Formula 4 UAE Championship 2024 calendar announced alongside Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Trophy Race November showcase

• Five-round, 15-race calendar to run over six weeks from January 10, 2024

• Fully-subscribed series continues to raise junior single seater benchmark

• Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix non-championship support race confirmed for November 2023

United Arab Emirates (August 21, 2023) – After an outstanding 2023 season, which saw capacity grids at every race, Emirates Motorsports Organization (EMSO) and series promoter Top Speed have unveiled the 2024 Formula 4 UAE Championship Certified by FIA calendar. FIA Grade 1 circuits Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi, where two different configurations will be used, and the Dubai Autodrome will co-host the five-round-fifteen race season which will run over six weeks from January 10 to February 18, 2024.

With next season’s championship already fully subscribed, a full complement of international junior single seater talent, several already recruited to F1 junior programmes, is anticipated. F4 UAE will run alongside its sister championship, the Formula Regional Middle East Championship Certified by FIA, the next rung in the ladder towards Formula 1, making the region the focus of global junior single seater talent in the new year.

The championship is already proving a catalyst for the rapid development of home-grown teams and drivers in the UAE. Last season was remarkable for Abu Dhabi squad Yas Heat Racing Academy. After taking two podium finishes in the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix-supporting F4 UAE Trophy with local talent Keanu Al Azhari, the team went on to finish seventh in the Drivers’ championship with him while also running Emirati F1 Academy title-contender Hamda Al Qubaisi and Matteo Quintarelli in their three-car campaign.

Dubai-based Xcel Motorsport also proved competitive amongst a field which included the biggest names in international junior single seater competition such as Prema, Hitech Grand Prix, Carlin, MP Motorsport and Van Amersfoort Racing. Federico Rifai, who began his karting career at the Kartdrome Dubai, finished just outside of the top ten, while Briton Noah Lisle took a podium finish with the team in Kuwait.

The 2024 calendar begins with a two-day pre-season test on January 10 and 11, followed by the opening two rounds at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit before the series heads to Dubai for round three. Each round is comprised of two one-hour pre-event testing sessions, 30 minutes of free practice, two 15-minute qualifying sessions, and three 28-minute plus one lap races. The opening qualifying session sets the grid for race one, with the top 12 finishers starting race two in reverse order. The grid for race three is drawn up in the order of the second qualifying. All races are points-scoring, and championship titles will be awarded to the leading overall driver, top rookie and winning team.

Drivers must be at least 15 years old, and hold an FIA International C or National license issued by their ASN. All drivers compete in the FIA homologated Tatuus F4 T421 GEN2 powered by a Fiat Abarth F413T Turbocharged 1.4cc, 160hp engine tuned by Autotecnica Motori.

The championship is once again partnered by official tire provider, Giti Tires. All 15 F4 UAE Championship races will be live-streamed via the series’ Facebook and YouTube platforms.

Preceding the 2024 season is the F4 UAE Trophy Race, a showcase for emerging young talent held in support of the 2023 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this November. Last year promising Kiwi Louis Sharp dominated both races with Carlin.

2024 F4 UAE CHAMPIONSHIP CERTIFIED BY FIA PROVISIONAL CALENDAR

About EMSO

One of the oldest national organizations in the United Arab Emirates, the Emirates Motorsports Organization (previously the Automobile & Touring Club of the UAE), has played a leading role in the development of motorsport at both national and international levels since its inception in 1965.

Today, it governs approximately 140 competitive events forming the UAE motorsport calendar, and covering disciplines such as circuit racing, rallying, drag racing and motocross.

The EMSO is the country’s sole representative of the FIA, automobile sport's world governing body, and its motorcycling and karting equivalents, the FIM and CIK respectively. Its primary responsibilities are to promote the safe and sustainable growth of motorsport in the UAE, and to ensure all events are run fairly and to regulation.

The organization is also a member of FIVA, the international body for classic vehicles, and the IRU, the International Road Transport Union. The EMSO is accredited by the UAE National Olympic Committee.

About Top Speed

Established in 2008, Top Speed has been intrinsic to the rapid development of motorsport
across Asia over the last fifteen years. Providing a wide spectrum of services – from race organization, technical and logistical support to event and sponsorship management – Top Speed has played an integral role in the success of series such as the Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific, Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, Porsche Sports Cup China, Audi Sport R8 LMS Cup, Formula Masters China Series and Scirocco Cup. In addition, Top Speed is the official promoter for the Formula Regional Middle East Championship, Formula Regional Asian Championship and F4 South East Asia Championship, and enjoys a long-term, close cooperation with the Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS.

Headquartered in Shanghai, Top Speed also has offices in Hong Kong, Dubai and Malaysia.