Fittipaldi Jr set for full F4 campaign with top team VAR

Emmo Fittipaldi Jr, the son of motorsport legend Emerson Fittipaldi, will kick off his career in single-seater racing in earnest this season with front-running Dutch outfit Van Amersfoort Racing.

After racing in the junior karting ranks in the US and in Canada, the 15-year-old charger who is a member of the Sauber Driver Academy moved to Europe last year to compete in the Danish F4 Championship,

And with a year's worth of experience in the category under his belt, Emmo Jr will step up to the fiercely competitive FIA Italian and German F4 championships.

• Read also: Fittipaldi to test with Haas in Bahrain, but race seat still open

"Despite his young age, Emmo Jr already collected an impressive track-record," said Van Amersfoort Racing' boss Rob Niessink.

"As son of a two-time F1 World Champion, it is not strange to see that Emerson reads and writes racing. He is a bright, smart, and talented youngster with a natural racecraft not often seen.

"Of course, he has a challenging road ahead of him. He is young and has lots to learn, but we have full confidence in his ability to work with the team and progress.

"Emerson communicates beyond his age, which will help him in his way forward. We are proud to be able to guide him on his way to higher levels and will offer our full support in every way possible, both on and off the track."

Fittipaldi knows all too well that he'll be facing a fiery competition in F4, but the young Brazilian is approaching the challenge with the innate motivation that powered his legendary father to success.

"I spent the winter preparing myself both mentally and physically and feel more than ready to start the season," he said.

"I will face tough competition this year, I realise that, but challenge motivates me, so I can’t wait to get going!

"Attacking the season with Van Amersfoort Racing gives me a huge confidence boost. I have spent quite some time with the team already, prepping myself in the simulator, getting to know the team and so on, and I have felt welcome from the very first moment onwards.

"Their passion and dedication towards being successful rubs off on me as well and I am more than ready to get going!"

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