Keralite Amir Sayed, one of India's brightest young racers, is one step closer to realising his big dream of competing in Formula One, the pinnacle of motorsport. The 17-year-old has qualified for the next year's French Formula 4 (F4) Championship, which should give him some valuable experience as he kickstarts the next chapter of his racing career in Europe. Son of Nibu Sayed, who hails from Moolavattom in Kottayam, and Chilean Marcelo Pinto, Amir is the only Indian to figure in the 2022 driver line-up of the F4 championship.
A Plus Two student of Riverside Public School at Kotagiri, near Ooty, Amir was in top form last year as he won all six races in the first round of 'Novice Cup' at the national racing championship at Coimbatore.
The French F4 championship uses the 1330-cc Mygale M21 cars powered by Renault. The 2022 edition of the championship will begin at the circuit of Nogaro in Gers in southwestern France on April 16. The competition will have seven rounds, with the seventh and the final circuit taking place at the Circuit Paul Ricard at Le Castellet in the south of France on October 16. Some of the legs will be held on F1 tracks.
Amir, who recently returned to India after undergoing speed tests and completing other formalities for taking part in the championship, will head to France in February.