WILLOWS, Calif. — The Formula Pro USA Western Championships returned to Thunderhill Raceway Park on May 15–17, 2026 for Rounds 5 and 6 of the 2026 season, joining the inaugural Thunderhill Open as part of the Formula Awesome run group. The 3.0-mile, 15-turn road course delivered a weekend of high-stakes open-wheel racing that tightened the FPUSA-4 championship to a single point, extended one of the most dominant runs in series history in FPUSA-3, and produced a clean sweep on the top step of the Women’s Racing Series podium.
For Yana Kapoor, it was a weekend that tested her limits—and ultimately vaulted her to the top of the standings. Emerging from the grueling double-header with a clean sweep in the class, Kapoor now officially leads the WRS F4 Championship.
Here is the inside story of how a challenging start transformed into a championship-defining weekend.
The Weekend Breakdown
Friday: Battling the Elements
The weekend began with a steep learning curve. The extreme wind conditions made the track feel entirely foreign, resulting in a severe struggle to lock down speed and establish a driving rhythm. It was a day of frustration, data analysis, and digging deep to find a setup that could cut through the gale.
Saturday: The Comeback Kid
Whatever changes were made overnight worked flawlessly. Warmups brought a renewed sense of confidence, culminating in a blistering qualifying session to snatch Pole Position.
The race itself delivered one of the most entertaining battles of the afternoon in the WRS classification. Kapoor and Ana Palestro went at it lap after lap, swapping positions back and forth in one of the closest scraps of the season so far. Despite dropping back slightly at the start, Kapoor fought tooth and nail to come out on top at the flag. Palestro took a close second, with Chloe Jade (Kiwi Motorsport) completing the WRS podium to keep the title race genuinely open.
Sunday: Dominance Confirmed
With the momentum fully established, Kapoor secured Pole Position for the second day in a row. When the green flag dropped, the battle with Palestro picked up right where Saturday left off, with the two trading places through the early laps.
As the race wore on, however, Kapoor put her head down and pulled away. Palestro began to slip back, allowing Chloe Jade to close the gap and make the pass for second. Once in clean air, Kapoor’s pace was untouchable, cruising to a comfortable win. The final WRS order—Kapoor, Jade, Palestro—sealed Kapoor’s clean Thunderhill sweep.
Midway Season Report Card
With this weekend in the rearview mirror, Kapoor leaves Willows with a marker laid down for the rest of the field.
| Metric | Season Total |
| Races Started | 6 |
| Podium Finishes | 6 |
| Race Wins | 4 |
| Pole Positions | 3 |
| Championship Status | 1st (WRS F4) |
Trophies, Tech, and Trackside Thanks
Thunderhill Raceway Park delivered an exceptional event, capped off with the presentation of the coveted green jacket—even if the tailoring was a bit on the generously oversized side! A weekend of this caliber is never a solo effort. It takes a village to get a car to the grid and a driver to the podium.
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The Brain Trust: Massive appreciation goes to the world-class coaches and crew at World Speed Incorporated for unlocking the car’s potential.
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The Organizers & Officials: Thank you to the track workers, Formula Pro USA, Exclusive Racing, Auraah New York, and the event organizers for ensuring a safe and fiercely competitive environment.
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The Competitors: Respect to the fellow racers on the grid for some incredibly clean, hard-fought battles.
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The Sponsors: A special nod to TOYO TYRE (UK) LTD and Logitech for throwing their weight behind the event. The prize of a brand-new Logitech simulator wheel and pedal set is going to make off-track preparation even more intense.
Next on the schedule is an intensive test session at Sonoma Raceway with the Turn2 Drivers Club, dialing in the car before packing up and heading to the iconic Circuit of The Americas with the Skip Barber Racing School. The pursuit of the championship continues.
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