SINGAPORE, 14 June 2023 – A year after making the step up to Formula Four racing, Singaporean driver Christian Ho earned his big break on 28 May, clinching his first F4 win in the 2023 F4 Spanish Championship at the MotorLand Aragon circuit in Spain.
Starting in pole position at Aragon, Ho’s quick reflexes at lights out helped him dominate the race as he led 31 other cars from start to finish and did well to keep Campos Racing teammate Enzo Deligny at bay.
Ho claimed the chequered flag in 28min 13.728sec, 2.757sec ahead of Deligny. Theophile Nael of Sainteloc Racing completed the podium.
Ho’s victory follows a string of spectacular results this season and cements his status as a rising star in motor racing in only his second season in F4 racing.
After making the switch from MP Motorsports to Campos Racing this year, Ho has finished on the podium in four of six races to establish himself as an early contender for the championship.
He is now 3rd of 34 competitors in the drivers’ championship with 73 points behind MP Motorsport’s Pedro Clerot (82) and Nael (74).
Ho, 16, said: “This last race week has been a good step in the right direction as I got my first win in single seaters (F4), which was quite exciting. When I crossed the finish line, all I could think of was how happy I was and I’m glad that all my hard work is paying off. I feel so much more motivated to continue working hard and winning more races.
“I am in the midst of taking my GCSE exams so I’m studying hard too, but I’ve been able to balance racing and my studies quite well. I’ll continue working hard in my race preparation and I am looking forward to my next race in a month’s time in Navarra, Spain, in which I am sure that I can do very well.”
The 2023 F4 Spanish Championship has seven rounds of three races across each weekend. The season started on 5 May at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium, before moving to Aragon, where Ho started the first two races on pole.
He was unable to convert his first pole position into a win on 27 May after being hit by a 2-second penalty for exceeding track limits, but recovered the next day to ensure he finished top of the podium this time.
In the final race of the weekend, he retired after sustaining a broken left-rear suspension.
Ho said: “Race 1 was a bit of a shame for me and I was quite disappointed by how it turned out, but I will learn from it and not make similar mistakes in the future. Race 2 was quite a good redemption and I hope that there will be more wins coming this year.”
“The ultimate goal is still to race in Formula One, but my focus is on the Spanish F4 now. I’m taking it one step at a time and focusing on each race they come. All my progress and hard work here will play a huge role in my development and I hope to continue getting good results and improving throughout the season.”
In the Spanish F4, Races 1 and 3 of each weekend last 30 minutes + 1 lap, while Race 2 is set for 25 minutes + 1 lap.
The next round will take place on 24 to 25 June at the circuit of Navarra in Spain, followed by Jerez, another circuit in Spain, in September. The series then moves to Portugal at the end of September before returning to Spain for the last two rounds in Valencia and Barcelona in October and November respectively.
The remaining races on the calendar are:
· Circuito de Navarra, Spain (24-25 June)
· Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto, Spain (23-24 September)
· Autodromo Fernanda Pires da Silva, Portugal (30 September – 1 October)
· Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Spain (14-15 October)
For more information on the F4 Spanish Championship, visit https://f4spain.org/en/f4-espanola.