AVONDALE, La. (March 29, 2025) – Kekai Hauanio won the season-opening Formula 4 United States Championship (F4 U.S.) race at NOLA Motorsports Park on Saturday morning. Driving from sixth to first to claim the victory, Hauanio (No. 29 Crosslink Motorsports Ligier JS F422) returns to F4 U.S. for a sophomore season after competing in the championship during the 2023 season.
Notes of Interest:
- Kekai Hauanio earned his first-career F4 U.S. victory during season-opening race at NOLA Motorsports Park.
- After setting a new track record during yesterday’s qualifying session, Hauanio received a five-position grid penalty for a tire infraction during yesterday’s official practice, requiring him to roll off in the sixth position.
- The 18 year old previously competed in F4 U.S. during the 2023 season when the series still utilized the first generation Ligier JS F4 car. Last season, Hauanio moved to the Ligier Junior Formula Championship, where he finished as the Vice Champion.
- Cooper Shipman finished second to earn his first-career podium after inheriting the point position to lead the field to green.
- With his third-place finish today, Alex Popow has three podiums in four-career F4 U.S. starts. The Venezuelan American made his series debut at last year’s season finale, earning two victories at Circuit of The Americas.
With Cooper Shipman (No. 14 Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422) in the lead as the field raced toward Turn 1, the rookie driver was under near instant pressure from two-time F4 U.S. winner Alex Popow (No. 55 Dr. Michael Thompson MS DDS PPLS Ligier JS F422), who pulled to his gearbox as they reached Turn 1. Behind them, Clemente Huerta Raab (No. 17 Velox USA Ligier JS F422) had jumped to third after starting the race in fourth. With the track still damp, some competitors struggled during the opening lap, spinning on the course before continuing along their way. Shipman, however, was flawless out front on the first lap, while Kekai Hauanio worked his way to fourth after starting the event in the sixth position. During the second lap, Hauanio continued his climb moving into the third position, while Popow overtook Shipman to claim the lead.
Shipman and Popow battled back and forth for the next couple laps before Shipman made a move in Turn 3 to retake the point and started opening a gap. Behind them, Hauanio continued his forward progress eventually closing in on the gearbox of Popow. Making his move in Turn 1 as the race passed its halfway point, Hauanio overtook second and set his sights on the leader.
Shipman had pulled ahead with a four-second lead, but all that was erased when the safety car was deployed. It was exactly the opportunity Hauanio needed, giving him another shot at the lead when the race resumed with four minutes left on the clock.
The restart lap was filled with intense battles as Shipman, Hauanio and Popow all raced toward the green flag nose to stern. By the time they reached the start/finish line, Hauanio pulled to the outside of Shipman looking for a way around as they raced toward Turn 1. Hauanio nosed ahead as the battle reached Turn 2, but by Turn 3, Hauanio exited the corner three wide with Shipman and Popow to race toward Turn 4. Hauanio emerged with the lead as Shipman rode in his wake. Behind them, Popow had to settle for third as they raced toward the white flag. Hauanio was the first to take the checkered flag, followed by Shipman and Popow. Huerta Raab finished fourth, followed by Conor Grant (No. 54 Scuderia Buell Ligier JS F422) in fifth.
SEE MORE: Race 1 Official Results
“We had a miscommunication and ended up getting a penalty to start sixth, so the plan was just to go out there and get as many points as we can for the championship,” said Hauanio from atop the podium. “The caution came out and I had an opportunity to go for a lead, so I took it. There's a water puddle in the last corner, so I knew he was probably going to go right there. I just timed right and went to the outside since he was on the inside blocking. I’d like to thank N. E. Where Transport and my grandparents for always supporting me, and my Crosslink Motorsports team for the amazing car.”
