Six young Australians will begin their international campaigns for 2024 this weekend with the popular Formula 4 UAE Championship and Formula Regional Middle East Championship getting underway.
 
Both five-round championships serve as the first major international competitions for junior drivers this year and will attract some of the best young talents from around the world.
 
Leading the Aussie contingent will be Victorian James Wharton, who makes the step up to the Formula Regional Middle East Championship with the Mumbai Falcons after winning the 2023 UAE F4 Championship with them.


Joining him is fellow young gun Costa Toparis, who had a strong year in the 2023 GB3 Championship and a brief stint in the UAE F4 Championship last year. Toparis will be running for recently established Australian team, Evans GP, run by Jordan Evans.
 
The remaining fourth Aussies will be running in the Formula 4 UAE Championship – led by Jack Beeton, who returns for his second crack at the championship.


Fresh from his Formula 4 South East Asia Championship title late last year, Beeton will be racing for New South Wales outfit AGI Sport, which will be running in the championship for the first time and under the leadership of experienced team owner, Adam Gotch.
 
AGI Sport will also have 2023 Ferrari Driver Academy Asia Pacific and Oceania Selection Program participants Nicholas Stati and Peter Bouzinelos running with them– both of whom enjoyed a podium at the Formula 4 South East Asia season finale at Sepang International Raceway.

Rounding out the four Aussie drivers contesting the championship is Kamal Mrad, who will be one of five drivers racing for German team, PHM AIX Racing.


Like Stati and Bouzinelos, Mrad took part in the 2023 Ferrari Driver Academy Asia Pacific and Oceania Selection Program and made it to the final six, only to fall just short of being selected for the FDA World Finals in Italy.
 
The young New South Welshman then featured in the final round of the Italian F4 Championship alongside fellow Australians Gianmarco Pradel, James Wharton and Beeton.
 
All of those drivers competing in the UAE Formula 4 Championship have an excellent karting pedigree, having competed at various Karting Australia events in previous years.
 
Both the Formula 4 UAE Championship and Formula Regional Middle East Championship 2024 seasons kick off this weekend at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi and take place over a six-week period, with three races to be held at each round.

2024 calendar

Round 1: Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi – 12-14 January
Round 2: Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi – 19-21 January
Round 3: Dubai Autodrome, Dubai – 2-4 February
Round 4: Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi – 9-11 February
Round 5: Dubai Autodrome, Dubai – 16-18 February