January 16, 2026 | News

AKM announces 2026 Formula Winter Series line-up

AKM Motorsport has revealed Vittorio Orsini, Felipe Reijs and Abdulllah Ayman Kamel as its driver line-up for the 2026 Formula Winter Series.

Vittorio Orsini arrives into the paddock riding a wave of support from his homeland; the Italian won the 22° Supercorso Federale ACI Sport, the national federation’s training program designed to bolster the best karting talent as they move into car racing. Mercedes Formula One driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli – son of AKM team boss Marco Antonelli – won the same prize in 2021, shortly before his dominant 2022 F4 season.
Orsini has tested F4 cars extensively with AKM, and will now make his racing debut in the Formula Winter Series for a full-season campaign.

Felipe Reijs competed in the Ginetta Junior Championship in 2025, graduating out of his native Dutch and Benelux karting scene. Driving an understated-yet-consistent campaign, Reijs finished 20th in the standings, retiring from only two of the 21 races he participated in. The 15-year-old then moved into the Middle East-based Formula Trophy series, taking a points finish in his debut F4 race. Reijs will join the Formula Winter Series grid for Estoril, Portimão and Valencia.

Both Orsini and Reijs will both score points in the Formula Winter Series Rookie class, for drivers with nine races or fewer in F4 cars.

The line-up is rounded out by Abdullah Ayman Kamel, a multi-time karting champion in his native Saudi Arabia. Kamel will begin his sophomore F4 season with AKM, having already joined the team for a full-season campaign in the E4 Championship. Additionally, Kamel raced in the full 2025 F4 Middle East and F4 Saudi Arabia seasons, taking fifth in the latter championship. As one of his nation’s best junior prospects, Kamel will be aiming to fight for strong results in 2026, starting with the Formula Winter Series.

The 2026 Formula Winter Series season is right around the corner! The season begins at the historic Circuito Estoril from January 22-25, marking the first time GEDLICH’s F4 category has competed at the venue. Fans will be able to watch the racing action of FWS, GT & GT4 Winter Series for just €10 per weekend ticket. Additionally, every moment will also be broadcast live on the Winter Series YouTube channel.