ALM Motorsport Line-Up Completed for 2017 Season in F4 NEZ

The success of the SMP F4 NEZ Championship has attracted several teams this year.In addition to MP Motorsport, the series welcomes Fernando Alonso Racing from Spain, the Lappalainen Team from Finland and now ALM Motorsport. The single-operation however remains in place, with the set-up and tyre pressure being the same for all the cars, and drivers focusing on learning how to drive open-wheel cars.

ALM Motorsport, the Estonian team based at the auto24ring in Parnu is joining the 2017 SMP F4 NEZ Championship certified by FIA with two local drivers, Jan-Erik Meikup and Sten Piirimagi. ALM Motorsport has been active since 2013, mainly in the Formula Renault 2.0 NEZ Championship and touring cars, having successful seasons, and scoring podiums every year. After 2016, ALM Motorsport looked for the opportunity to enter a professional series and decided to join the SMP F4 NEZ Championship certified by FIA.

Martin Laur, ALM Motorsport Manager: “The SMP F4 NEZ Championship is a great platform for young drivers to start to develop themselves as racing drivers. ALM Motorsport is pleased to have an opportunity to enter the series with our own team and we are looking forward to the challenge ahead. We are really happy to have two talented Estonian drivers – Jan-Erik Meikup and Sten Dorian Piirimägi – with us for our maiden season in the championship.”

Jan-Erik Meikup started his racing career at the age of 5, when he debuted in karting in Estonia in the Cadet category, claiming his first win the same year. The 17-year old Estonian then stepped up to formula racing in 2015, entering the Formula Renault 2.0 NEZ Championship with ALM Motorsport. He immediately scored podiums and wins, missing the title by one point in his maiden season, but snatching a well-deserved rookie title.
Meikup then stepped up to the ADAC F4 German Championship, which gave him experience of fighting very experienced drivers in a tight pack. He said: “I’m looking forward to the start of the championship. I really like the fact that we are in an equal system with all the cars having the same set-up. It’s my second time in the F4 Tatuus-Abarth car and I feel more and more comfortable.”

Sten Piirimagi started karting in 2007 in Estonia. He drove in the Micro (60cc) category, and finished third in his first ever race. He then left to compete in Belgium and entered different categories such as the Boxer Challenge, KF3, Rotax Senior, KZ2 and X30 SuperShifter. He said: “It will be my maiden year in single-seaters and I know I’ll have a lot to learn. The SMP F4 NEZ Championship is a very good place to start and I’m very excited about the coming season.”