New Zealand’s Callum Hedge has joined Abel Motorsports for the 2025 racing season and his sophomore year in INDY NXT by Firestone. Hedge, 21, will again pilot the No. 17 Dallara after finishing fourth in this year's standings driving for HMD Motorsports.
In 2024, Hedge made the jump to the INDY NXT by Firestone championship after being crowned the champion in both Porsche Carrera Cup Australia and Formula Regional Americas championships.
Callum quickly made an impression in INDY NXT by Firestone, racking up eight top-10 finishes with five top-five finishes, and in June he scored his first series podium at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear.
“2024 was a great season for me, and I really feel like I learned a lot about not only the INDY NXT car but the series as a whole,” Hedge said. “That should make 2025 a bit smoother, only having to focus on extracting the most out of the car as possible.”
As the Kiwi evaluated his options for next season, he knew INDY NXT was where he wanted to be. After testing with Abel Motorsports, he knew that was the team he wanted to drive for.
“Our goal in 2025 is simple: Contend for the INDY NXT by Firestone championship," he said. "(This year) was a time for learning and growing, but now joining Abel Motorsports I feel really confident about our chances of being a (race) winner in 2025 and continuing the great lineage of Kiwi’s in the INDYCAR system”
With another new face added to the Abel Motorsports driver lineup for 2025, team principal Bill Abel said he feels the pieces are falling in place to set his team up for a successful season.
“The speed that Callum showed last season proves he has what it takes to get the job done," he said.
Abel first took note of Hedge in 2023 while over in New Zealand and was impressed with his raw speed right out of the gates.
“I had the opportunity to meet Callum for the first time in 2023 over in New Zealand and was impressed with his skill behind the wheel of a race car and from that point on always kept tabs on him to watch his progression and see where his career was taking him,” he said. “Callum’s first season in INDY NXT was great, he really showed some flashes of brilliance, and I think bringing that into what we have going on at Abel Motorsports will be a great match.
“There is no reason that Callum can’t compete for podiums, wins and ultimately the 2025 championship.”
The quest for the 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone championship begins March 2 with the series’ annual street race in St. Petersburg, Florida, where the NTT INDYCAR SERIES headlines the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding.