IndyCar: F1 hopeful Callum Ilott Joins Juncos Hollinger Racing For Portland
Juncos Hollinger Racing announced today current Formula 1 Ferrari test driver, and Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN reserve driver Callum Ilott will make his debut in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES at Portland International Raceway.
The 22-year-old Briton is the first driver announced for the No. 77 Chevy-powered Juncos Hollinger Racing entry for the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Ilott joins a growing list of F1 drivers making their run in the highly competitive NTT INDYCAR SERIES field.
“I am pleased and excited to be announcing I will be racing with Juncos Hollinger Racing at Portland,” said Ilott. “This will be my first time in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and running in the United States, which will be a bit of a change from running on the European side. I am looking forward to working with the team during this first phase of their development and proud to be a part of this opportunity to build into their future embarkment. I would like to thank the Ferrari Driver Academy for allowing me to take this opportunity and for Ricardo Juncos and Brad Hollinger for bringing me on board the team.”
Ricardo Juncos and Brad Hollinger announced their partnership to form Juncos Hollinger Racing in early August. The team committed to running the final three events of the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season in preparation for a full-time run for the 2022 season. The Grand Prix of Portland will be the first time the team has been back on track in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES since knocking out McLaren’s Fernando Alonso for the final qualifying position of the 2019 Indianapolis 500.
“We are very excited to welcome Callum Ilott to the Juncos Hollinger Racing family,” said Juncos. “Callum brings a lot of experience and incredible talent to the team. We are confident that he will transition well into the NTT INDYCAR SERIES when we get on track for our final test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course tomorrow before making our official debut together at Portland next week.”
Ilott most recently competed in the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans, claiming third with IRON LYNX in the LM GTE AM class. Earlier this year the young Briton was singed by Ferrari’s F1 team as their test driver and was named a reserve driver for the Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN F1 team.
Ilott began his racing career running in multiple karting series, earning many wins and podiums, and was regarded as one of the best karting drivers of his time. At the age of 16, he was the first driver to be taken directly from karts to the FIA F3 European Championship for the 2015 season, joining team Red Bull. That year he was the only driver to finish all 33 races and would claim one podium.
He continued his run in the FIA F3 European Championship during the 2016 season, claiming two wins, seven podiums, and two poles to finish sixth overall that year. The following year Ilott would wrap up his successful career in the FIA F3 Championship, finishing fourth overall after earning six wins, 11 podiums, and nine poles. In 2018 Ilott was invited to join the Ferrari Driver Academy. That year he also competed in the GP3 Series, capturing two wins, seven podiums, and one pole to finish third overall in the championship. Ilott moved up to the FIA F2 Championship in 2019. That season he earned two podiums and one pole. In 2020 Ilott returned to the FIA F2 Championship with UNI-Virtuosi Racing and would go on to finish second overall after claiming three wins, six podiums, and five poles.
Ilott will make his first start in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES next weekend at Portland International Raceway. Practice kicks off Saturday morning September 11th, followed by qualifying that afternoon. Race coverage begins on NBC Sunday at 3:00 PM EST.