Podium finish for Maite Caceres on single seater return in Formula Fara
- RACERS
- 5 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Maite Cáceres’ last minute return to single-seaters was highly positive: the Uruguayan driver rejoined the Formula FARA Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway and was immediately a front-running contender, scoring podium finishes and repeatedly fighting for the race win.
Maite Cáceres’ return to single-seater competition could hardly have been more positive: the Uruguayan driver rejoined the Formula FARA Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway and immediately re-established herself as a front-running contender, scoring podium finishes and repeatedly fighting for the race win. The weekend marked her first single-seater outing in over a year and wrapped up a last minute comeback to the racetrack.
After her international debut in 2023 in F1 Academy, Maite enjoyed a strong year in 2024, during which she continued her progression in the United States with a successful Ligier Junior Formula campaign, collecting several podiums - before switching to the IMSA platform in 2025 with RAFA Racing Team in the fiercely competitive Mazda MX-5 Cup. It was a learning season away from downforce cars, which nevertheless proved highly valuable.
Returning at a short notice to Formula FARA - a developmental series aimed at preparing the drivers for their full time commitments - the former F1 Academy driver immediately showed her comfort back in F4-spec machinery.
Maite initially the led practice session, then qualifying continued to highlight her readiness. Cáceres delivered a strong lap of 1:30.977 to secure third on the grid, just three tenths of a second shy of pole position. Despite limited recent single-seater mileage, she placed herself in contention among the front-runners, setting the stage for a weekend built around aggressive starts, strong pace and good racecraft at the front.
Starting from the second row for Saturday’s opening race, with Cam Becker and Agustin Sepúlveda sharing the front row, Cáceres launched perfectly when the green flag waved. She stormed through Turn 1 to jump straight into second place, producing one of the best starts of the weekend. Becker immediately began to edge away at the front, while Cáceres was forced into early defence as Sepúlveda regrouped behind her, with Vidmontiene also firmly in the mirrors.
Cáceres initially held her ground, positioning the car well and resisting repeated attempts from behind. On the second lap, Sepúlveda eventually found a way through, and as Cáceres attempted to respond, Vidmontiene launched an attack of her own. The Uruguayan stood her ground and retained third just before the race was neutralised by a caution.
At the lap-five restart, Cáceres again reacted sharply, briefly surprising Sepúlveda before the order was restored. Vidmontiene closed once more by lap seven, and the pair traded positions in a close fight as Frumusa crashed elsewhere on the circuit, though the race remained green. With Vidmontiene and Sepúlveda locked in battle for second, Cáceres remained poised directly behind them, and when the opportunity opened, she seized it. Capitalising on their duel, she slipped past Sepúlveda to reclaim third.
Once in cleaner air, Cáceres’ pace came alive. She set her personal best lap of 1:31.486 and began steadily closing the gap to Vidmontiene. Although Becker had stretched his advantage to around 3.5 seconds, Cáceres continued to push, improving again to a 1:31.246. By the final lap, she had caught the car ahead and was within striking distance, but time ran out. She crossed the line in third place, completing a highly encouraging return.
Sunday morning’s second race lined up according to the previous day’s results, placing Becker again on pole, Sepúlveda second and Cáceres third. With clear evidence of front-running pace from Race 1, Cáceres was immediately on the attack.
From the rolling start, she produced another superb launch, sweeping past Sepúlveda to slot into second before the field reached Turn 1. Behind, a collision between Medeiro and Robards triggered an early caution, and the race was soon red-flagged to allow for recovery operations. After a brief stoppage, the field returned to the grid and prepared for a restart.
When racing resumed, Cáceres wasted no time in applying pressure to Becker. She attempted an outside move, then tried to switch back through the following corners, repeatedly showing her nose but finding Becker resolute in defence. She drew alongside again into Turn 1, only to be forced to tuck back in. The sustained attack cost her a little momentum, allowing Becker to build a small margin, while Sepúlveda closed back in behind.
Becker soon dipped under the 1:32 mark, but before he could escape, another caution, involving Medeiro, bunched back up the field.
The restart brought the top three back together, nose-to-tail. Cáceres now had to combine attack with defence, and she delivered an intelligent run: she placed her car perfectly to neutralise Sepúlveda’s attempts, covered every inside line and maintained consistent 1:31-second lap times as Vidmontiene joined the leading group.
Although Becker remained just out of reach, Cáceres kept the gap under two seconds to the flag and secured second place, improving on her Saturday result and stepping back on the podium.
Later that day, Cáceres returned to the grid for the final race of the weekend, once again starting from the second row and aiming to repeat the explosive openings that had defined her event. At the green flag, Sepúlveda protected the inside while Vidmontiene went to the outside, and Cáceres threaded through to emerge third before immediately closing on the leaders.
Becker ran slightly wide at Turn 4, opening the door, Sepúlveda seized the lead, and Cáceres followed him through. At Turn 1, she went side-by-side with Becker and completed the move to take second place. With only Sepúlveda ahead, the Uruguayan settled into a high-speed rhythm. The top three ran almost identical lap times, Cáceres circulating in the low 1:31s and then lowering her personal best to 1:31.382 as she closed the gap.
Finding more confidence, she pushed harder, improving again to a 1:31.247 and chipping away at Sepúlveda’s advantage. The leaders broke clear of the rest of the field, separated by mere tenths. In her pursuit, Cáceres attempted a bold move - Sepúlveda closed the door, forcing her sideways, but she made a remarkable save to keep the car out of the wall. That moment, however, left her vulnerable. With three laps remaining, Becker attacked into Turn 1. The two made contact, and Cáceres was eliminated from the race while in the fight for victory.
The retirement was a bitter conclusion to what had otherwise been a perfect weekend; on her return to Formula FARA, Cáceres had however delivered podiums, fastest laps among the leaders, and sustained win-contending pace across all three races. With her full 2026 programme yet to be announced, Homestead-Miami served as a reminder of her potential behind the wheel of a downforce car.
