"FRECA will be a new challenge for me, with a new car, new circuits, and a new racing environment," Dat said. "I'm excited to embrace this and gain valuable experience. I'm also looking forward to progressing from the F4 Indian Championship, which has done a lot to support drivers like myself on the FIA Global Pathway."

Joshua Evans, owner of the KIC Evans GP, said he was impressed with Hoang Dat from the F4 Indian Championship.

"Having worked with him in the Indian championship, I was impressed with his raw talent and towards racing attitude," Evans said. "His ability to deliver strong performances against experienced competitors was impressive."

Dat is competing in the F4 Chinese Championship for the BlackJack Racing. After two races in Shanghai, he finished first on April 20 and second the following day. He is second on the table with 35 points, two behind Chinese racer Jiang Fukang. The tournament has 18 stages held between May and November.

At the F4 Indian Championship, Dat raced for the Hyderabad Blackbirds team and ranked fifth overall after 15 races.

Dat was born in 2008 to an English father and a Vietnamese mother. His family lives in Ho Chi Minh City and guided Dat toward a racing career from a young age. Dat has Vietnamese nationality and has represented Vietnam in many international tournaments.

Coaching the 16-year-old is former Malaysian F3 racer Mitch Gilbert, one of the first Asians to participate in formula racing. Before competing in F4, Dat was a familiar face in domestic and international go-kart tournaments.

F4 is a racing series for amateur racers who want to embark on a professional career. The fact that it only took a year for Dat to compete in F3 demonstrates his potential.

The Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) is one of the seven biggest tournaments in F3. It has been held since 2019, with its predecessor being the European Championship and Renault Eurocup.

The 2024 FRECA is held from May 11 to October 27, with 20 stages in 10 countries. The tournament has 12 teams, and Hoang Dat is one of two Southeast Asian riders besides Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi of Thailand, also part of KIC Evans GP.

Vietnamese canoeist wins gold medal at Asian championships

Vietnamese canoeist Diep Thi Huong won a gold medal in the women’s 500m category at the Asian Canoe Sprint Championships 2024, the Vietnam Canoeing, Rowing and Sailing Federation said on April 19.

Vietnam’s No. 1 female badminton player qualifies for Paris Olympics

Female badminton player Nguyen Thuy Linh will be the 7th representative of Vietnam to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics this summer.

First Vietnamese woman to play in US basketball association

Truong Thao Vy has been drafted by the Washington Mystics for the 2024 season and became the first-ever Vietnamese athlete to play in the U.S.'s Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

Nguyen Quang Hai listed AFC U23's top best players in history

As the biennial AFC U23 Asian Cup was officially kicked off on April 15, the continental football governing body has spotlighted Vietnamese Nguyen Quang Hai in the list of the top 10 players who showcased their talent at previous editions and look to continue their rise to prominence.

Final list of 23 Vietnamese players for AFC U23 Asian Cup 2024 announced

The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has announced the final list of 23 players for Vietnam's U23 team to participate in the upcoming AFC U23 Asian Cup 2024 in Qatar.

Source: VnExpress