Callum Ilott Bio
Callum Benjamin Ilott, born on 11 November 1998 in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, is a British racing driver who competes in the IndyCar Series. He currently drives the No. 90 Dallara-Chevrolet for Prema Racing. Ilott previously raced in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship with Jota Sport in the Hypercar category. He finished as runner-up to Mick Schumacher in the 2020 Formula 2 Championship and was earlier a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy.
Early Life and Background
Callum Benjamin Ilott grew up in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, where his parents encouraged him to try a wide variety of sports during his childhood, including football, cricket, rugby, and tennis. His interest in motorsport began after attending a friend’s birthday party at a local go-kart track, an experience that sparked a lifelong passion for racing.
Ilott made his karting debut in 2008 and quickly established himself as a standout talent. In 2011, he secured his first karting victory in the Formula Kart Stars and finished third in the German Junior Karting Championship in the KF3 category. The following year, racing for Chiesa Corse Team, the thirteen-year-old won the WSK Masters Series and the WSK Final Cup, finished as runner-up in the WSK Euro Series and the CIK-FIA World Cup, and was named the youngest ever WSK Driver of the Year.
He continued to collect major karting titles in 2013 and 2014, winning the Trofeo delle Industrie, the WSK Final Cup, the WSK Super Masters Series, and the CIK-FIA European Championship. These results at a young age caught the attention of professional junior driver programmes and laid the foundation for his transition into single-seater racing.
Path to NASCAR
Ilott does not compete in NASCAR. His professional career has been built entirely through international open-wheel and sports car racing programmes, beginning with single-seater formulas in Europe and expanding into IndyCar and the FIA World Endurance Championship. As a result, a NASCAR ladder section is not applicable to his professional record.
Callum Ilott Career
Early Career (2015–2017)
Ilott made his single-seater debut in the 2015 Toyota Racing Series with ETEC Motorsport, racing with a Red Bull-liveried helmet as a junior member of the Red Bull driver development programme. The same year he stepped up to the FIA Formula 3 European Championship with Carlin at the age of sixteen and produced one podium at the Nürburgring, finishing twelfth overall and seventh in the rookie standings.
After a winless 2015 European Formula 3 campaign led to his release from the Red Bull Junior Team, Ilott moved to Van Amersfoort Racing for 2016 and claimed his first single-seater victories at Circuit Paul Ricard and the Red Bull Ring. In 2017 he joined Prema Powerteam, won six races, took another six podium finishes, and helped Prema secure the Teams’ Championship for the fifth consecutive season while finishing fourth overall.
GP3 and Formula 2 Breakthrough (2018–2020)
Ilott moved into the GP3 Series in 2018 with ART Grand Prix and immediately challenged for the title, scoring seven podiums including two victories and finishing third behind teammates Nikita Mazepin and Anthoine Hubert. That same year he made his Formula 2 debut at Silverstone with Trident and recorded his maiden F2 pole position at Monza while finishing eleventh overall.
In 2020, Ilott joined UNI-Virtuosi Racing alongside Zhou Guanyu and remained a Ferrari Driver Academy member. He took his first Formula 2 victory at the Red Bull Ring after pole-sitter Zhou suffered electrical problems and went on to record three wins, five poles, and six podiums across the season. Those results secured him the runner-up position in the 2020 FIA Formula 2 Championship behind fellow FDA driver Mick Schumacher.
Formula One Involvement (2019–2022)
Ilott had his first Formula One car experience at the 2019 in-season test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with Alfa Romeo, completing 41 laps before a crash in Turn 3 ended his running. He was scheduled to make a race weekend debut at the 2020 Eifel Grand Prix with Haas, but the Friday practice session was cancelled because of poor weather.
After a post-season test with Alfa Romeo in December 2020, Ilott was named Scuderia Ferrari’s test driver for 2021 and was later appointed Alfa Romeo’s second reserve driver alongside Robert Kubica. He appeared in FP1 for Alfa Romeo at the Portuguese Grand Prix and the Austrian Grand Prix, running car No. 98, and was recalled as reserve driver for the 2022 Miami Grand Prix.
IndyCar Series Breakthrough (2021–2023)
Ilott entered the IndyCar Series in 2021 with Juncos Hollinger Racing, contesting the final three races of the season. He made his series debut at the Grand Prix of Portland and added appearances at Laguna Seca and Long Beach, where a mechanical issue forced an early retirement. In September 2021, he confirmed he would race full-time with Juncos Hollinger Racing in 2022.
During the 2022 Indianapolis 500, a crash broke his right hand and ruled him out of the following Detroit event. He returned at Road America and later qualified on the front row at Laguna Seca before retiring with engine trouble. In July 2022 he signed a two-year contract extension that kept him with Juncos Hollinger Racing through 2024.
Ilott opened 2023 with his best IndyCar finish of fifth at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and went on to score another fifth-place result at the Laguna Seca season finale. Following ongoing challenges with the team, Ilott and Juncos Hollinger Racing mutually agreed to part ways on 26 October 2023.
Jota Sport Era (2024)
After being released by Juncos Hollinger Racing, Ilott was unable to secure a full-time 2024 IndyCar seat. He joined Jota Sport for the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship, driving the No. 12 car alongside Norman Nato and Will Stevens. The programme began with a podium at the Qatar season opener and peaked with Ilott’s first WEC victory at Spa-Francorchamps, which was also Jota’s maiden Hypercar win.
The remainder of the 2024 WEC campaign was difficult, including a late crash in practice at Le Mans that forced a chassis change and an exit at the 6 Hours of São Paulo. Despite those setbacks, Ilott helped Jota secure the FIA World Cup title after finishing fifth at the 6 Hours of Fuji as the leading privateer entry. He departed Jota at the end of the 2024 season.
Prema Racing Era (2025–Present)
In September 2024, it was announced that Ilott would race full-time for Prema Racing in the 2025 IndyCar Series, where he was paired with fellow Ferrari Driver Academy graduate Robert Shwartzman. Together they form the first driver pairing of the Prema IndyCar programme, which was assembled from scratch rather than acquired from another existing team.
Ilott drives the No. 90 Dallara-Chevrolet and serves as one of the senior references for Prema’s new IndyCar operation as the team builds its technical foundation.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ilott is recognised for strong qualifying pace and the ability to deliver fast single-lap performances across a variety of circuits. He combines that raw speed with consistent race craft and tyre management, allowing him to recover positions after difficult opening stints. His work with engineers at multiple teams has highlighted a measured approach to setup changes and long-run pace.
Notable Races and Milestones
Ilott’s standout results include his first Formula 2 victory at the Red Bull Ring in 2020, his Le Mans class podium on debut with Iron Lynx in 2021, his best IndyCar finish of fifth at St. Petersburg in 2023, and his first WEC Hypercar win at Spa-Francorchamps in 2024. He has also driven in Formula One practice sessions for Alfa Romeo, another key milestone in his career.
Callum Ilott Career Wins
Callum Ilott has built a varied win portfolio across karting, single-seaters, and prototype racing, with verified victories in Formula 2, the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, GP3, and the FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar class.
Formula 2 Highlights
Ilott captured three Formula 2 victories during the 2020 season with UNI-Virtuosi Racing, including his maiden win at the Red Bull Ring after pole-sitter Zhou Guanyu retired with electrical issues. He added five pole positions and six podiums, which were enough to secure the 2020 runner-up spot behind Mick Schumacher.
FIA World Endurance Championship Highlights
In 2024, Ilott scored his first WEC victory at Spa-Francorchamps together with Will Stevens, marking Jota Sport’s maiden Hypercar triumph. Earlier in the season he helped the No. 12 car take a podium finish at the Qatar opener and later contributed to Jota’s FIA World Cup title.
Other Wins and Performances
Ilott collected six race victories in the 2017 FIA Formula 3 European Championship with Prema Powerteam, two wins in the 2018 GP3 Series with ART Grand Prix, and two victories in the 2016 FIA Formula 3 European Championship with Van Amersfoort Racing. He has also recorded podium finishes in GT World Challenge Europe and a class podium on his 24 Hours of Le Mans debut in 2021.
Callum Ilott Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Callum Ilott’s family is limited. He was raised by parents who encouraged him to sample several sports during childhood before his interest in motorsport was sparked at a go-kart track. No further details about siblings or extended racing lineage are publicly confirmed.
Personal Life
Ilott was born and raised in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, and holds British nationality. Beyond his racing commitments and his presence on social media platforms such as X and Instagram, limited additional personal details are publicly verified.
2025 Season Performance
Callum Ilott enters the 2025 IndyCar Series with Prema Racing as one of the team’s two full-time drivers alongside Robert Shwartzman. Driving the No. 90 Dallara-Chevrolet, he is central to Prema’s first dedicated IndyCar campaign, an operation that was built from the ground up rather than acquired from another team.
The early part of the season is expected to focus on developing the new programme, refining race procedures, and building consistency across a variety of track types. Ilott’s prior experience in IndyCar with Juncos Hollinger Racing and his prototype mileage from the 2024 WEC campaign give him a strong reference point as Prema establishes its technical baseline.
Key storylines to watch include Prema’s progression as a new entrant, the partnership between Ilott and Shwartzman, and how Ilott’s qualifying pace translates into race-day results. The 2025 Indianapolis 500 will be a major milestone, while consistent top-ten finishes would mark significant progress for both driver and team.