SCCA Pro Racing

A new team has entered the final rounds of the Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda and it is bringing a familiar face back to the F4 U.S. lineup. DEForce Racing confirmed that it will make its F4 U.S. campaign as a multi-car team starting at Virginia International Raceway this weekend with Kory Enders of Warwick, New York, and F4 U.S. inaugural driver Moises de la Vara of Guadalajara, Mexico.

DEForce Racing, which originated in Mexico, created a U.S. team headquarters in Houston to bridge the gap for Mexican open-wheel drivers to compete in the United States. The team is using the affordability and international exposure of the F4 U.S. Championship to fuel its movement.

“The F4 U.S. Championship has gained a lot of recognition since the beginning of the year, especially with its expanding grid size,” DEForce team co-owner Ernesto Martinez said. “It offers an affordable way for us to introduce Mexican open-wheel drivers to the U.S. open-wheel scene. We are excited to debut our program at VIR."

Entering in the final rounds of NACAM F4 Championship in Mexico City with DEForce, participating in the 2016 Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand and also driving in other open-wheel series stateside for the DEForce team, Enders, 20, has ample experience competing in open-wheel cars internationally.

“I am looking forward to the massive amount of competition that F4 U.S. offers,” Enders said. “I enjoy competing under the FIA rules with the standing starts. COTA is going to be absolutely electrifying. I can’t wait to compete there.”

De la Vara had a successful rookie F4 U.S. season in 2016. He finished the inaugural year in seventh with one podium and 10 top-10 finishes. De la Vara will complete the 2017 F4 U.S. season with DEForce and has confirmed his return with the team in 2018 to compete for a full championship season. 

“I am extremely excited to get back into the F4 U.S. Championship,” de la Vara said. “I have grown substantially as a driver and I can’t wait to get back to one of the most competitive and biggest grids in the United States. DeForce will have a strong showing at the last rounds of the season and we are hoping to take a couple podium finishes.”

DEForce was founded by former Champ Car driver David Martinez and Ernesto Martinez. The duo has a long-successful history in motorsports, mentoring and coaching young talented drivers who have reached the highest level in motorsports, including Formula 1. The brothers manage the international driver development program, Falcone GP.  The program focuses on starting drivers in kart racing and transitioning them to open-wheel racing and touring cars.

Thirteen teams, including DEForce, join IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship at VIR Aug. 25-27.