, La Fondation du Sport Motorisé du Quebec (FSMQ), and some private donors stepping up, we’re proud to receive this level of support from the Canadian motorsport community and we can’t wait to see Patrick compete later this week in New Zealand.”
Round One of the Castrol Toyota FR Oceania will take place on January 18th to 21st at the Taupo International Motorsport Park in Taupo, New Zealand. Visit the series website HERE for event details and to follow the series.
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