AU4 CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON OPENER IGNITES AT WINTON MOTOR RACEWAY

MEDIA RELEASE/AU4 Australian Championship – Photo: Velocity Magazine

The future of Australian open-wheel racing descends on regional Victoria this weekend, May 1–3, as the 2026 AU4 Australian Championship officially kicks off at Winton Motor Raceway with a grid of 18 cars and featuring both local and international talent.

The 2026 season continues the upward trajectory the category has enjoyed since its successful return to the Australian motorsport landscape in 2023. The series opener at Winton Raceway as a headline category at Round 3 of the Motorsport Australia Trophy Tour marks a major milestone for the series, welcoming a significant wave of international talent. 

Leading this charge is Polish driver Borys Lyzen: the 15-year-old arrives in Australia with significant momentum after a breakout performance in the 2026 Spanish Formula 4 Winter Series, where he claimed a dominant victory in the Jarama sprint race. 

A former finalist in the prestigious Richard Mille Young Talent Academy, Lyzen has quickly established himself as a frontrunner in European single-seaters, including a podium finish at Valencia earlier this year. His move to the AU4 Championship marks a major milestone for the series, highlighting its growing reputation as a globally recognized destination for elite young drivers seeking high-level technical experience on their path to Formula 1.

This round also sees the inclusion of three of New Zealand’s most promising young racers. Newly crowned 2026 NZ Formula Ford Champion Marco Manson makes his Australian debut with Tim Macrow Racing, arriving with 11 wins from 15 starts in his rookie season. 

He is joined by William Beck, the reigning North Island Formula Ford Champion, and Jackson Culver, who, at just 14 years old, has already made an impression on Australian soil, recording the fastest time int he Gen1 category during a recent pre-season test at Sydney Motorsport Park with AGI Sport.

The Gen1 category, which is open to drivers as young as 14 years old, providing an early start in national-level competition.The Taatus Gen2 is open to drivers 15 and older, utilising the latest global Formula 4 technology.

This structure ensures that from the moment a young driver secures their circuit license, they have access to a professional environment and technical experience that mirrors the international racing ladder.

AU4 Championship Event Schedule

Thursday, 30th April 2026 – Practice Day

9.00 – 12.00 – AU4 Testing Open Pit Lane (3 hours)
13.00 – 16.00 – AU4 Testing Open Pit Lane (3 hours)
16.00 – 16.30 – AU4 Start Practice

Friday, 1st May 2026 – Practice Day

09.55 – 10.25 (30 mins) – AU4 Free Practice #1
12.10 – 12.40 (30 mins) – AU4 Free Practice #2
15.30 – 15.45 (15 mins) – AU4 Official Practice

Saturday, May 2, 2026 – Qualifying & Race 1

10:15 – 10:30: AU4 – Qualifying #1 (15 mins)
10:35 – 10:50: AU4 – Qualifying #2 (15 mins)
15:00 – 15:30: AU4 Race 1 (25 mins + 1 lap)

Sunday, May 3, 2026 – Race 2 & 3

10:30 – 11:00: AU4 Race 2 (25 mins + 1 lap)
14:15 – 14:45: AU4 Race 3 (25 mins + 1 lap)

2026 AU4 Championship Calendar

Round 1: Winton Raceway, May 1-3 2026
Round 2: Sydney Motorsport Park, May 30-31 2026.
Round 3: The Bend Motorsport Park, West layout, July 17 – 19 2026.
Round 4: The Bend Motorsport Park, International layout, August 21 – 23 2026.
Round 5: Sydney Motorsport Park, GP Circuit, September 11-13 2026.

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