Sweden’s Linus Lundqvist is a quadruple single-seater champion, clinching the 2022 INDY NXT championship, the 2020 Formula Regional Americas title, the 2018 BRDC British Formula 3 Championship and the 2016 Formula STCC Nordic crown. In 2024, he will race the #8 American Legion Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
Linus Lundqvist takes winning form into VIR triple-header
He burst onto the scene with a perfect debut at Mid-Ohio – but Linus Lundqvist knows that complacency is a racing driver’s cardinal sin. Heading into round two of the Formula Regional Americas campaign this weekend at Virginia International Raceway, the Swedish series rookie is facing a raft of new challenges with even more at stake as the first triple-header of the year beckons…
Swede aiming to build on picture perfect season-opener
Round two takes Formula Regional Americas field to Virginia
Lundqvist leads the way but takes nothing for granted
He burst onto the scene with a perfect debut at Mid-Ohio – but Linus Lundqvist knows that complacency is a racing driver’s cardinal sin. Heading into round two of the Formula Regional Americas campaign this weekend at Virginia International Raceway, the Swedish series rookie is facing a raft of new challenges with even more at stake as the first triple-header of the year beckons.
Lundqvist staged a faultless performance on his first outing in U.S. single-seater racing three weeks ago at Mid-Ohio, winning both of the weekend’s two races from pole – leading from start to finish and setting the fastest lap in both.
It was an impeccable run that netted the Global Racing Group rookie an early championship lead, putting him on course for the Indy Lights scholarship at stake for the eventual champion – but then was then and now is now as the FR Americas fraternity sets camp in Virginia.
“We had a perfect start to the season, surely, but you can’t rest on your laurels in this sport and I don’t intend to,” says Linus Lundqvist. “I am absolutely certain that our rivals have done their all to close the gap we enjoyed at Mid-Ohio. I will try to go for wins again, of course, but I do expect a tough fight. It should be good fun.”
Adding to the challenge expected from his rivals, Lundqvist is facing the prospect of taking on a particularly tricky circuit for the first time this weekend. Virginia International Raceway, commonly known under its acronym VIR, is a fast and flowing, 3.27-mile track that is not easy to learn, leaving a Swedish first-timer with a big task at hand.
“VIR is a new track for me, like Mid-Ohio was, and it looks difficult,” Lundqvist continues. “However, I’m usually a quick learner and we do have an extra day of testing on Thursday, so it should be alright. The team is strong there and we are all keen to build on our achievements from last time out. I’m confident and it will be a lot of fun to get back out on track.”
The FR Americas weekend officially kicks off on Friday with a brace of practice sessions, although running effectively begins on Thursday with unofficial testing.
VIR marks the first triple-header event of the campaign, with Race 1 taking place on Saturday and the final two contests staged on Sunday.
The Formula Regional Americas points system is identical to that in Formula 1, with the top ten scoring according to the 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1 scale.
Linus Lundqvist leads the standings by 14 points from David Malukas.
Live streaming is available at https://fanracing.live for all races of the season. There is also a dedicated “Race Centre” portal at www.linuslundqvistracing.se, featuring the live streaming links as well as timing details, the latest results and more.
TIME TABLE All times local (US Eastern)
Formula Regional Americas | Rd. 2 Virginia International Raceway (USA)
Thursday 16 July Test day
Friday 17 July Free Practice 1: 11.00-11.30 am Free Practice 2: 3.10-3.40 pm
Saturday 18 July Qualifying: 10.25-10.55 am Race 1: 2.55 pm (35 min)
Sunday 19 July Race 2: 10.35 am (35 min) Race 3: 3.05 pm (35 min)
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS Formula Regional Americas | Top 5 After 2/17 races
1: Linus Lundqvist (SWE), 50 p. 2: David Malukas (USA), 36 p. 3: Victor Franzoni (BRA), 19 p. 4: Danial Frost (SGP), 16 p. 5: Jacob Abel (USA), 16 p.
