First Vietnamese racing driver to compete in FIA F4 World Cup 2026 in Macau

The upcoming competition will take place in Macau, China from November 19 to 22, bringing together 24 of the world's top young drivers.

Ben Anh Nguyen, whose real name is Nguyen Hoai Nam Anh, will face strong competition from Luka Sammalisto, the 2026 Italian F4 champion, Dries Van Langendonck, the 2026 British F4 champion, and Kasper Schormans, who leads the Spanish F4 championship.

The field also includes drivers from renowned development programs run by Red Bull, Mercedes-AMG and McLaren.

Speaking about the upcoming competition, Ben said the 6.12-kilometer Guia Circuit was one of the world's most challenging street circuits, with narrow corners and barriers close to the track, where even a small mistake could end a race.

"Therefore, my main goal is to learn the circuit, race cleanly and finish the race rather than focus on the result. Taking part in the event marks a milestone for both me and Vietnamese formula racing," he said.

After the FIA F4 World Cup 2026, Ben plans to end his F4 campaign and move up to F3.

Born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, Ben showed a clear passion for racing cars from the age of five or six, turning his room into a display space for his collection of model cars.

Over the years, his passion grew, and he compiled his own book of racing-related knowledge.

He even used the 'li xi' (lucky money) he received over successive Lunar New Year (Tet) holidays to set up a formula racing simulator in his room, training on it daily for many years.

Ben is now a first-year motorsport engineering student at Purdue University in Indiana, the United States.

He chose to study aerodynamics because he wants to understand racing cars in depth and eventually build one to his own specifications.

Balancing university studies with international racing can be challenging, but Ben said it also helps him mature faster.

He consults his instructors and works with his university to coordinate his academic commitments with the international racing calendar.