Thursday, October 13, 2022

FIA F3: American Drivers You’ve probably never Heard of Before?

Since I’d certainly Not Heard of either of these Drivers previously…

 

Continuing this No Fenders “Deep dive” into aspiring Yanks’ plying their trade in gory Europe, here’s the other Half of the current American Quartet contesting this year’s FIA Formula 3 Championship in Hopes of advancing to FIA Formula 2. For which I’ll freely admit, I’d never Heard of either driver previously.

 

Kaylen Frederick

Hitech Grand Prix, #17

Born: Potomac, Maryland

DOB: 6/4/02, Age: 20

 

Kaylen Frederick began Karting at Age seven before making His Single Seater Debut at Age 14 in 2016. Although due to being only 14, Kaylen was forced to miss the first six races of that year’s F1600 championship since He was under the series minimum Age requirement. Nevertheless,

Kaylen scored His maiden win that season, along with three second place finishes to finish seventh Overall driving for Team Pelfrey. He also made His U.S. F2000 National championship Debut for  Team Pelfrey at Laguna seca that year.

 

For 2017, Frederick competed fulltime in U.S. F2000 for Team Pelfrey, scoring five Podium finishes enroute to fourth Overall in the Championship behind Oliver Askew, Rinus VeeKay and Parker Thompson. While the following year Kaylen switched to Pabst Racing Services and finished sixth Overall in the series.

 

At year’s end Frederick made His European racing debut when contesting two rounds of the Euroformula Open series before committing to His Rookie BRDC British Formula 3 Championship with Carlin for 2019. Kaylen scored two wins enroute to P9 in the championship. Then Frederick Blitzed the field with nine wins and won the final British F3 title in 2020.

 

For 2021, Frederick graduated to the FIA Formula 3 championship with His current team Carlin, finishing 22nd Overall and now is contesting His Sophomore FIA F3 campaign, having switched to Hitech Grand Prix.

 

Hunter Yeany

Campos Racing, #21

Born: Virginia Beach, Virginia

DOB: 5/11/05, Age: 17

 

Hunter’s Karting career must have been fairly average, since little is known about it. Before making His Single Seater Debut in the 2020 U.S. formula 4 Championship which He thoroughly Dominated with seven wins and 14 podiums whilst driving for Velocity Racing Development. (VRS) Where Hunter’s teammates were current Indy Lights racer Kyffin Simpson and Eric Evans. As Yeany skipped the season’s final round in order to make His FR Americas Debut at Circuit Of The Americas (COTA) Season Finale instead, albeit as a Guest Driver He was inelibible for collecting any points from His Top-10 finishes.

 

For 2021, Yeany raced a multitude of Open Wheel Racing series, notably contesting the full FR Americas season with VRS, where He finished 12th Overall. Along with a partial Indy Pro 2000 campaign with Velocity where He finished P14.

 

Hunter also contested three rounds of the GB3 Championship along with making His FIA Formula 3 Championship Debut for Charouz Racying system at Spa-Francorchamps as Enzo Fittipaldi’s replacement. As Enzo had moved up to FIA Formula 2. Yet Hunter was forced to miss the final F3 rounds due to His FR Americas commitment. With Hunter’s best finished being 18th for Charouz.

 

For the 2022 FIA Formula 3 season, Yeany switched to Campos Racing, where I’d say He’s had a fairly “quiet” season, being ranked P32 Out of 38 Drivers with 0-points as of the Spa-Francorchamps outing.

 

Although Hunter’s season has been interrupted after Breaking His wrist during the Spielberg Sprint race. Being forced to withdraw from the following Feature race as well as the Hungarian weekend’s outing.

 

As Oliver Goethe, a 17yr Old Teenager Born in London and of Danish and German descent, Crikeys! Who Substituted for Yeany at the Hungaroring, also continued Deputizing for Hunter at the following Spa-Francorchamps round, as Yeany’s wrist continues Healing. With No word on when the young American driver will return…