Payton Westcott Secures Double Class Podiums in F4 CEZ Debut at Salzburgring

Payton Westcott added another championship to her busy 2026 campaign as she joined Cram Motorsport for the second round of the F4 Central European Zone (F4 CEZ) Championship at Austria's Salzburgring from May 29–31. Competing on one of Europe's fastest circuits, the American driver delivered a strong debut weekend, securing two Women's Trophy podium finishes while continuing her development in Formula 4 machinery.

The event marked Westcott's first appearance in the championship and her first race weekend with Cram Motorsport. Despite limited experience at the circuit and within the series, she quickly adapted to the demands of the high-speed 4.255-kilometre track, which is renowned for its long straights, slipstream battles, and unforgiving nature.

Westcott began the weekend by qualifying 13th in Heat 2, placing herself firmly in the midfield of a highly competitive and record-breaking Formula 4 field. She carried that pace into Race 1, where she delivered a composed drive to finish 12th overall in the combined Group A+B race, while also claiming second place in the Women's Trophy classification.

Building on the momentum from the opening race, Westcott produced her strongest performance of the weekend in Race 2. Competing in the combined Group B+C race, she fought her way to an impressive eighth-place finish overall, securing another second-place result in the Women's Trophy category and earning one of her best Formula 4 finishes of the season.

Due to the event's group format and the size of the entry list, Westcott was not scheduled to participate in Race 3. Unfortunately, Race 4 was ultimately cancelled following heavy rainfall and deteriorating track conditions, bringing the weekend to an early conclusion.

The Salzburgring outing provided another valuable opportunity for Westcott to gain experience across different Formula 4 championships and team environments. Coming just days after her podium-scoring performance in F1 Academy with PREMA Racing and the Mercedes Junior Team in Montreal, the weekend further demonstrated her versatility and ability to quickly adapt to new challenges.

With two Women's Trophy podiums and a top-eight overall finish to her name, Westcott leaves Austria with valuable championship experience and continued momentum as her 2026 season progresses across multiple international racing programmes.