As the first step on the FIA ladder to Formula 1, F4 hones drivers’ race-craft and teaches the primary knowledge needed to compete at the highest levels of motorsport. The mission of the F4 platform is to develop the grass roots of motorsport in the countries the championship visits, advancing careers and nurturing the growing motorsport ecosystem.

Formula 4 South East Asia (F4SEA) is organised and operated by the MERITUS.GP team in Asia. Here’s what makes us special:

To globally align the development of motorsport talent the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), motorsport’s governing body, created Formula 4. Drivers, mechanics, engineers and support staff all start off in Formula 4 and graduate into F3, then F2 and finally reach the pinnacle of Motorsport, F1.

Formula 4 Success

The team initiated a good thing with their ONE concept and have already found success with many drivers moving on to bigger and better things:

Jake
Parsons

Japanese F3

Nikita
Mazepin

Formula 2

Gabriel
Aubry

LMP2

Colton
Herta

IndyCar

Arjun
Maini

Formula 2

Jordan
Love

Carrera Cup

Presley
Martono

MRF

Danial
Frost

IndyCar

Ugo
De Wilde

Formula 3

Daniel
Cao

Formula 3

Nazim
Azman

Formula 3

Alessandro
Ghiretti

Formula 3

Hadrian
David

Formula 3

Driver Requirements

A driver must be 15 years or older and hold at least a National C License to compete in F4. F4 SEA drivers without a National C License can take part in the F4SEA Licensing Academy to earn a National C License. The driver must also provide:

One Team – MERITUS.GP

MERITUS are a multi-championship-winning International Motorsport team providing a platform of key motorsport services as the exclusive F4SEA team.

Engineering

Leading European Chief Engineers and winning race engineers to ensure performance

Mechanics

Dedicated no. 1 mechanics supported by dependable technicians to ensure reliability

Coaching

Winning driver coaches and fitness instructors to maximize potential

Training

Training programs to create highly skilled professionals across motorsport disciplines

International Motorsport Heroes

MERITUS are passionate about creating international motorsport heroes and the team has been a stepping stone for ten F1 drivers, two Indy 500 winners and two 24H LeMans winners

Takuma
Sato

Won Indy 500

Narain
Karthikeyan

Formula 1

Ricardo
Rosset

Formula 1

Vincenzo
Sospri

Formula 1

Anthony
Reid

BTCC

Jazeman
Jaafar

Formula 1

Rio
Haryanto

Formula 1

Earl
Bamber

Won 24H LeMans

Luca
Filippi

Formula 1

Alexander
Rossi

Won Indy 500

Ho-Pin
Tung

Won 24H LeMans

Alex
Yoong

Formula 1

Winning History

Since expanding to Asia 25 years ago MERITUS has accumilated 36 FIA Asian titles, winning at every level of the sport under Formula 1 (F4, F3, F2):

Formula 4 SEA

Currently promoting, organising and providing all engineering services to the FIA F4SEA Championship, focusing on developing young talent in the industry and creating the next geneartion of International Motorsport Heroes.

• H. David – Renault F1
• A. Ghiretti – Alfa Romeo F1
• N. Azman – F3 UK
• D. Cao – Formula E
• U. De Wilde – Formula RE
• D. Frost – IndyCar

2020

–

2016

AsiaCup Series

After GP2 Asia came to an end and seeing the void left by the Formula BMW Asia Championship, MERITUS decided to organise their own series. AsiaCup was a championship focused on developing young talent in the motorsport industy, giving a start to many young drivers including:

• J. Love – Porsche Carerra
• A. Maini – Formula 2
• C. Herta – IndyCar
• G. Aubry – LMP2
• N. Mazepin – Formula 2
• J. Parsons – Asian Le Mans

2015

–

2013

Formula Masters China Series

Continuing their winning streak from Formula BMW, MERITUS stepped up to the F3 level Formula Masters, winning multiple races and the 2013 Championship.

2015

–

2013

Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia

Partnering with Petronas, MERITUS won the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia Series, marking their first return to GT’s since the TMC Costin days

2013

Formula Pilota China

As a precursor to competing in the 2013 Formula Masters Championship MERITUS entered the last 2 rounds of the then Formula Pilota China.

2011

JK Racing Asia Series

MERITUS continued their success in the Formula BMW category in the third incarnation of the championship, the JK Racing Asia Series, after BMW pulled out of Formula racing. The team finished second in the championship after a rule change forced them to split thier 8 drivers across two teams.

2012

–

2011

GP2 Asia

Reaching their highest point in 2010 with the GP2 Asia series, MERITUS won the vice-championship, before the series ended and the team refocused on organising championships geared at young driver development. During its time in GP2 Asia the team raced:

• Lucca Filippi
• Earl Bamber
• Alex Yoong
• Alexander Rossi

2010

–

2008

Formula BMW Pacific

The team continued in the renamed Formula BMW Pacific, winning the 2008 and 2009 championships with Ross Jamison and Rio Haryanto. Rio of course went on to become Indonesia’s first F1 driver.

2010

–

2008

Formula Renault V6 Asia

Stepping up a tier to the V6-powered Formula Renault which sat somewhere between F3 and F2, MERITUS won both the 2007 and 2008 Championships.

2008

–

2006

12 Hour of Sepang

In their single outing in prehaps the most prestigous endurance race in Malaysia at the time, MERITUS outlasted the competition to take home the gold.

2003

Formula BMW Asia

MERITUS targeted Formula BMW which was the premier driver development platform in the mid 2000’s, and matched the team’s passion of creating International Motorsport Heroes. They did just that winning four out of the five seasons with:

• H. Tung – 24H LeMans
• M. Lee – Audi R8 LMS
• E. Bamber – 24H LeMans
• J. Jaafar – FIA WEC

2007

–

2003

Formula Renault Macau

MERITUS and Takuma Sato won the Formula Renault Macau GP

1999

Formula Asia 2000

MERITUS started their Asian Adventure winning the Formula Asia 2000 Championship in 1996 with Narain Karthikeyan, who went on to become India’s first F1 driver, sparking the team’s passion for working with young talent in the region. MERITUS won the championship 5 times with:

• Narain Karhikeyan
• Bagoes Hermanto
• Nattapong Horthongkum
• Ng Wai-Leong

2002

–

1996

Formula 3000

After finding success in single-seaters, MERITUS developed a passion for the category which would define their now thirty year history. Taking their first step up in the category MERITUS entered the 1994 Formula 3000 championship.

1995

–

1994

Formula Opel Lotus

After the success of the TMC Costin race programme, MERITUS ventured into the single-seater category and kick-started their championship-winning heritage

1995

–

1988

TMC Costin sold to Don Panoz, creating the now famous PANOZ Automotive

At the height of the TMC Costin’s racing fame the project was sold to Don Panoz, creating Panoz Automotive, designer of the cars which won the Indy 500 and 24H LeMans

1988

British and Irish GT

Seeing the potential of the high-performance Costin, the team decided to go racing and entered every available British and Irish GT Championship, setting tracks ablaze with the first ever Irish Sports Car.

1988

–

1984

TMC Costin

In 1983 the Thompson family formed the Thompson Motorsport Company, which would go on to become MERITUS.GP. In partnership with Frank Costin, TMC designed and built the TMC Costin – the first ever Irish Sports Car.

1983

One Make – M14F4

The FIA F4 homologated racecar is tested to FIA F1/F3 crash safety standards, equipped with a front-mounted on-board camera and is capable of speeds up to 210km/h.

All cars in the championship are the same make and model, built and maintained by the same team and dyno-tested to be within 2-3% as controlled by the FIA regulations. This means that no-one has an advantage and the best driver wins.

One Data – Learn from the Fastest

Formula 4 SEA is an FIA single-organiser championship run by MERITUS, a GP team of Great Professionals. Because of the one-team structure, F4SEA has an open data policy which means that every racer can check any driver’s data. This ensures:

Cars are equal

You can check the data of every car to make sure that everything is equal and no-one has an unfair advantage. All cars are dyno-tested and are within 3% as regulated by the FIA

Learn from fastest

You can look at the fastest driver’s data, to compare and help you get on the pace as fast as possible. Learning the best way to take every corner makes the entire grid faster

All of this means that winning is based solely on your racecraft, there are no team politics and no-one has an unfair advantage. We think it’s great racing!

One Media – Livestreamed and Televised on FOX

What sets MERITUS apart from other teams is their 25 years experience activating motorsport in Asia. The team use this knowledge and experience to realise massive RoI for our partners, focusing on three key areas:

One Cost – No hidden fee’s

Formula 4 South East Asia offer one of the most cost effective routes for young athletes to reach Formula 1. The championship provides a level playing field for all and does not allow any performance advantages. So its all about the driver.

One Dream

We all share the dream of reaching the Pinnacle of Motorsport, F1. To do that you need to earn 40 super license points. MERITUS have also created the MERITUS Awards Gala, an annual black-tie event, designed to bring Asian motorsport to greater levels of recognition in the international arena and promote driver development programmes globally.

To motivate, reward and inspire young talent, the F4 champions win super license points: