Callum Hedge Bio
Callum Rennie Allan Hedge (born 17 November 2003) is a New Zealand racing driver who currently competes in the 2025 Indy NXT season with Abel Motorsports, driving the No. 17 car. A graduate of New Zealand karting and single-seater racing, he captured the 2017–18 NZ Formula 1600 Championship and the 2018–19 Toyota Finance 86 Championship before moving into international sports car and junior open-wheel competition. In 2023, he added the Formula Regional Americas Championship and the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia title to his résumé, establishing himself as one of the most versatile young drivers from New Zealand.
Early Life and Background
Hedge was born in Auckland, New Zealand, on 17 November 2003. He grew up in the Auckland area and attended St Kentigern College in Pakuranga, Auckland, balancing his schooling with an increasingly demanding racing calendar. The Auckland motorsport scene provided early access to karting tracks and club-level competitions, and Hedge spent his formative years learning the basics of race craft through local karting events.
During his junior karting years, Hedge developed the consistency and pace that would later define his career, and he became a multiple-time national karting champion in New Zealand. Those early titles laid the foundation for his move into single-seater racing and gave him the credentials to attract attention from teams operating at the next level.
Path to Motorsports
Hedge’s transition from karting to cars came through New Zealand’s domestic single-seater ladder. He won the 2017–18 NZ Formula 1600 Championship, securing his first major car-racing title, and followed that success with the 2018–19 Toyota Finance 86 Championship. The back-to-back domestic titles marked him as one of the country’s most promising young talents and opened the door to international opportunities.
In 2020, Hedge shifted toward sports car racing by aligning with Porsche, a move that broadened his experience across different machinery and race formats. He later returned to open-wheel racing through the Formula Regional Oceania Championship in 2023, racing for M2 Competition, before crossing to the United States for the Formula Regional Americas Championship with Crosslink Kiwi Motorsports.
Callum Hedge Career
Early Career (2017–2022)
Hedge opened his car-racing career in New Zealand’s junior categories, where he quickly proved himself against established competitors. His 2017–18 NZ Formula 1600 Championship gave him a first major title, and a year later he added the 2018–19 Toyota Finance 86 Championship. Those results established him as a consistent front-runner at the domestic level and attracted the attention of teams running higher-profile championships.
After his domestic success, Hedge made the strategic decision to explore sports car racing with Porsche from 2020 onward, gaining experience in closed-cockpit machinery and a different competitive environment. The Porsche program helped round out his skill set and prepared him for the step up to international junior single-seater competition.
Formula Regional Breakthrough (2023)
In 2023, Hedge took part in the Formula Regional Oceania Championship with M2 Competition, where he engaged in a season-long title fight with teammate Charlie Wurz. He won the opening race of the season at Highlands Motorsport Park, traded the championship lead with Wurz through the rounds at Teretonga, Manfeild, and Hampton Downs, and entered the Taupo finale within six points of his rival. A victory in the opening race at Taupo kept his hopes alive, but he ultimately finished the Oceania series as runner-up.
Later in 2023, Hedge traveled to North America for the Formula Regional Americas Championship with Crosslink Kiwi Motorsports, where he secured the series title. In the same year, he also captured the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia championship, completing a remarkable double across open-wheel and sports car categories.
Indy NXT Era (2024–Present)
For 2024, HMD Motorsports signed Hedge to compete in the Indy NXT, the official junior series that feeds into the NTT IndyCar Series. The move marked his full-time arrival in the United States road racing ladder and represented another step toward the top level of North American open-wheel competition.
Hedge remained in Indy NXT for 2025, switching to Abel Motorsports for his sophomore campaign and driving the No. 17 car. The team change brought fresh engineering resources and a new platform to build on his rookie-year experience as he aims to fight for race wins and a strong championship position.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hedge is known for his race-craft maturity, particularly his ability to manage long title fights without making costly mistakes. His experience across karts, single-seaters, and Porsche sports cars has given him a flexible technical approach, and his comfort in close, multi-car battles was evident during the 2023 Formula Regional Oceania season. Working with his engineers, he has developed a measured, consistent style that emphasizes clean overtakes and tire management.
Notable Races and Milestones
Key milestones in Hedge’s career include his 2017–18 NZ Formula 1600 title, the 2018–19 Toyota Finance 86 Championship, the 2023 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia championship, and the 2023 Formula Regional Americas Championship. His opening-race victory at Highlands in the 2023 Formula Regional Oceania Championship and his late-season win at Taupo stand out as highlights of that closely contested runner-up campaign.
Callum Hedge Career Wins
Callum Hedge has collected major titles in karting, domestic single-seaters, regional sports cars, and junior open-wheel racing. His verified championship victories span New Zealand, Australia, and North America, underscoring his adaptability across different racing formats and continents.
Championship Highlights
Hedge’s 2023 season was the most decorated of his career to date. He won the Formula Regional Americas Championship with Crosslink Kiwi Motorsports, capping a successful transition to American open-wheel racing. Earlier in 2023, he also won the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia championship, adding a major sports car title to his growing résumé.
On the domestic side, Hedge’s first major car-racing crown came in the 2017–18 NZ Formula 1600 Championship, followed by the 2018–19 Toyota Finance 86 Championship. Those early titles confirmed his potential and set the stage for his move into international competition.
Other Wins & Performances
In addition to his championships, Hedge has recorded individual race wins in the Formula Regional Oceania Championship, including the opener at Highlands Motorsport Park and a key victory in the Taupo finale weekend. His runner-up finish in the 2023 Formula Regional Oceania standings, alongside multiple race victories and consistent podiums, highlighted his pace at the regional level.
Callum Hedge Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hedge grew up in Auckland and attended St Kentigern College in Pakuranga, balancing school life with the demands of a competitive racing schedule. His early development took place within New Zealand’s karting community, where he built the foundations of his career.
Personal Life
Public details about Hedge’s personal and family life are limited, as he focuses primarily on his racing career in the United States. He continues to be recognized as a proud representative of New Zealand motorsport on the international stage.
2025 Season Performance
Hedge enters his sophomore Indy NXT season in 2025 with Abel Motorsports, driving the No. 17 entry. The move from HMD Motorsports, where he raced as a rookie in 2024, signals a fresh start with a new engineering group and a renewed push for race-winning results after a year of learning the American road racing circuit.
The 2025 Indy NXT field is closely matched, and Hedge’s championship-winning pedigree from Formula Regional Americas gives him a strong baseline to build on. Working with his new crew, he is expected to contend for top-five finishes, podiums, and ultimately a place in the series’ end-of-year prize structure as the season develops.
With continued adaptation to the ovals and road courses on the Indy NXT calendar, Hedge’s 2025 campaign will be a key test of his ability to translate junior formula success into consistent results at the top of the North American ladder. A strong showing this year would reinforce his credentials as a leading contender for a future step up toward the NTT IndyCar Series.