The newest Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda team Kiwi Motorsport expanded its single-car roster just in time for the Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, adding 2015 Team USA Scholarship recipient Dakota Dickerson of San Diego to its squad. The New Zealand team, co-owned by Garry Orton and former F2000 driver Teena Larsen, partnered with United States-based RJB Motorsports to complete its last-minute lineup change.
“Planned from the other side of the world, our goal was always to start Kiwi Motorsport with one car and add an additional car as the season progressed,” Larsen said. “Ryan Barth of RJB Motorsports heard firsthand about the success of the F4 U.S. Championship. Knowing that Kiwi Motorsport wanted to add another car to its program, he got involved to help make this happen.”
Larsen, daughter of retired driver and respected Indy Lights mechanic Mo Larsen, will return to CTMP for the first time in nearly two decades after winning two F2000 Championships. Moving from New Zealand to Canada, the second-generation racer started her open-wheel racing career at the then called Mosport Park. Friday will serve as Larsen’s first homecoming as a team owner.
“I started my racing career at Mosport and now I’ve come back as a team owner. I never thought that would happen,” Larsen said. “It’s a very proud feeling coming back here with a two-car team. I have so many great memories of this place. Racing and cars have always been my passion. Coming back to the track gives me so much joy, especially since my dad is by my side. I love to see the young kids get the opportunity to race. I want that for every kid that has a racing dream. Now I can provide that opportunity.”
Prior to moving the team to the United States, Kiwi Motorsport hosted drivers like 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Brendon Hartley and Toro Rosso F1 Driver Daniil Kvyat. As well holding the championship title of 2017 Toyota Racing Series with Australian Thomas Randle.
Now, Kiwi Motorsport's main focus is on its F4 U.S. program. With the addition of Dickerson, Kiwi Motorsport has the advantage to share data between two cars to develop a competitive pace. Dickerson, 20, joins his Kiwi Motorsport teammate Brendon Leitch, 21, of Invercargill, New Zealand, for the remainder of the F4 U.S. Championship.
“CTMP will be the first time out on track in the F4 car,” Dickerson said. “I am looking forward to the competition and standing starts. Racing against 33 cars will be a lot of fun. Due to the grid size, my goal this weekend is to be fast in qualifying so I don’t start on an open corner.”
Alongside IMSA as its support series race, the group of 30 F4 U.S. cars will participate in two practice sessions and qualifying on Friday with Race 1 and an autograph session on Saturday. Event 3 will wrap up with two races on Sunday. Fans can follow live timing and scoring and view a full event schedule at F4USChampionship.com.
F4 CTMP Entry List- https://www.f4uschampionship.com/downloads/36486-ctmp-f4-entry-list-with-sponsors-006/download
