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2023

All our preparation and learning as a one-car team built from nothing in 2022, enabled us to expand to a two car team in 2023. My goal was to keep pushing the boundaries and getting JHR the best results we could with whatever we had.  I was pleased with securing two 5th place finishes and my part in helping Chevy to win the Engine Manufacturer's Championship. Going from dead last in Qualifying at the Indy 500 to 28th on the grid with only 11 laps in an alternate car, possibly was my greatest achievement this year, but then finishing 12th overall in the Indy 500 itself probably beat that.  And who doesn't enjoy leading a lap or two at the Brickyard and seeing their initials at the top of the tower? Perhaps the thing I am most proud of this year, is that I topped NTT Indycar's list of the driver who did the most passes on road courses - with 103. Rumour has it I was also the driver who made up the most ground from qualifying position to finishing position overall.  In spite of the rocky end to the year, I want to extend my gratitude to Juncos Hollinger Racing for the opportunity to be a part of building something from the ground up during 2022 and 2023. It was a blast. My eyes are fully fixed on the future now.

2022

Racing is what I love most.  To be given the opportunity to race full time in the most legendary of championships that is Indycar was just mega exciting.  Partnering with Juncos Hollinger Racing (JHR) and starting that journey with them in 2022 was a steep learning curve for me.  I had to learn new street circuits, new road circuits and then of course I needed to master the ovals pretty fast – all with a team that was brand new (hugely passionate and committed of course!).  It didn't all go well, but the highs definitely outweighed the lows.  Kissing the walls at the Indy 500 got that monkey off my back in my first year there, but we recovered well and kept pushing for those top 10 finishes.  Ending the year with a P2 in qualifying at Laguna was pretty special for sure.  I am very grateful for Riccardo and Brad’s belief and faith in me in that first year together, and won't ever forget what a privilege it was to be given the opportunity to arrive on the Indycar scene and start putting JHR on the map. 

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2021

This was definitely a learning year for me - immersing myself in the F1 team side of things in my role as Scuderia Ferrari’s F1 Test Driver, and then taking on the Alfa Romeo ORLEN Reserve Driver role. These two roles in parallel gave me an incredible insight into just what goes on inside an F1 team both back at the factory and trackside at a race. At most of the F1 race weekends alongside the teams, I not only got to see F1 from every angle, but I got out in the car in FP1s twice in the early part of the season, initially at Portimao and then again at Red Bull Ring in July. Driving the C41 was of course a privilege and I hope I did it justice. It was also positive just for one year to step back from single seater racing itself and see things from a different perspective. That said, my podium in my debut at Le Mans (GTE AM) and my season with Iron Lynx, was still like nothing I have ever experienced before, and a welcome contrast to the F1 world. I certainly finished 2021 as a very different driver than when I started it.

2020

This was a pretty successful year for me. I put my 2019 experience to good use as I finished Vice Champion in the 2020 FIA Formula 2 Championship. I won three races, finished on the podium a further six times and started on pole five times – more than any other driver.

2020 was also the season when I got the chance to add to my F1 experience. Being invited to represent the Haas F1 Team in the FP1 session at the Eifel Grand Prix was a huge honour. Sadly, bad weather forced that particular outing to be cancelled.

However, I did get another chance to jump back into an F1 car a short time later when I linked up with Scuderia Ferrari at Fiorano. That was great preparation for December’s Young Driver test that I was invited to take part in with the Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN F1 team.

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2019

I graduated to the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2019 and was honoured to represent both the Ferrari Driver Academy and the Sauber Junior Team. As a rookie, the main focus for me was learning as much as I could. Scoring a pair of podiums, as well as four other top-six finishes, was a pretty decent return. 

This was also a milestone year for me as I earned my first test in an F1 car. Driving the Alfa Romeo Racing C38 was an incredible experience and one that I’ll cherish for the rest of my career. I remain hugely grateful to the Ferrari Driver Academy and Alfa Romeo Racing for giving me the opportunity and supporting me every step of the way.

2018

I was delighted to be invited to join the Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) for the first time in 2018. I’ve always been a big fan of the Ferrari brand, so to join its young driver programme and move to live in Maranello was a very proud moment. 

On the track, I raced in the GP3 Series with ART Grand Prix – a powerhouse in the junior categories. I won two races during a run of form that produced seven consecutive podium finishes. 

Being able to challenge for the GP3 title right up to the penultimate round demonstrated how much I learned about tyre management, race strategy, and being able to show consistently strong pace.

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2017

My objective for 2017 was to fight for the FIA F3 European Championship title by further sharpening my on-track skills and developing greater consistency across a race weekend.

My decision to race for PREMA was driven by the Italian team’s reputation for supporting its drivers and enhancing their talents. My team-mates in 2017 were Mick Schumacher, Guan Yu Zhou, and Maxi Gunther.

The season proved to be pretty good for me. Although I was disappointed not to win the Drivers’ Championship, I was pleased to be one of PREMA’s two nominated drivers and to help it win the Teams’ Championship for a record-breaking seventh year in a row.

Although I had more ups and downs than I would have liked in 2017, I felt I progressed as I won six races and scored 11 podiums. I also secured 10 pole positions – more than any other driver – and I out-qualified my teammate Maxi by 20 to 7 across the season.

I wrapped up my last year in F3 with a win during Saturday's Qualification Race for the FIA F3 World Cup at my favourite circuit in Macau. That was a memorable weekend.



2016

The objective during my second season in single-seaters was to challenge for race wins and to find a level of consistency that would take me a step closer to the FIA F3 European Championship title. 

It was a challenging but positive year on the whole, and one where I developed my skills on and off the track enormously. I picked up my first wins in single-seaters and was the youngest driver to achieve multiple wins and multiple pole positions.

Racing with the late Anthoine Hubert, Harrison Newey and Pedro Piquet as my team-mates, I was pushed hard during the season. But that brought the best out of me and I completed the year as the most successful driver within our team – finishing with more points than all of my teammates combined.


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2015

After a successful career in karts, I was moved into single-seater racing by Dr Helmut Marko on behalf of the Red Bull Junior Team. I was only 16 years old and the first driver to be taken directly from karts to F3 with Red Bull. I had a lot to learn – quickly.

Despite having never raced in cars before 2015, I finished P12 in the FIA F3 European Championship. And out of the 35 drivers on the grid, I was the only one to be classified a finisher in all 33 races. I was proud of that because it meant I maximised my track time.

I completed the season with a maiden podium at my favourite circuit, the Nürburgring, and also claimed several rookie trophies.

I finished third of the six drivers within the Carlin Motorsport team, behind current F1 drivers Antonio Giovinazzi and George Russell.

2014

In my final year of kart racing, I managed to sign off in some style. I won the four-round senior CIK-FIA European Karting Championship, and the German-based WSK Super Master Series.

I also finished P3 overall in the WSK Champions Cup, and recovered to P4 (from 32nd and last place on the grid) at the CIK-FIA World Championship – an event held across a single race weekend.

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2012

Still only 13 years old, I dominated the international under 15s KFJ category with wins in the WSK Masters Series and the WSK Final Cup.

I also secured runner-up status in the WSK Euro Series and CIK-FIA World Cup, as well as being voted the youngest-ever WSK Driver of the Year. 

2008

My dad took me for my first drive in a kart just before my 7th birthday and I was instantly hooked. I secured my racing licence as soon as I was 8.

By the age of 12 years, I had enjoyed some success on the domestic karting scene in the UK, winning the under 16s Formula Kart Stars British Championship. That provided the springboard to test my skills at international level and I duly returned a P3 finish in the 2012 German National Championship (KFJ category).

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Racing Highlights

Single-seaters:

2019 – P2 in the FIA Formula Two Championship
2019 – F1 Test with Alfa Romeo Racing
2018 – P3 in the GP3 Series
2018 – P3 in the FIA F3 World Cup / Macau GP
2017 – Qualification Race winner at the FIA F3 World Cup / Macau GP
2017 – P4 in the FIA F3 European Championship
2016 – P5 at the FIA F3 World Cup / Macau GP
2016 – P6 in the FIA F3 European Championship
2015 – P16 in New Zealand’s Toyota Racing Series
2015 – P12 in the FIA F3 European Championship

Karting: 

2014 – P1 in the CIK-FIA European Championship KF
2014 – P1 in the WSK Super Master Series KF
2014 – P3 in the WSK Champions Cup KF
2014 – P4 in the CIK-FIA World Championship KF
2013 – P1 in the WSK Final Cup KF
2012 – P2 in the CIK-FIA World Cup KF3
2012 – P1 in the WSK Final Cup KF3
2012 – P2 in the WSK Euro Series KF3
2012 – P1 in the WSK Master Series KF3
2012 – Voted WSK Driver of the Year
2011 – P1 in the British Formula Kart Stars National Championship KF3
2011 – P3 in the DKM German Junior Kart National Championship KF3

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© 2021 Callum Ilott | Site by: Elate Global | Official Photographer: James Gasperotti