End of RMCO may mark beginning of F4 racing

The organisers of the FIA Formula 4 SEA (SouthEast Asia) Championship are keeping their fingers crossed as the recovery movement control order (RMCO) comes to an end in three weeks.

If all goes well and the government lifts restrictions on border crossings from next month, it will pave the way for the championship rounds to be held at Sepang before the year is over.

The championship is sanctioned by the motorsports governing body FIA and prepares drivers across the globe for professional careers in the sport, be it in F1, LMP1, GT4, touring car racing or beyond.

As Formula 4 SEA series boss Peter Thompson explains, a young racer’s international career path towards Formula 1 can be a daunting one.

Hence, FIA created a ladder to collect points towards the FIA Super Licence on each step via Formula 4, F3 and F2 to Formula 1.

“Each Formula 4 series around the world awards their champions 12 Super Licence points of the 40 required to race in Formula 1, including in South-East Asia, where Meritus GP runs an FIA F4 series as a single organiser, at less than half the cost of equivalent F4 championships.

“We have more than 20 participants keen to sign up for the 20202021 season but then everything is on hold because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Malaysia does not allow international visitors at this point, but if the borders are opened, it will be the venue to kickstart the championship in November followed by races in Buriram, Thailand,” said Thompson, who also runs the Meritus. GP team.

Meritus.GP team have won 36 FIA Asian championship titles over the years with Malaysian talents like Jazeman Jaafar, Afiq Ikhwan Yazid and Nazim Azman having graced the top of the podiums in previous years.

Regardless of what happens, Meritus.GP plan a full 2020-2021 championship comprising a 10-event, 40-race season.