SONOMA, CA — Sonoma Raceway
March 10, 2025 — Formula Pro USA (FPUSA) presented by Exclusive Racing Auctions, officially launched its 2026 Western Championship season this past weekend at the historic Sonoma Raceway. FPUSA “springs forward” into the 2026 season with a competitive grid across three distinct classes—FPUSA-3, FPUSA-4, and the WRS (Women’s Racing Series)—returning to the challenging 2.52-mile road course running the 9-9a chicane track layout for a double-header event that set the tone for the year.
Friday: Testing and Preparation
The event began on Friday with a dedicated series test day. Drivers and teams took advantage of the clear weather and technical layout of Sonoma to dial in their machines. With testing included as part of the event registration, the paddock was busy as teams like World Speed Motorsports, Kiwi Motorsport, and Jensen Global Advisors refined setups on their Ligier chassis and Hankook tires, preparing for the first championship points of the season.
Saturday: Round 1 – Dominance from the Outset
Saturday’s Round 1 saw intense racing as drivers looked to claim the first trophies of 2026:
- FPUSA-3: Dan Decker (World Speed Motorsports) made a statement in the Formula 3 category, securing the win and the fastest lap of the race. Larry Schnur (World Speed Motorsports) followed in second, showcasing a strong team performance.
- FPUSA-4: The Formula 4 field was led by Lucas Hand (Kiwi Motorsport), who took the top step of the podium and secured the fastest lap. Erik Doan (World Speed Motorsports) finished second, with Scott Pyle (World Speed Motorsports) rounding out the podium in third.
- WRS (Women’s Racing Series): Competing within the FPUSA-4 field, Yana Kapoor (World Speed Motorsports) took the first WRS win of the season. She was joined on the WRS podium by Ana Palestro (Jensen Global Advisors) in second and Chloe Jade (Kiwi Motorsport) in third.
Sunday: Round 2 – The Weekend Sweep
Sunday’s Round 2 featured a repeat of the front-running pace, but with hard-fought battles throughout the pack:
- FPUSA-3: Dan Decker completed a perfect weekend sweep for World Speed Motorsports, taking his second win and second fastest lap of the event. Larry Schnur again secured the second position.
- FPUSA-4: Lucas Hand proved to be the class of the field in F4, matching Decker’s performance with a second win and another fastest lap for Kiwi Motorsport. Erik Doan maintained his consistency with another second-place finish, while Austin Tiller (World Speed Motorsports) claimed the final step of the podium in third.
- WRS: Yana Kapoor continued her impressive form, securing her second WRS victory of the weekend. Ana Palestro and Chloe Jade once again finished second and third, respectively, as the three drivers established themselves as the early leaders in the WRS standings.
Championship Outlook
As the series departs Sonoma, Dan Decker (FPUSA-3) and Lucas Hand (FPUSA-4) leave as the clear championship leaders, both sitting on a maximum of 54 points. In the WRS, Kapoor holds a commanding lead after her opening-round double-victory.
“This was a fantastic start to our 2026 campaign,” said an FPUSA Series Official. “The talent across FPUSA-3, FPUSA-4, and the WRS is higher than ever. Sonoma is a demanding track, and seeing our drivers handle it with such precision gives us a lot of momentum heading into the rest of the season.”
The Formula Pro USA Western Championship presented by Exclusive Racing Auctions is powered by Mountune USA, supported by Ligier North America, and utilizes spec tires from Hankook Motorsports.
CURRENT POINTS
The series will return to Sonoma Raceway for Rounds 3 & 4 on April 23–26, joining the high-profile SpeedTour and SVRA weekend.
