Southland Sport
- Alex Crosbie secured victory in final race of F4 US Championship.
- Crosbie’s dominant drive in Texas earned his second win of the season.
- Seventeen-year-old Kiwi racer ends debut F4 US season fourth overall.
Seventeen-year-old Invercargill racer Alex Crosbie claimed a dominant win in the final race of the F4 US Championship at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. Crosbie, driving his Crosslink / Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F422, took charge from the start on Saturday morning (US time), making it a fitting finale to a strong debut season in the championship.
Starting from pole, Crosbie immediately surged ahead, building his lead to nearly four seconds midway through the race. However, a late safety car intervention tightened the field just ten minutes before the finish, setting the stage for a thrilling restart. Crosbie’s rapid reaction at the restart saw him retain the lead with a single-lap dash to the line, only for a full-course yellow to emerge, which sealed his second win of the season. “It was a good race and I’m glad I finally found the speed I needed this weekend,” Crosbie said from the podium, acknowledging both his family’s support and his key sponsor, Golden Homes in the Southern Lakes.
The result saw Crosbie finish ahead of Australian driver Daniel Quimby, Connor Roberts of the United States, debutant Alex Popow, and Australian Nicholas Stati. Quimby’s finish secured him the championship title, but Crosbie’s win underlined his impressive form, particularly as he was one of the younger drivers on the grid.
Crosbie’s weekend had started with a strong second-place qualifying, just 0.192 seconds off pole-sitter and newcomer Alex Popow. Though he faced setbacks in the first two races, including a damaged wing after being cut off in Race 1 and a penalty in Race 2, he showcased his speed by setting the fastest lap, which granted him pole for the final race. The penalty for Crosbie dropped him to fifth place and likely impacted his shot at a higher overall championship standing.
The COTA circuit, a challenging 3.41-mile, 20-turn course that recently hosted the United States Formula 1 Grand Prix, proved an ideal venue for Crosbie to end his season on a high. His consistent performance throughout the championship, with two wins and six podium finishes, left him just 4½ points shy of third place overall. Crosbie expressed gratitude for his parents’ support and appreciation for his New Zealand supporters who followed his progress throughout his U.S. campaign.
With his results in the F4 US Championship, Crosbie has delivered a remarkable season for his first year in the series, securing both experience and accolades in competitive international racing.
SCHEDULE - F4 US CHAMPIONSHIP
16-19 May 2024: Road America, Plymouth, Wisconsin
20-23 June 2024: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio
25-28 July 2024: New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, New Jersey
29 August–1 September 2024: Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, Ontario
31 October-3 November 2024: Circuit Of The Americas, Austin, Texas