The recent launch of the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA gave the UK a first opportunity to get up close and examine the new Tatuus T-421 car, as well as the unveiling of the series’ new title partner ROKiT, the Racing Star scheme and a raft of announcements about the championship’s prize structure for 2022.
An audience comprised of team personnel, invited media, commercial partners, guests and representatives from all levels of the sport – including Formula 1 – gathered at Bicester Heritage for the event. One such attendee was ex-F1 driver, renowned Sky Sports F1 pundit and Motorsport UK Board member Karun Chandhok, and we caught up with him post-launch to get his insights.
F4: “Karun, this really feels like a significant moment for the championship as it heads into a bold new era – what were your thoughts on the launch?”
KC: “There’s been a lot of work done since the start of the year around the new era of British F4. As a team at Motorsport UK, we’ve invested a lot of time engaging with the teams, drivers and the driver managers to try and understand what really should be the key ingredients to make this next generation of F4 an attractive place for drivers to come. To show off the chassis, engine and tyre combination as well as host everyone from the championship at our HQ in Bicester was a really strong statement to make in terms of how seriously we’re taking F4.
F4: “Where do you see the championship sitting within the wider single seater ladder as a whole?”
KC: “For aspiring single-seater drivers, F4 has got to be the go-to destination to start their journey on the FIA’s Single-Seater Pathway. What Motorsport UK have put together alongside the likes of ROKiT, McLaren, Pirelli, Tatuus and Abarth is going to make a real difference for drivers at a crucial stage in their development.
“This is the proving ground for the stars of the future, and I think it’s safe to say Formula 1 and the rest of the motorsport community is definitely looking to British F4 for the next superstar in 2022 and beyond.”
F4: “As a driver, what are your thoughts on the new Tatuus T-421 the series will adopt next year?”
KC: “It’s a fantastic looking car, what Tatuus have achieved within the FIA’s regulations for safety, performance and cost for the Formula 4 cars is really impressive. Their test drivers have been pounding around to put the mileage on the package and so far the feedback has been positive. The whole car, including the Halo looks contemporary and a well-integrated so I’m sure the teams will enjoy working on it next season.”
