Juan Manuel Correa Bio
Juan Manuel “J.M.” Correa Borja (born August 9, 1999) is an American-Ecuadorian racing driver who competes in Indy NXT. In 2025, he drives the No. 39 car for HMD Motorsports in selected rounds of the Indy NXT season. He previously raced in the FIA Formula 2 Championship and in endurance events, including the European Le Mans Series and the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Correa is widely recognized for his remarkable comeback following a serious crash at Spa-Francorchamps in 2019. After more than a year of recovery, he returned to competitive racing and has continued to build a career in single-seaters and sports cars.
Early Life and Background
Juan Manuel Correa Borja was born on August 9, 1999, in Quito, Ecuador. He holds dual American and Ecuadorian nationality and grew up moving between the two countries. From a young age, he showed a strong interest in motorsport, and his family supported his early ambitions in racing.
Correa began karting professionally in 2008 at the age of nine. He quickly established himself as a top junior talent, winning titles across Ecuador and the United States. In 2013, he became the Rotax Max Challenge Junior Champion, a result that brought him international attention and opened doors to the next step of his career.
During his karting years, Correa was selected for the junior program of the Lotus F1 Team. The partnership ended when Renault took over the team, but the experience gave him valuable exposure to top-level motorsport and helped shape his path toward single-seater racing.
Path to NASCAR
Although Correa is not a NASCAR driver, his career has followed a traditional open-wheel ladder that includes several of the same junior categories that often lead drivers toward the top tiers of international motorsport. His progression from karting to Formula 4, Formula 3, and Formula 2 mirrors the path of many professional racers who aim to reach the highest levels of the sport.
In 2016, Correa made his single-seater debut with Prema Powerteam in both the ADAC Formula 4 and Italian F4 championships. He collected three wins that season and finished sixth in Italian F4 and tenth in ADAC F4. The following year, he focused mostly on ADAC F4, building a strong foundation in European junior racing.
His progress through the junior categories led to opportunities in the GP3 Series, FIA Formula 3, and eventually the FIA Formula 2 Championship. Along the way, he also signed as a development driver for Alfa Romeo Racing in 2019, giving him early ties to the Formula One paddock.
Juan Manuel Correa Career
Early Career (2016-2018)
Correa began his single-seater career in 2016 with Prema Powerteam, racing in ADAC Formula 4 and Italian F4. He scored three victories across the two championships and established himself as a promising young driver. The following year, he concentrated on ADAC F4, gaining experience on some of Europe’s most demanding circuits.
In August 2017, Correa made his GP3 Series debut with Jenzer Motorsport at Spa-Francorchamps. He returned to the team for the full 2018 GP3 Series campaign. Although he did not reach the podium, he scored 42 points and finished twelfth in the standings, well ahead of his only full-time teammate.
FIA Formula 2 Championship Breakthrough (2019)
Correa stepped up to the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2019 with Sauber Junior Team by Charouz. After a slow start, he scored his first Formula 2 points at Baku and finished second in the sprint race. He added another podium at Le Castellet, finishing just two seconds behind Anthoine Hubert.
Tragedy struck on August 31, 2019, when Correa was involved in a serious crash with Anthoine Hubert at Spa-Francorchamps. Hubert died from his injuries, and Correa suffered fractures to both legs and a minor spinal injury. The impact registered a peak of 65G. He was placed in an induced coma and spent weeks in intensive care in London, where he underwent multiple surgeries. He received the FIA Americas award in January 2020, accepting it in a wheelchair.
Return to Formula 2 (2021-2024)
Correa returned to racing in 2021 with ART Grand Prix in the FIA Formula 3 Championship, finishing twenty-first overall. In 2022, he rejoined the FIA Formula 2 Championship with Van Amersfoort Racing, making his first start in more than three years at the Yas Marina finale. He remained with the team for a full 2023 campaign, scoring points on six occasions and ending nineteenth in the standings.
For 2024, Correa switched to DAMS Lucas Oil, forming an all-American lineup alongside Jak Crawford. Following the Baku round, he was replaced by Ferrari Driver Academy driver Dino Beganovic.
Endurance Racing and HMD Motorsports Era (2021-Present)
Correa tested a Prema Powerteam LMP2 endurance car at the end of 2021. In 2022, he joined Prema in the European Le Mans Series, winning his first endurance race at Portimão and helping the team secure the teams’ championship. In 2023, he raced with Prema in the FIA World Endurance Championship, finishing ninth in the LMP2 standings.
In 2025, Correa joined HMD Motorsports to race in selected rounds of the Indy NXT season, beginning at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. He drives the No. 39 car. He was also announced in March 2025 to drive for United Autosports in the IMSA SportsCar Championship in the LMP2 category. In December 2024, he completed a Super Formula test at Suzuka Circuit.
Notable Races and Milestones
Correa’s first Formula 2 podium at Baku in 2019 marked his arrival as a serious contender. His endurance racing win at Portimão in 2022, helping Prema clinch the teams’ title, was another defining moment. His 2025 Indy NXT program with HMD Motorsports represents a fresh chapter in his career.
Juan Manuel Correa Career Wins
Correa has recorded victories across karting, junior single-seaters, and endurance racing. His most notable win came in the European Le Mans Series at Portimão in 2022, where he helped Prema Powerteam secure the teams’ championship.
Other Wins and Performances
Earlier in his career, Correa won three races during his 2016 Formula 4 campaign. He also captured the Rotax Max Challenge Junior Championship in karting in 2013, and scored podiums in the FIA Formula 3 Championship and the FIA Formula 2 Championship.
Juan Manuel Correa Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Correa’s family played a central role in supporting his early racing career, helping him travel between Ecuador and the United States to pursue karting opportunities. His parents were actively involved in his recovery following the 2019 crash, issuing several public statements about his condition and progress.
Personal Life
Juan Manuel Correa holds dual American and Ecuadorian nationality. He is widely known by the nickname “J.M.” and continues to be recognized for his determination and resilience following his recovery from life-threatening injuries.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marks Correa’s entry into Indy NXT with HMD Motorsports, beginning at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Driving the No. 39 car, he is competing in selected rounds as he adapts to American open-wheel racing.
Alongside his Indy NXT program, Correa was announced in March 2025 as a driver for United Autosports in the LMP2 category of the IMSA SportsCar Championship. This dual campaign reflects his continued push to compete at high levels across both open-wheel and endurance formats.
Correa has also been linked to a full-time Indy NXT effort with Cusick Morgan Motorsports in 2026, suggesting that 2025 serves as a transitional year. His experience in Formula 2 and endurance racing gives him a versatile skill set heading into this new chapter.