【2022 Season Review】Two rookies take on French F4 challenge： Souta Arao 3rd, Yuto Nomura 7th

Graduates of the Honda Racing School (HRS), renamed from the Suzuka Racing School (SRS), Hajime Arao and Yuto Nomura, competed in the all seven rounds of the championship, with the support of the Honda Formula Dream Project (HFDP), Honda's young driver development program, and the Red Bull Racing F1 team.

The two young drivers debuted at the Circuit de Nogaro, resulting in podium finishes for both Nomura and Arao. Nomura said, "In free practice, I was a little frustrated because I couldn't drive the way I wanted to." But in the race, he found his pace and overtook two cars right after Race 1 started, to finish 7th. In Race 2, he drove a fastest lap to take his first win by a margin of 2.248 seconds.

Arao felt good about his first time on the track, finishing 2nd in Race 1. Both drivers got off to a good start in their first race, while still trying to get a feel for the track.

In Round 2, held on the Pau street track, Arao retired from Race 2 due to contact with another car, but in Race 1, he finished 2nd following his first pole position. In Race 3, he showed a shining performance, taking his first win in a single-seater.

Nomura was up to 3rd position in Race 1, but unfortunately retired. He was unable to participate in the remaining races due to severe damage to his car, but felt positive about the next round, saying, "The season has just begun, so I'll do my best to make a comeback.”

Both drivers kept on performing well in the third round at Magny-Cours. On a track characterized by many tight turns and straights, Nomura took his second win of the season in Race 2. Arao also finished 3d in Race 1, his fourth podium finish of the season in only three rounds so far.

In Round 4 at Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, Arao finished 2nd in Race 3. Closing the gap to the points leader, Arao finished the first half of the season in second place in the standings, while Nomura was 6th.

After the month-long summer break, the second half of the season kicked off with Round 5 in Ledenon. In Race 1, Arao finished on the podium in 3rd place and Nomura was 5th, but in races 2 and 3, the results were not as good as expected. In Round 6, Valencia, Arao finished 3rd in Race 1 and Nomura 4th in Race 3, and were 3rd and 6th overall, respectively, going into final round.

The season finale was held at Circuit Paul Ricard. Arao showed brilliant driving throughout the race, a good way to end his first season. He was second on the grid for races 1 and 3, and finished the season with a brilliant win in Race 1 and a 2nd place finish in Race 3.

Nomura, who took pole position in Race 2, finished a disappointing 7th, but expressed his ambitions for the 2023 season, saying, "I will use this experience to do my best next year.”

Arao finished his rookie year 3rd overall, and Nomura was 7th.

Race Report

Rd.01 Nogaro：Nomura and Arao star on French F4 debut at Nogaro

Rd.02 Pau Ville：Arao and Nomura star on street racing debuts at Grand Prix de Pau Circuit de Pau-Ville

Rd.03 Magny-Cours：Arao continues title challenge and Nomura wins again in French F4 Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours

Rd.04 Spa-Francorchamps：Arao closes in on French F4 lead on trip to Spa-Francorchamps

Rd.05 Ledenon：A weekend of ups and downs at the undulating Ledenon in French F4

Rd.06 Valencia：Arao extends French F4 title challenge to final round with Valencia performance

Rd.07 Paul Ricard：Honda junior Souta Arao ends French F4 season with win on F1 circuit Circuit Paul Ricard