Eighteen-year-old Victorian Luis Leeds has committed to the 2019 CAMS PAYCE Australian Formula 4 Championship, partnering with dual-champion squad AGI Sport.
Leeds is a familiar name in the Australian Formula 4 fraternity, previously campaigning in the founding season of the category in 2015 before exploring overseas opportunities in British F4 and Formula Renault.
After returning to Australia in 2018 to focus on completing his schooling, Leeds campaigned in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge as a 23Red Racing Junior in his search of a future career in Supercars.
Though with Leeds completing his critical final year of high school, Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School, the condensed Australian Formula 4 calendar appealed to Leeds as the right mix between his education and keeping race fit.
“I’m so stoked to be racing in the 2019 CAMS PAYCE Australian Formula 4 Championship, especially with the reigning champions AGI Sport,” Leeds said.
“The support I’ve had over the summer break to return to racing has been overwhelming. I’ll be trying my absolute best to repay the faith our supporters, especially 23Red, have shown in me.
“With finishing Year 12 this year, this will be a supremely important year for me personally and professionally. The schedule’s perfect for what I want to achieve this year, and it’ll be one to remember I’m sure. I can’t wait to get stuck into it.”
Adam Gotch, AGI Sport Team Principal, was excited to welcome an already highly experienced driver of calibre to his Formula 4 team after claiming the last two drivers’ titles with Nick Rowe and Jayden Ojeda.
“With Formula 4 race wins under his belt in Australia and the UK, we’re delighted Luis has chosen to partner with AGI Sport in 2019,” Gotch said.
“Luis will certainly complement our mix of junior and experienced drivers in the team, and we look forward to announcing more drivers shortly.”
The opportunity to race in front of a home crowd at the Australian Grand Prix is equally another highlight for Leeds.
“I couldn’t think of a better way to start the Australian Formula 4 season, and racing on the same lines as the F1 cars will be extra special,” Leeds said.
“The privilege of racing in front of a home crowd too coming from Melbourne will be extra special.”
Leeds will have his first experience aboard the wheel of an AGI Sport prepared Formula 4 car at a test day at Winton on 19 February.
The Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2019 will host the opening round of the CAMS PAYCE Australian Formula 4 Championship on 14–17 March. The six round championship will visit Sydney Motorsport Park, Phillip Island, and the all new The Bend Motorsport Park for the first time as the season concludes on 14 July.
Information on the 2019 Championship, including the Winton Test Day on 19 February, is available at formula4.com.au/grandprix.