The seventh edition of the FEED Racing F4 Shootout, founded in 2019 by Jacques Villeneuve and Patrick Lemarié, has crowned its latest winner: 18-year-old Rafael Theveny.
This year, the FEED Racing F4 Shootout welcomed 59 drivers from 17 different countries, aged between 14 and 20, all competing for the opportunity to win a fully funded season in the 2027 French F4 Championship.
As in previous years, the programme began with three five-day training camps held in June, July and August at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, followed by the Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals in early September.
The six finalists then gathered on the legendary Magny-Cours Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit for three days of intense on-track action, culminating in the Grand Final on October 1.
THE SIX 2026 FINALISTS
- 🇫🇷 Jean-Arthur Foubert – 14 years old
- 🇩🇪 Kiril Gense – 17 years old
- 🇫🇷 Rafael Theveny – 18 years old
- 🇫🇷 Léni Robillot-Lagache – 14 years old
- 🇮🇱 Yam Pinto – 17 years old
- 🇫🇷 Luka Scelles – 14 years old
Following a highly competitive Final, Rafael Theveny emerged victorious, securing the ultimate prize: a fully funded entry into the 2027 French F4 Championship, organised by the FFSA Academy, worth €145,500.
He succeeds Yuval Rosen, the 2025 FEED Racing winner, who went on to claim a race victory at Spa-Francorchamps and a podium finish at Nogaro during his French F4 campaign.
AN EXPERIENCED AND PRESTIGIOUS JURY
The 2026 Final was overseen by a distinguished jury consisting of:
- Chloé Bossier, representing the FFSA.
- Serge Saulnier, Managing Director of the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours.
- Evan Giltaire, French racing driver, former French F4 Champion and recently crowned Super Formula Lights Champion in Japan.
Their experience and expertise helped ensure a fair and competitive selection process, reflecting the core values of FEED Racing.
RAFAEL THEVENY: AN UNCONVENTIONAL JOURNEY TO VICTORY
Born in Sweden, Rafael Theveny began his motorsport journey in rental karting in 2016 before making his competitive debut in Sweden’s Micro category in 2017.
His progression continued over the following years, earning him a place at the FFSA Pôle France after finishing eighth in the 2021 French Karting Championship.
Despite suffering an injury in 2022, Rafael managed to secure an impressive second-place finish at the IAME World Final, before eventually stepping away from competitive racing.
Having put his driving ambitions on hold, Rafael recently enrolled at ESTACA engineering school in Laval, pursuing his ambition of becoming a race engineer.
His victory in the 2026 FEED Racing F4 Shootout now opens an unexpected new chapter in his motorsport career, offering him the opportunity to return to competition at the wheel of a Formula 4 car.
His journey perfectly embodies the philosophy behind FEED Racing: identifying raw talent, creating opportunities and proving that there is no single path to success in motorsport.
