French F4 has already spent two of its seven planned rounds. These two meetings at Nogaro and Lédenon have revealed a driver who started racing in karting  only two years ago. Feeder Series had a chat with the maiden Luxembourger FIA-certified single-seaters race winner: Chester Kieffer.

By Perceval Wolff

11 May, 2024, Lédenon. Chester Kieffer made history on that day by crossing the finish line in the first position in front of Honda protégé Taito Kato after starting from pole position, becoming the first Luxembourger to win a race in an FIA-certified single-seater series.

“That’s such a great feeling,” Kieffer said to Feeder Series. “It’s a good step up after my two seasons in karting that were a bit more difficult. It was important for me to show I was there not only to make up the numbers. I’m here to try to win the championship.”

Luxembourg’s new talent

It’s also important to note that brothers David and Gary Hauser have won some races in the amateur gentlemen series Austria Formel 3 Cup in 2011, the latter also winning races in BOSS GP later. 

However, Kieffer is the first driver from his nation to take victory in an FIA-certified junior championship.

“I’m so proud of it. I have always dreamt to represent my country. I’m proud of Luxembourg, it’s not a big country, especially in motorsport, but I hope it’s only the beginning of the story.”

“When I was little, I used to watch Formula One. I’ve always been fond of it, and my aunt used to bring us at the track to do some rental karting. One day, I had the opportunity to drive a real competition kart, and that’s where everything started. It was in 2021 so I was turning 15.”

Winfield Racing School’s next star?

Starting in karting at 15 years old can be considered as a major disadvantage compared to many other drivers that have been racing at a national or even an international level for a full decade.

“In my opinion, it might be a disadvantage but mainly in karting. To be competitive in karting, you really need to start in Mini category at seven or eight years old, to learn all the basics before going to Junior and Senior. 

“I started in Senior, and it was really difficult because I had to learn everything. I was pretty satisfied with how it went, because I usually had the pace to run in front, but I lacked consistency to be quick lap after lap without any mistake.”

Chester Kieffer discovered driving single-seaters with a summer training camp at the Winfield Racing School – a driving school that has revealed drivers such as Alain Prost, Damon Hill, Théo Pourchaire and Isack Hadjar.

“It was my first time in a single-seater,” he said. “They made sure to prepare us and to put us in the best conditions. I was able to show that I had something, some talent. There was another driver racing in French F4 that year as a reference driver [Yaroslav Veselaho], he was not the quickest of the championship but he already had a big experience. At the first run, I was already faster, so that only gave me more confidence for the next runs.”

Alongside Montego Maassen, Matilda Paatz, Jason Leung and Leonardo Megna, Chester Kieffer is one of the five drivers supported by the Winfield Racing School this season. 

“They support us through the whole season with some coaches that give us precious advice, not only about racing but also on a mental aspect. It helps a lot during meetings.”

Aiming high

Against returning drivers like Stevenheydens and Megna and karting champions such as Dorison, Bernier, Caranta and Kato, what were the objectives of Kieffer who had only done two seasons of karting without any major title?

“After the winter tests with Winfield, I was pretty confident of my pace, my objective was to finish in the top five. For the moment, it’s going in the right direction [currently fourth]. For the rest of the season, I really think a top three is possible.”

“I feel myself very quick on the next tracks: Spa, Nürburgring, Magny-Cours, Dijon… these are tracks that I have done in testing and that I really love. When I see how things went at Lédenon, the title might be possible, we will see how the season goes on, we are still at the beginning of the year.”

What the future holds

However, Chester Kieffer told Feeder Series how this season could be his last in single-seaters.

“Normally, the plan would be to go to Porsche Carrera Cup, and climb up the GT ladder. For the moment, we try to be realistic and GT is always much more realistic than F1 when there are only 20 spots. F1 would be more than a dream, but we have to stay realistic in this sport. I will probably go to GT, but there is also Hypercar that could be very interesting.”

“Of course, it will depend on the opportunities I get after my season in F4. If someone’s looking after me to go to FRECA, I will not turn it down. For the moment, that’s not the plan but we never know how things can turn around.”

French F4’s next round is scheduled at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium on 21-23 June. 

“Even though it’s very close to Luxembourg, I wouldn’t say it’s my home race. I really consider Nürburgring as my home race, because it’s the track I know the most since I’m a child.” 

This round in Germany will follow Spa on 26-28 July.

Header photo credit: KSP Reportages / Igor Sinitsin