Determined to leave his mark in the FR Americas Championship Powered by Honda, Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport driver Ryan Shehan had a dominating series debut. Earning the pole position on Saturday morning and race win that afternoon, the now 18-year-old claimed the race two win on Sunday morning leading lights to flag before adding a third-place podium result in the third and final race of the weekend.
It was a heck of a debut for Shehan in the FR Americas qualifying session as his experience gained in New Zealand was paying off on American soil. Dominating the qualifying session, Shehan scored the pole position and inside front row starting spot with a massive lap nearly half a second faster than any of his rivals. Leading the six-driver Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport contingent, Shehan would have a clear run into the first corner in the opening race of the season.
It was a dominant performance for Shehan in the first wheel-to-wheel action of the season as the Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport driver led from lights to flag to earn his first FR Americas win. Coming into the season as one of the favorites, Shehan did not disappoint.
“What a weekend so far,” expressed Shehan after the first podium celebration of his North American racing season. “This is a huge testament to all the hard work the team and I have put in already this year. Most people thought we were crazy going to New Zealand to compete in the high-profile FR Oceania series, but I learned so much, and many of those lessons helped me on track today.”
With the fastest lap of race one, Shehan earned the pole position for race two as he would once again start from the inside of the front row on Sunday morning. Like the day prior, Shehan dominated the wheel-to-wheel racing leading every race lap to score his second win of the weekend. While scoring the win, Shehan was the most consistent driver on track as he was able to match lap-after-lap and only scored the fourth fastest lap of the race.
Shehan added, “Two-for-two. Hoping to sweep the weekend this afternoon.”
Lining up on row two for the start of race three, Shehan achieved the goal that he set out to at the beginning of the weekend. Crossing the line third, the Austinite scored three podium results in the first three races of 2023.
“Great weekend and it is a great feeling to leave the first event weekend as the point leader,” added Shehan. “We need to keep our foot on the throttle and replicate this performance at the next event.”
Now Ryan shifts his focus to expanding his group of partners and sponsors, engaging youth through his 501c3 nonprofit, Shehan Strong, and preparing for the second event weekend of the FR Americas Powered by Honda at the famed Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin in mid-May.
Ryan Shehan (age 18) is an aspiring Formula One racer, growing business leader, and nonprofit founder making an impact on youth in the Austin community. His company, Ryan Shehan Racing, builds solutions that enable his partners and sponsors to leverage Motorsports to uniquely and economically brand, promote, and build/maintain relationships in 360° with customers, employees, vendors, and other stakeholders. His nonprofit, Shehan Strong, allows him to support, engage, and inspire the next generation to “Push Your Limits”. Shehan and his organizations are active members of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and Austin Gives.
Want to learn more about the Ryan Shehan Partnership Program? Click HERE Looking to be Ryan Shehan’s Wingman? Click HERE Want to help Ryan inspire and impact his youth audience? Click HERE Want to learn more about his 501c3 nonprofit, Shehan Strong? Click HERE Don’t have access to the website? Call us at – 1.833.6.Racing (1-833-672-2464)
For more information on Ryan Shehan, please contact RTD Media & Management or follow Ryan on social media on Twitter (@RyanShehanRace), Instagram (@RyanShehanOfficial), Facebook (@RyanShehanOfficial), and Website (RyanShehan.com).
AVONDALE, La. (March 12, 2023) – Ryan Shehan has back-to-back wins in his first two Formula Regional Americas Championship Powered by Honda (FR Americas) starts, as he took the win in Race 2 at NOLA Motorsports Park on Sunday morning. Keeping his No. 66 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3 at the front of the field from lights to checkered, Shehan won the race in dominating fashion.
“That definitely wasn’t easy,” said Shehan from the podium. “Nick was right behind me the whole first half; then I saw him just pull over—I’m not sure what happened. From there, it was just me and Cooper [Becklin]. I just did my best to maintain the gap to Cooper, and was able to get away with the win. I have to thank Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport; sweeping the podium just shows how strong of a team they are.”
Nick Persing (No. 29 OPI Commercial Builders Inc. Ligier JS F3) applied pressure to Shehan during the early laps of the race, not allowing Shehan to pull more than a half-second gap on the field. However, while working the seventh lap of the race, Persing suffered a mechanical issue that forced him to pull off the track and into a safe location, which allowed the field to avoid a caution.
With Persing’s misfortune, Shehan automatically doubled his lead over second place as he raced nearly a full second ahead of Cooper Becklin (No. 19 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3), who advanced to the second position. Becklin started the race in the third position and quietly hit his marks every lap to hold position.
Teammates Bryson Morris (No. 39 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) and Callum Hedge (No. 17 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) were left to battle it out for the third and final position on the podium. Morris initially held the advantage, but a pass by Hedge in Turn 4 with just over three minutes left on the clock ultimately left Morris on the outside looking in.
Shehan crossed the line first on his Hankook tires, followed by Becklin and Hedge, marking the first team sweep of the season with Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport claiming the top four finishing positions.
FR Americas closes out their NOLA SpeedTour weekend with Race 3 this afternoon at 2:45 p.m. CT. Follow the championship on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or watch Race Monitor for live timing and scoring. This weekend’s races are streaming free at YouTube.com/SpeedTourTV.
AVONDALE, La. (March 11, 2023)– Ryan Shehan won the Formula Regional Americas Championship Powered by Honda (FR Americas) season opener at NOLA Motorsports Park on Saturday afternoon. The 18-year-old returned to America just a few weeks ago after spending the winter in New Zealand to race in the Formula Regional Oceania Championship.
With a strong weekend so far, Shehan (No. 66 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3) paced opening practice before taking the pole position in Saturday morning’s qualifying session. A quick jump at lights out placed him in control of the race before the field even reached Turn 1.
Nick Persing (No. 29 OPI Commercial Builders Inc. Ligier JS F3) held the pressure during the early laps of the race, but fatigue started to kick in for the driver who had already completed three track sessions in the 80-degree temperatures, including two Radical Cup North America races. By lap 8, Shehan finally opened up a 1.117-second lead, which he steadily grew lap after lap.
Meanwhile, as the laps ticked down, Persing found himself feeling the pressure of a closing Cooper Becklin (No. 19 Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport Ligier JS F3). Once separated by over a second, Becklin had closed the gap to just a few car lengths with less than three minutes left in the race. In an intense battle, both drivers took turns locking their brakes before Becklin finally pulled side-by-side with Persing heading into Turn 1 while racing toward the white flag. With Persing in the better line, Becklin was unable to complete the pass, leaving Persing to claim the second position.
As they crossed the line, it was Shehan, followed by Persing, and then Becklin, to each claim their first podium finish of the 2023 season.
“I saw Nick in my mirrors for a good chunk of the race and then he just kind of disappeared,” said Shehan from the podium. “I couldn’t tell how close he was, so I just kept going. I knew that if I backed off there was a chance that he could catch back up. I kept pushing until I took the white flag, and I’m just so thankful to take this win. I have to thank the whole team at Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport. The fact that we can come out here and be competitive in our first race shows how good of a team they are, and how good their preparation is.”
FR Americas returns to the track tomorrow for Race 2 at 10:55 a.m. CT, followed by Race 3 at 2:45 p.m. CT. Follow the championship on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or watch Race Monitor for live timing and scoring. This weekend’s races are streaming free at YouTube.com/SpeedTourTV.
After a successful Formula Oceania Toyota Racing Series (TRS) program in New Zealand, Texan Ryan Shehan is back on American soil and set for the start of his US race season. Confirming that he will rejoin Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport in 2023, Shehan will also level up to the FR Americas Championship Powered by Honda as he climbs another rung on the motorsports ladder.
“I had a great TRS series in New Zealand and it really helped me up my game and prepare for the start of my US program,” explained Shehan. “While some of my competitors have had test days, I have already completed five race weekends, 15 race starts, and stood on the podium this year.”
With two wins and eight podium results to a final position of fourth in the F4 United States Championship Powered by Honda, Shehan has proven that he has both the on-track skills and results, as well as the off-track marketing to make the jump to the next level.
Shehan continued, “My team and I have been working hard to engage the necessary partners and sponsors to make a run at the title in 2023. With the help of several key people, we have been able to build a program that is really gaining some traction. I can’t wait to see what the rest of 2023 holds.”
Set to hit the famed NOLA Motorsports Park this coming Thursday for practice, official competition will commence Friday and roll through the weekend with the first three races of 2023. Looking to start the season off on a high, Shehan and Crosslink Kiwi Motorsport will be entering the weekend with winning on their mind.
Ryan Shehan (age 18) is an aspiring Formula One racer, growing business leader, and nonprofit founder making an impact on youth in the Austin community. His company, Ryan Shehan Racing, builds solutions that enable his partners and sponsors to leverage Motorsports to uniquely and economically brand, promote, and build/maintain relationships in 360° with customers, employees, vendors, and other stakeholders. His nonprofit, Shehan Strong, allows him to support, engage, and inspire the next generation to “Push Your Limits”. Shehan and his organizations are active members of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and Austin Gives.
Want to learn more about the Ryan Shehan Partnership Program? Click HERE Looking to be Ryan Shehan’s Wingman? Click HERE Want to help Ryan inspire and impact his youth audience? Click HERE Want to learn more about his 501c3 nonprofit, Shehan Strong? Click HERE Don’t have access to the website? Call us at – 1.833.6.Racing (1-833-672-2464)
For more information on Ryan Shehan, please contact RTD Media & Management or follow Ryan on social media on Twitter (@RyanShehanRace), Instagram (@RyanShehanOfficial), Facebook (@RyanShehanOfficial), and Website (RyanShehan.com).
We had the opportunity to speak with Keller Williams’ President Marc King about Ryan’s Near-death incident, coming back, building our racing business and our nonprofit, and his work to become a Keller Williams agent at age 18!
