Two more series openers: Mokarem dominates at Homestead, Tye leads at Portimão
Two series kicked off their 2026 seasons this past weekend: the E4 Spanish Winter Championship is the latest winter series to kick off, while the opening double header of the 2026 USF Pro Championships just started in Florida with the USF Juniors.
USF Juniors
Max Mokarem emerged as the headline act of the new USF Juniors season, delivering a commanding performance at the opener. Competing on the 2.25-mile roval at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the Zanella Racing driver converted a double pole position into two emphatic victories, writing his name into the record books as the third-youngest winner in series history.
Organised in partnership with YACademy, the event officially launched the championship’s fifth season and ran alongside Spring Training sessions for USF2000 and USF Pro 2000. A competitive 21-car field representing nine different nations underlined the growing international appeal of the category.
Consistency proved key for Karol Pasiewicz (Olivia Racing), who secured second place in all three races. The final podium step was shared between Vilho Aatola (DEForce), third in the opening two contests, and Olivier Mrak (Zanella Racing), who claimed P3 in Race 3.
With one of six rounds completed, Mokarem leads the standings on 82 points, ahead of Pasiewicz on 75 and Aatola on 53.
The championship heads next to Carolina Motorsport Park on April 17–19. Meanwhile, the broader USF Pro Championships campaign shifts into high gear, as IndyCar Series support categories USF2000 and USF Pro 2000 open their seasons during the traditional curtain-raiser weekend in St. Petersburg.
E4 - Spanish Winter Championship
The 2026 Spanish Winter Championship kicked off in spectacular fashion at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, setting the tone for what promises to be a fiercely contested campaign.
It was Nathan Tye (Drivex) who stole the spotlight. After splitting pole positions with Vivek Kanthan (Griffin Core), Tye went on to secure two of the three race victories across the weekend, immediately positioning himself as the early title benchmark.
The reverse-grid sprint race delivered a different storyline, with Andrej Petrović (T-Code) claiming victory ahead of rising talent Luna Fluxá (Campos Racing).
In the overall standings, Tye leads with 56 points, followed by Noah Monteiro with 31, Kanthan 30 and Petrović on with 28points. The championship returns to action this week at the Circuito del Jarama.
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