The 15-year-old driver, a member of the Hungarian Motorsport Academy development program will compete in the homeland of motorsport with the support of 4iG, a definitive actor in the telecommunications and IT market of Hungary.
Racing for Virtuosi Racing, Molnár Martin will compete in the ten-round season starting on April 27, 2024.
The season will visit legendary tracks such as Donington Park, Brands Hatch, Silverstone, or Zandvoort, all of which have hosted or currently host Formula 1 Grand Prix races. Great Britain is the hub of the world’s most popular car racing, Formula One, with 8 out of the 10 teams competing in the championship having operations in England. The UK also boasts an outstanding professional environment in youth development. Martin’s team, Virtuosi Racing, not only competes in Formula 4 but also in other categories leading up to Formula One. Previously, drivers like Guanyu Zhou and Jack Doohan, son of motorcycle racing legend Mick Doohan, have raced for them.
Martin Molnár’s participation in the UK marks a milestone in the history of Hungarian motorsport, as he is the first Hungarian driver to compete in an FIA-accredited British championship. In the 2010s, Pál Tamás Kiss competed in the predecessor of the British F4 championship, the British Formula Renault 2.0, and progressed all the way to the doorstep of Formula One. Currently, Pál Tamás Kiss serves as the sports director of Motorsport Talent Management (MOTAM) and also acts as Martin’s driver coach.
‘I’m very pleased and honoured to announce the signing of Martin Molnár, who will be driving for us in the 2024 season. We’ve been testing already; it’s been going very well. Progress is being made and we’re looking forward to see what the future holds and the season ahead,’ – said Mark Salmon, Team Manager of Virtuosi Racing.
‘Last August, I had the opportunity to attend a race weekend at Donington Park, and I immediately fell in love with the championship. I quickly found harmony with the team and was able to accommodate myself, which is crucial after competing in another country over the past few years. Since summer, I’ve been testing a lot, and together with the experts of 321 Perform and Fit4Race, we’ve transformed my physique and added simulator training into my routine. I’m really looking forward to showing what we’re capable of with Virtuosi. A new era is beginning in my career, which could not have happened without my parents and our partners. I sincerely thank them for the opportunity!’ – added Molnár Martin.
A major milestone in a successful career
Since 2018, Martin Molnár has done karting competitively, living away from his family in Italy. Over the past years, he honed his skills in Italian series such as WSK, Champions of the Future, and the CIK-FIA European Championship, which have been nurturing future Formula One drivers and excellent racers for other categories.
In 2023, Martin became the first Hungarian driver to win the Winter Cup race at the iconic karting venue, Lonato, and led the FIA Karting world ranking in the OK category for several months. Based on his successes, he was the first Hungarian ever to be selected for the Richard Mille Young Talent Academy in 2023.
The first phase of the 15-year-old driver’s career was primarily accomplished thanks to family support. This also enabled Budapest-based Motorsport Talent Management (MOTAM), responsible for sports management, to prepare Martin’s progression into single seater categories since May 2022. As part of this, Pál Tamás Kiss joined the management team. With his addition, the career plan was developed, and the most suitable partners, including the racing team were found to give Martin the best chances to succeed.
“Today’s announcement is the result of Martin’s unwavering diligence and determination, which could not have been achieved without the efforts of his family. Thanks to the trust and long-term thinking of his parents, we can jointly build a sports program that, with the collaboration of our partners, can produce an outstanding athlete for Hungarian sports in the long run. Martin’s successes can also help the promotion of Hungary, Hungarian talents, and companies on the international stage. I thank everyone who has contributed and continues to contribute to Martin’s career, because his success will increasingly become our collective success,’ stated Tamás Őry, CEO of MOTAM.
Balázs Weingartner, Chairman of the Board of the Hungarian Mobility Development Agency added: ‘We are proud of Martin Molnár for continuing his career in Formula 4 this year as a former kart racer who was nurtured within the Hungarian Motorsport Academy, established and operated by the HUMDA Hungarian Mobility Development Agency Zrt. affiliated with the Széchenyi University Group. He possesses all the qualities to achieve success and continue his career in motorsport with great momentum. In addition to family and sponsorship support, the HMA contributes to accelerating the career development of drivers not only through professional expertise but also by facilitating their advancement to higher levels. We now have two HMA drivers competing in Formula 4, as Ádám Hideg proves his talent in the Spanish Formula Winter Series and has even stepped onto the podium.’
From a sports management perspective, Pál Tamás Kiss oversees Martin’s career, bringing significant experience in terms of British motorsport culture and closely monitoring Martin’s testing program. ‘Seeing the initial results, I am optimistic, but the talent development in motorsport is of such a high standard, and drivers begin their training at such a young age, covering so many kilometres, that it’s not expected for someone to excel in their first year,’ stated Pál Tamás Kiss.
He added, ‘I set the goal for Martin to aim for a top three finish in the Rookie Championship. This would already be a huge achievement, and ideally, he should secure as many top 10 finishes as possible. He should gather experience, mileage, but considering the recent period and the path we’ve taken, I am confident we will see him on the podium in the British championship.”
About MOTAM
MOTAM provides services to its clients in the areas of sponsorship, sports management, physical and mental training, communication and legal affairs, specifically in the field of motorsports. Athletes can thus rely on the help of professionals in all elements of their careers to deliver the best possible performance. MOTAM is a subsidiary of the TRP Hungary that is operating in the field of motorsports, with TRP Events being its core business. MOTAM, the TRP Media publishing house and the recently acquired KymiRing racing circuit also a part of the group of companies.
About the Hungarian Motorsport Academy
The Hungarian Motorsport Academy, operated by the HUMDA Hungarian Mobility Development Agency Zrt., affiliated with the Széchenyi University Group, support 29 drivers across eight motorsport disciplines. In addition to this, HUMDA supports a racing team, as well as the National Autosport Federation of Hungary (MNASZ) and the Hungarian Motorsport Federation (MAMS). The selection process was overseen by Norbert Michelisz, the 2019 World Touring Car Cup champion, and Gábor Talmácsi, the 2007 125 cm3 motorcycle World Champion. The aim of the support system is to advance the careers of young drivers so they can compete in higher-level championships under more professional conditions.
