GUYANESE driver Calvin Ming closed off the FIA Formula 4 NACAM series with a podium finish last weekend at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin Texas. Practice, qualifying and three races for the Formula 4 cars, were originally programmed for Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th. However, due to inclement weather the two races that were originally scheduled for Saturday had to be postponed, and all 3 races were held on Sunday
Calvin qualified in P4 for the first race and from the get-go quickly moved into P2 shortly after the start. Closing rapidly on the race leader, Calvin encountered gear selection problems around the half-way point in the race. This caused him to lose the significant lead he had over the driver in P3 by almost 3 seconds per lap.
He eventually finished the race in third place.
The second race started in dry conditions, with all 14 cars on slick tyres. Calvin started in P6 on the grid.
However, by the end of lap 1, it started to rain on some sections of the track which became quite slippery. Calvin was able to use the wet track to his advantage and managed to move up to P1 by lap #3 which he held to the half-way point in the race.
Then the heavens opened and the drivers started to make pit stops to change from slicks to wet tyres.
The drivers who pitted first benefited from a slight advantage, which resulted in Calvin finishing in P3, by the end of the race.
For the third race, Calvin started in P4, but lost ground throughout the race, due to the engine losing power. He, however, finished the race in P6.
The (COTA) was constructed just 3 years ago, to host the American round of the Formula 1 World Championship, and Moto GP.
Of the 14 drivers who participated 12 were Mexicans, 1 Panamanian and 1 Guyanese.