Noah Monteiro Advances to Formula Regional European Championship with Van Amersfoort
The young Portuguese driver secures Spanish F4 runner-up honors and looks ahead to his upcoming debut in Macau.
Portuguese racing driver Noah Monteiro is set to compete in the Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA) in 2027 with Van Amersfoort Racing, the team that launched Max Verstappen's single-seater career. Although a formal announcement is still pending, the structure's chief executive officer, Otmar Szafnauer, revealed the signing on the High Performance podcast, stating that they have contracted Tiago Monteiro's son to pilot in FRECA.
The 16-year-old recently concluded his Spanish Formula 4 campaign as the runner-up on November 8 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Despite facing challenges and difficulties during the qualifications and races, Monteiro managed to secure second place in the standings, finishing 48 points behind champion Kasper Schormans. This achievement adds to his earlier victory in the Spanish Winter Championship at the beginning of the year.
Reflecting on the grueling season, Monteiro noted that the obstacles made the final outcome even more rewarding. "We had several problems in the qualifications and races, and winning this runner-up spot ended up being an even harder task than we were expecting," he explained. He highlighted that the ups and downs of the championship contributed significantly to his personal and driving development.
Monteiro's mother, Diana Pereira, expressed immense pride in her son's historic milestones on social media, emphasizing his status as the first Portuguese driver to attain such results in international Formula 4 competition. She praised his dedication and the honor of representing Portugal on the global motorsport stage.
Before making the eventual jump to FRECA, Monteiro will wrap up his time in the Formula 4 category at the prestigious FIA F4 World Cup in Macau. Scheduled to take place from November 19 to November 22, the event will be held on the legendary Guia Circuit, where the young driver will compete as part of the Theodore Racing squad.
Looking forward to the iconic street circuit, Monteiro is eager to conclude this chapter of his career on a high note. "Now it is time to head to Macau and close the Formula 4 chapter in my career, on one of the most challenging circuits in the world and in a race as mythical as Macau," he stated, expressing his ambition to fight for victory and proudly represent his country once more.
Van Amersfoort Racing, founded in 1975, boasts an extensive history in junior championships and acts as a direct stepping stone to Formula 2 and Formula 1. The team has previously hosted notable drivers who successfully reached Formula 1, including Charles Leclerc, Mick Schumacher, Liam Lawson, and Oliver Bearman.