Mixed Fortunes For Crosbie In F4 US Championship
It was a weekend of mixed fortunes for Invercargill racing driver Alex Crosbie at Round 4 of the F4 US Championship at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, Ontario, this weekend.
Arriving at the round just three points behind the second placed driver, Australian Daniel Quimby, an engine failure on the formation lap of the first race of the round put Crosbie on the back foot for the remainder of the weekend and cost him dearly in the championship battle.
The weekend started well with Crosbie setting the second fastest time in practice, just .153 of a second slower than championship leader Nicholas Stati of Australia.
In qualifying Crosbie completed around ten laps before he came in to make some changes to the car to improve his time but unfortunately the car would not restart and he had to sit out the end of qualifying when all the fast times were coming, “I was thinking that the engine not starting was a sign that the engine was about to fail which proved correct,” he said later. It meant that he qualified fourth, 1.449 seconds off pole.
Disaster struck before race one when the engine in his Ligier JS F422 blew on the formation lap rendering Crosbie a non-starter in the race and costing him the opportunity of adding to his points total.
He bounced back to show his undisputed speed in the second race, starting last and charging through the field to third, close behind second placegetter, American Connor Roberts, to score his fifth podium of the championship.
Crosbie started second in the third and final race and was involved in a big battle with Stati and Roberts for second place while Quimby led. Oil on the track at Turn 1 proved troublesome as Crosbie sat behind Stati keen to make a move. “I hit the oil a few times throwing me off line. Roberts passed me after I got a snap of oversteer there.”
Crosbie reeled in Stati and passed him for third on lap 13. The duo battled it out throughout the remaining laps. “I passed Stati a few times and we went back and forth round Turn 8 and Turn 10. Eventually he shook me off for a few laps then on the last lap I made a move into Turn 8 off the back straight around the outside, sticking it through Turn 9 but I got passed by him at Turn 10 and I had to settle for 4th.”
The non-finish in the opening race proved costly for Crosbie who after going into the round just three points off second place in the championship dropped to fourth in the points, albeit only 6.5 points behind Roberts.
Stati continues to lead the championship while Quimby who won all three races at this round is still second. “Hopefully I can gain some points that I desperately need back at the last round of the championship at Circuit Of The Americas (COTA) in two months’ time. I look forward to it and will study the track carefully, and practice in the simulator to be ready for it,” said Alex.
Alex competes in the F4 US Championship with Crosslink / Kiwi Motorsport and his American campaign is supported by Golden Homes in the Southern Lakes. He acknowledges the support of his parents for his racing and appreciates all those watching and supporting his efforts back home in New Zealand during his campaign.
The final round of the championship takes place at Circuit Of The Americas, Austin, Texas from 31 October to 3 November.
Photograph: Alex Crosbie of Invercargill, New Zealand (right), on the podium after finishing third in the second race of Round 4 of the F4 US Championship at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, Ontario at the weekend. Second placed Connor Roberts is far left and race winner, Australian Daniel Quimby is on the top step – credit Rachael Beck.
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