Winter Series Recap – A Strong Start to the season

Matan Achituv has finished 2 rounds and 6 races of the USF Juniors YACademy Winter Series. The championship’s two rounds, hosted at Homestead-Miami Speedway and NOLA Motorsports Park, were an important first step in Matan’s transition from international karting to single-seater car racing. And it was a very sucsessful debut.

The YACademy Winter Series is a highly competitive pre-season championship for up-and-coming drivers, giving rookies a chance to gain experience and exposure ahead of the main USF Juniors Championship. With a mix of new and returning drivers, it’s a proving ground where raw talent meets real-world racecraft—and it’s also where Matan made his car racing debut at just 14 years old.

Over the course of 6 races, Matan showed consistency, pace, and maturity beyond his years. Despite going up against a full field of 31 cars—many driven by older, more experienced racers—he brought home five top-10 finishes (P6, P7, P9, P4, P14, P5), including an impressive P4 and P5, and completed 5 out of 6 races cleanly without incidents or DNFs. His performance didn’t just mark him as a quick rookie—it marked him as a future contender.

By the end of the winter series, Matan secured 6th place overall in the championship standings, an outstanding achievement in one of the most competitive junior series in North America. He was consistently among the fastest rookies, demonstrating his potential with strong pace, clean starts, and aggressive but smart overtakes throughout both weekends.

The Homestead round saw steady improvement across each session, with Matan gaining confidence with every lap on the high-speed, technical layout. Matan left Homestead with the fastest lap. By the time the championship moved to the sweeping corners of NOLA, Matan was already in the fight with front runners—matching their times and making bold moves on track.

This winter series served as the launchpad for a season that promises to be even more exciting. With lessons learned, confidence gained, and momentum on his side, Matan is now looking ahead to the full 2025 USF Juniors Championship, representing VRD Racing and proudly carrying the Israeli flag into every race.