Photo credit: Formula Race Promotions/RTD Media

This weekend, dozens of drivers across all ages and backgrounds will travel to take on the 2.78-mile Pittsburgh International Race Complex for the third of seven rounds of the 2025 Formula Race Promotions calendar.

The three-day weekend will see three different a wide array of formula cars compete, with over 25 entries expected for the F1600 Championship, including names who might be on the grid for series such as F4 and USF2000 in the years to come.

I will have on-the-ground coverage in support of FRP this weekend on socials and here at USOpenWheelNation.com. During the festivities, USOWN will cover many of the stories of these young drivers as they begin to embark on their car racing careers.

On top of the F1600 Championship, numerous drivers who have accomplished karting careers and unique backgrounds will also be taking part in the other two Formula Race Promotions classes: the F2000 Championship and the Atlantic Championship series. While the F1600 class contains more standardized Formula Ford cars from the 21st century, F2000 and the Atlantic Championship will have cars ranging from different ages.

In total, many drivers will have a shot at making a name for themselves just north of the Steel City come Saturday and Sunday’s races, across classes where drivers like Kyle Kirkwood, Colton Herta, and Conor Daly all raced in the past.

With two rounds already in the books and having conducted a ton of research, here are some of the drivers to keep an eye out for as USOWN’s coverage unfolds:

Ayrton and Gabe Cahan (F1600) – The Cahan brothers have been the class of the field so far in F1600, sitting at the top two spots in the championship. The two have been trading wins so far in the season, putting on a show in the most recent round at Mid-Ohio when Ayrton took first place over Gabe in race two, only for a second 1-2 finish to occur in the following race with Gabe taking the top step. The two drivers are backed by Exclusive Autosport, with Gabe having tested with them at IMS for the 2024 fall combine. Expect more podium finishes from the two this weekend.

Wes Gundler (F1600) – An accomplished winner on the karting circuit in North Carolina, Gundler will enter the weekend sitting sixth in championship points but in great form after securing a podium and putting up fantastic lap times in the final race of the Mid-Ohio weekend. Heading into the Pittsburgh weekend, the K-Hill driver will be in a good spot to keep up his form and continue to impress with the middle of the season approaching.

Chace Supplee (F1600) – In his rookie season in the series, Chace Supplee just took home his strongest result yet for Iron Rock Motorsports, a seventh place finish in the second race of the Mid-Ohio weekend. Having taken a step into the top 10 of the standings and sitting at P9 going into the race at Pittsburgh, Supplee is continuing what has been an impressive debut season and should be one to watch this weekend.

Abigail Froehlich (F1600) – Abigail Froehlich’s story to the F1600 grid is one that is increasingly rare in American open-wheel racing. Having grown up in a single-parent household and overcoming being from a different financial background than most competitors, she has since been competing with K-Hill Motorsports as part of one of the most prestigious teams on the grid. She just picked up her best finish of the season at Mid-Ohio, and is continuing to progress in her first year of formula cars.

Jack Haydu (F1600) – Carrying a lot of karting experience across the Mid-Atlantic region including races on the karting layout of the Pitt Race track he’ll race on this weekend, Jack Haydu moved up to F1600 and finished just outside the top ten. Given his local ties, being from Eastern Ohio, it’ll be interesting to see Haydu take the next step toward competing at the next level at a location he has raced at many times before.

Carter Sheets (F2000) – Coming off of a podium at Pitt Race last season, Sheets is a driver who has a great chance for a weekend of recovery after a crash put him out of the second of two F2000 races at Mid-Ohio. He’s an accomplished finisher at this level, and picked up a second-place finish in Road Atlanta. It’s only a matter of time before Carter gets back to the podium, and he could be ready to do it at Pitt Race.

Sebastian Newberg (F2000) – Newberg is a talented 16-year old who has already tested a F4 car with the now-defunct Gonella Racing and a USF Pro Championships car with Pole Position Motorsports. He had a very strong weekend at Mid-Ohio where he found himself on the podium in both races and should be in contention for his first race win of the season this weekend.

Arshia Akhtar (F2000) – One of the most fantastic stories in American open-wheel racing right now at any level, Akhtar is believed to be the first female racing driver from Pakistan. Representing a part of the world which rarely feeds drivers into American open-wheel racing, she currently sits eighth in the standings with a best finish of fourth place at the opening race of the season at Road Atlanta.

Brandon Schwarz (Atlantic) – Driving a Ligier JS F3 car that you most likely have seen in the Formula Regional Americas Championship, Schwarz is the points leader having won three of four races so far in the Atlantic Championship. So far, he remains in command of the title fight in his class.

For more information regarding the schedule for the weekend, check out the FRP website here.