Coming off back-to-back seasons in the USF Pro 2000 Championship, Jonathan Browne will climb the ladder to compete in INDY NXT by Firestone in 2024 with the two-time defending championship-winning team, HMD Motorsports.

Irish driver Browne will drive the No. 23 entry for the 2024 season and make his team debut Jan. 15-16 during a test at Sebring International Raceway.

“I am excited to get started with HMD Motorsports,” Browne said. “They are a very professional outfit with a winning program. I very much look forward to being part of this team as I take the next step on the ladder. INDY NXT by Firestone will be a learning curve for me, but I am up for the challenge and ready to work hard and add to HMD’s continued success.”

During the past two USF Pro 2000 seasons, Browne has 21 top-10 finishes in 36 races. With a best finish of fifth in his rookie year of 2022, Browne showed great improvement in 2023, earning two podium results, six top-five finishes and finishing eighth in the series championship.

Before making his debut in North America, Browne competed in GB3 in 2021, when he earned a podium finish at Silverstone Circuit in his debut after winning the Champion of Brands Hatch title in 2020 and the illustrious Formula Ford Festival in 2019.

Browne has some experience in an INDY NXT by Firestone car, having tested at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in October and Barber Motorsports Park earlier this month. The seventh driver announced for the HMD Motorsports lineup in 2024, Browne will join fellow USF Pro 2000 graduate Myles Rowe, newcomer and FR Americas champion Callum Hedge and returning drivers 2023 Rookie of the Year Nolan Siegel, Josh Pierson, Christian Bogle and 2023 Detroit Grand Prix race winner Reece Gold.

“I spoke to Jonathan a few times throughout the 2023 season,” HMD General Manager Mike Maurini said. “We recently re-engaged in conversations and finalized plans for the 2024 season rather quickly and just before the Thanksgiving holiday. Jonathan comes with a lot of experience in many forms of motorsports, and I am confident that he will fit in well with our strong driver lineup and provide another powerful piece to our growing puzzle.”