"FRECA will be a new challenge for me, with a new car, new circuits, and a new racing environment," Dat said. "I'm excited to embrace this and gain valuable experience. I'm also looking forward to progressing from the F4 Indian Championship, which has done a lot to support drivers like myself on the FIA Global Pathway."
Joshua Evans, owner of the KIC Evans GP, said he was impressed with Hoang Dat from the F4 Indian Championship.
"Having worked with him in the Indian championship, I was impressed with his raw talent and towards racing attitude," Evans said. "His ability to deliver strong performances against experienced competitors was impressive."
Dat is competing in the F4 Chinese Championship for the BlackJack Racing. After two races in Shanghai, he finished first on April 20 and second the following day. He is second on the table with 35 points, two behind Chinese racer Jiang Fukang. The tournament has 18 stages held between May and November.
At the F4 Indian Championship, Dat raced for the Hyderabad Blackbirds team and ranked fifth overall after 15 races.
Dat was born in 2008 to an English father and a Vietnamese mother. His family lives in Ho Chi Minh City and guided Dat toward a racing career from a young age. Dat has Vietnamese nationality and has represented Vietnam in many international tournaments.
Coaching the 16-year-old is former Malaysian F3 racer Mitch Gilbert, one of the first Asians to participate in formula racing. Before competing in F4, Dat was a familiar face in domestic and international go-kart tournaments.
F4 is a racing series for amateur racers who want to embark on a professional career. The fact that it only took a year for Dat to compete in F3 demonstrates his potential.
The Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) is one of the seven biggest tournaments in F3. It has been held since 2019, with its predecessor being the European Championship and Renault Eurocup.
The 2024 FRECA is held from May 11 to October 27, with 20 stages in 10 countries. The tournament has 12 teams, and Hoang Dat is one of two Southeast Asian riders besides Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi of Thailand, also part of KIC Evans GP.