The 2026 F4 Australian Championship (AU4) roared into life at Winton Motor Raceway last weekend, May 1-3, delivering an action-packed opening round filled with wheel-to-wheel battles, changing weather conditions and championship-defining moments.
Among a competitive 17-car field featuring both local and international talent, Jensen Marold emerged as the early championship leader after claiming two victories across the weekend. However, the reigning Gen1 champion was made to work for every point as New Zealand’s Marco Manson and Polish driver Borys Lyzen challenged him throughout the season opener.
Marold dominates qualifying
Marold laid down an early marker by securing pole position in both qualifying sessions and collecting the fastest lap bonus points in the opening two races.
Polish rising star Lyzen arrived at Winton carrying strong form from the Spanish Formula 4 Winter Series and initially qualified alongside Marold. However, a penalty for breaching parc fermé conditions between sessions forced him to start Race 1 from the rear of the field.
The penalty promoted reigning New Zealand Formula Ford champion Manson to second on the grid for the opening race, with Angus Baills third. In the second qualifying session, Marold again secured pole position for Race 3 ahead of Lyzen and Manson.
Gen 2 Qualifying 1 Classification
- Jensen Marold
- Marco Manson
- Angus Baills
Gen 2 Qualifying 2 Classification
- Jensen Marold
- Borys Lyzen
- Marco Manson
In the Gen1 category, Koby Wilson topped the first qualifying session while Jackson Culver claimed the honours in the second.
Marold withstands pressure in Race 1
Under clear conditions on Saturday, Marold converted pole position into victory after controlling proceedings from the front.
Behind him, Manson maintained second place while Lyzen produced one of the drives of the race. Starting from the back of the grid, the Polish driver sliced through the field and had climbed to fourth before a safety car was deployed on Lap 10 after Luca Cosolo became stranded in the gravel.
When racing resumed, Lyzen quickly moved into third position. Further back, contact between William Beck and Xavier Babbage-Hockey at Turn 10 ended the race for Babbage-Hockey.
Marold ultimately crossed the line ahead of Manson and Lyzen to claim the opening victory of the season.
In Gen1, Wilson held off Culver on the road, although post-race penalties for Culver elevated Lewis Gotch to second and Rugby Mangan to third.
2026 Australian F4 | Round 1 | Winton Raceway – Race 1 Classification
Gen 2
- Jensen Marold
- Marco Manson
- Borys Lyzen
- Angus Baills
- Brock Burton
- Lana Flack
- De’argo Stewart
- Anton Du
- William Beck
DNF Xavier Babbage-Hockey
DNF Luca Cosolo
Gen 1
- Koby Wilson
- Lewis Gotch
- Rugby Mangan
- Jackson Culver
- Matteo Kazaglis
- Martin Dudley
Slick tyre gamble pays off in Race 2
Sunday morning’s second race presented teams with a difficult strategic decision as patchy rain left the circuit in mixed conditions.
While the majority of the field opted for wet-weather tyres, Marold and Cosolo rolled the dice on slicks. The decision initially appeared costly when Marold stalled at the start and dropped to the rear of the field.
As the race progressed and a dry line began to emerge, the gamble paid off. The slick-shod runners found significant pace, with Marold charging through the field in spectacular fashion.
The championship leader completed his comeback on Lap 14, reclaiming first place before taking a remarkable victory ahead of Cosolo and Beck.
In Gen1, Culver emerged victorious after a close battle with Wilson and Gotch.
2026 Australian F4 | Round 1 | Winton Raceway – Race 2 Classification
Gen 2
- Jensen Marold
- Luca Cosolo
- William Beck
- Marco Manson
- Borys Lyzen
- Lana Flack
- Angus Baills
- Brock Burton
- Xavier Babbage-Hockey
- De’argo Stewart
- Anton Du
Gen 1
- Jackson Culver
- Koby Wilson
- Lewis Gotch
- Rugby Mangan
- Martin Dudley
- Matteo Kazaglis
Manson capitalises on late-race drama in Race 3
The final race of the weekend proved to be the most dramatic.
An early incident involving Mangan and Anton Du brought out the safety car and ended both drivers’ races. Once racing resumed, Marold led Manson, Flack and Lyzen in a tense battle at the front.
The race was interrupted again when Flack ran wide at Turn 2 and made contact with the tyre barrier, triggering a red flag.
Following the restart, the race became a short sprint to the finish. Lyzen launched an ambitious overtaking attempt on Marold at the back of the circuit, but contact between the pair eliminated both drivers from contention. Marold was forced to retire, while Lyzen also failed to finish.
Manson took full advantage of the incident to secure victory ahead of Beck and Baills.
In Gen1, Culver completed a successful Sunday by taking another victory ahead of Wilson and Gotch.
2026 Australian F4 | Round 1 | Winton Raceway – Race 3 Classification
Gen 2
- Marco Manson
- William Beck
- Angus Ballis
- Xavier Babbage-Hockey
- De’argo Stewart
- Luca Cosolo
DNF Jensen Marold
DNF Anton Du
DNF Lana Flack
DNF Borys Lyzen
DNF Brock Burton
Gen 1
- Jackson Culver
- Koby Wilson
- Lewis Gotch
- Matteo Kazaglis
- Martin Dudley
DNF Rugby Mangan
Championship standings
Despite his Race 3 retirement, Marold leaves Winton at the top of the Gen2 standings on 60 points. Manson sits just four points behind on 56, while North Island Formula Ford champion Beck occupies third with 35 points.
In Gen1, Culver’s strong Sunday results see him lead the championship on 65 points, narrowly ahead of Wilson on 63. Gotch rounds out the top three with 48 points.
Gen 2 Championship standings
- Jensen Marold – 60 points
- Marco Manson – 56 points
- William Beck – 35 points
- Angus Baills – 33 points
- Luca Cosolo – 26 points
- Borys Lyzen – 25 points
- De’argo Stewart – 17 points
- Lana Flack – 16 points
- Xavier Hockey – 14 points
- Brock Burton – 14 points
- Anton Du – 4 points
Gen 1 Championship standings
- Jackson Culver – 65 points
- Koby Wilson – 63 points
- Lewis Gotch – 48 points
- Matteo Kazaglis – 30 points
- Martin Dudley – 28 points
- Rugby Mangan – 27 points
