Brazilian F4 launched last year with the goal of exporting talents to competitive open-wheel championships across the globe. But has it managed to achieve this? Feeder Series reviews the latest announcements made by the 2022 Brazilian F4 grid about their plans for the 2023 season.

By Maria Clara Castro

Many memorable drivers – such as Ayrton Senna, Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet and Rubens Barrichello – have helped Brazil to make its name throughout motorsport history. However, though the country is considered by many to have a large talent pool, the number of talented Brazilian drivers who go overseas is far from high.

The main reason is one that is all too familiar to the motorsport world: money. The expenses are significant and they only skyrocket when you convert the undervalued Brazilian Real to Euro. Family money and sponsors are pretty much the only way to build an international career in open-wheel racing.

However, there has recently been a new generation of young talented Brazilian drivers racing in the most competitive open-wheel racing championships of the globe — such as Formula 2 champion Felipe Drugovich, Enzo Fittipaldi, Kiko Porto, Caio Collet, Gabriel Bortoleto, Roberto Faria and Rafael Câmara.

In light of this particularly enlightened generation, the Brazilian Motorsport Confederation joined forces with VICAR, the largest promoter of motorsport events in the country, to discuss how to keep this wave of skillful drivers going. Brazilian F4 was the solution they came up with.

The leading purpose of Brazilian F4 is to develop young Brazilian driving talent and prepare them for competition overseas. After an exciting first season, seven of the 16 drivers who contested the majority of the 2022 season have announced their plans to race overseas this year.

Pedro Clerot

The inaugural Brazilian F4 champion was one of the first drivers to announce his plans for the upcoming season. Following a dominant campaign with seven wins and 11 podiums, Clerot will go a step further and race in Spanish F4 with MP Motorsport. His duties have, however, started early, as he is also taking part in the last two rounds of F4 UAE with the Dutch team.

Fefo Barrichello

A Brazilian F4 race winner in Interlagos, Fernando Barrichello — mainly known as Fefo in Brazil — had some standout performances during the 2022 season. This year, Barrichello will make his way to Europe to race in Spanish F4 with Monlau Motorsport. Like Clerot, Barrichello is taking part in F4 UAE, racing in the first and fourth rounds in Dubai and the fifth round in Abu Dhabi.

Aurelia Nobels

The only female driver on the 2022 Brazilian F4 grid and the newest member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, Aurelia Nobels is getting ready for her first full season in Europe competing in Italian F4. Nobels’ seat in this competitive championship, as well as her membership of the Ferrari Driver Academy, came after winning the third edition of the FIA Girls on Track – Rising Stars programme.

Nic Giaffone

Three-time Brazilian F4 race winner Nic Giaffone is targeting the Road to Indy over the F1 ladder. Throughout the 2022 season, Giaffone praised IndyCar and stated his admiration for Scott Dixon. Nic’s father, Felipe Giaffone, had previously competed in IndyCar for six seasons.

In 2023, Giaffone will take his first step into the Road to Indy with DEForce Racing in USF Juniors. Like Brazilian F4, the championship also made its debut last year and now heads into its second season.

Nick Monteiro

Nick Monteiro made a strong impression in Brazilian F4. The Miami-born and Brazil-raised driver achieved four podiums, one pole position and six top-five finishes in the championship. As Monteiro heads to the States, he will skip USF Juniors and instead take part in the USF Pro 2000 championship with an as-yet-unannounced team.

Lucas Staico

Brazilian F4 runner-up Lucas Staico started last season with little experience in formula racing. However, his strong and aggressive performances and the on-track battles have certainly surpassed the expectations placed on him prior to the championship.

For 2023, Staico chose to pursue a pathway quite familiar to some of Brazil’s most well-known former F1 drivers. He will compete in the GB3 Championship with Douglas Motorsport.

Brazilian F4 appears to be heading in the right direction when it comes to developing and exporting Brazilian driving talent, with several drivers on the championship’s inaugural grid having already secured seats overseas for 2023. However, with only one season in the books, only time will tell if the Brazilian F4 will continue to produce skilled drivers and prepare them for their next steps in feeder series.

Ricardo Gracia

Brazilian F4 race winner Ricardo Gracia will compete in Spanish F4 for the second year running after taking part in several rounds of the 2022 championship with GRS Team. He will contest a full season with the Van Amersfoort Racing-Monlau Motorsport outfit alongside his Brazilian F4 teammate Fefo Barrichello.

Header photo credit: Brazilian F4