Callum Ilott

Callum Benjamin Ilott (born 11 November 1998) is a British racing driver currently competing in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship racing for Jota Sport in the Hypercar category.

He competed in the NTT IndyCar Series for Juncos Hollinger Racing from 2021–2023. Ilott was runner-up to Mick Schumacher in the 2020 Formula 2 Championship. He was previously a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy.

Karting
Making his debut in 2008, he saw his first win in 2011 in the Formula Kart Stars, and finished third in the German Junior Karting Championship, both in KF3. He remained in KF3 with Chiesa Corse Team for the 2012 season, with much success. Ilott put himself on the radar at age 13 by winning the WSK Masters Series, the WSK Final Cup, and finishing as runner-up in the WSK Euro Series and the CIK-FIA World Cup. He was selected as the youngest ever WSK Driver of the Year. In 2013 he contested in KF and KF2 machinery and won the Trofeo delle Industrie and the WSK Final Cup. In 2014, with Zanardi Strakka Racing, he finished fourth in the CIK-FIA World Championship, third in the WSK Champions Cup, and won the WSK Super Masters Series, as well as the CIK-FIA European Championship.

Toyota Racing Series
Callum Ilott made his single-seater debut in the Toyota Racing Series with ETEC Motorsport, using a helmet with the Red Bull livery, but unofficially announced as a member of the Red Bull driver development programme. He took a fourth in the seventh race, and in Taupo was the quickest in the practice sessions. In Manfeild he finished near the podium. He finished 16th in the championship, being fast in qualifying and practices but struggled for race pace.

2015
Ilott stepped up to Formula Three in 2015, racing in the FIA European Formula 3 Championship with Carlin aged 16. Despite being a rookie, his pace placed him as one of the title contenders before the start of the season. He tested F3 machinery and Formula Renault 2.0 to accumulate experience before his Formula 3 debut. In the preseason testing, Ilott made his first impressions, finishing sixth in his first collective test and second in wet conditions on his second day. Ilott achieved one podium at the Nürburgring, finished seventh in the Rookie Championship and twelfth in the overall standings.

2016
For the 2016 season, Ilott switched to Van Amersfoort Racing alongside rookies Pedro Piquet, Harrison Newey and Anthoine Hubert. In the second race of the first round at Circuit Paul Ricard, Ilott took his first victory in the sport and a second victory at the Red Bull Ring resulting in an overall sixth-place finish.

2017
On 22 November 2016, Ilott was confirmed to be racing with Prema Powerteam for the 2017 season. He improved to fourth in the driver standings, losing to his teammate Maximilian Günther by 39 points. Ilott won six races and finished another six races on the podium, helping Prema Powerteam secure the Teams' championship title for the fifth consecutive season.

GP2 Series
In December 2016, Ilott tested with ART Grand Prix in the post-season test at Yas Marina.

GP3 Series
After GP3 Series tests at Abu Dhabi it was announced that Ilott was scheduled to race with ART Grand Prix in the 2018 GP3 Series. He finished in 3rd place, only behind teammates Nikita Mazepin and the late Anthoine Hubert. He scored seven podiums, two of them being victories.

2017
In July 2017, Ilott made his debut at the sixth round at Silverstone with Trident Racing. He finished both races outside the top-ten positions.

2019
In 2018, after racing a season of GP3, Ilott took part in the Formula 2 post-season test with Trident and Charouz Racing System.

He then raced a full season in F2, finishing 11th in the overall standings, securing two podiums in the sprint races in Catalunya and Sochi respectively and his maiden pole in Monza.

2020
For the 2020 season, Ilott left Sauber Junior Team by Charouz and joined 2019 teams' championship runner-up UNI-Virtuosi Racing alongside Zhou Guanyu. He remained a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy. Ilott took his first Formula 2 victory at the delayed season's opening race at the Red Bull Ring after pole sitter Zhou suffered electrical problems. Ahead of the season finale, Ilott announced that he would not race in F2 or F1 in 2021. Ilott ended the season with 3 wins, 5 poles and 6 podiums, finishing runner-up to fellow FDA driver Mick Schumacher. Ilott reunited with his former team Charouz Racing System for the first day of the Formula 2 2020 post-season test in Bahrain.

Formula One
Ilott was inducted into the Red Bull Junior Team in 2015 prior to his FIA Formula 3 European Championship debut, however he was dropped from the programme at the end of the year following a winless campaign. After finishing fourth in the championship in 2017, he became a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy.

Ilott had his first experience in a Formula One car during the 2019 in-season test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, driving the Alfa Romeo Racing C38. He completed 41 laps before his running was cut short after he crashed in Turn 3. Ilott was due to make his Formula One weekend debut during the Friday practice session of the 2020 Eifel Grand Prix, driving for the Ferrari-powered Haas F1 Team, but the session was canceled because of poor weather.

After appearing at the post-season test for Alfa Romeo in December 2020, it was announced that Ilott will be taking the role of Scuderia Ferrari test driver for the 2021 season. In April 2021 he was appointed Alfa Romeo's second reserve driver, sharing duties with fellow reserve Robert Kubica. Ilott appeared in FP1 for the team at the and the Austrian Grand Prix, running No. 98.

Ilott was recalled by Alfa Romeo to serve as their reserve driver for the 2022 Miami Grand Prix.

2021
Ilott signed with Indianapolis-based outfit Juncos Hollinger Racing for the last three races of the 2021 IndyCar Series. He made his debut at the Grand Prix of Portland, where he finished 25th, only completing 77 of the 110 laps due to a mechanical failure mid-race. In the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey, he crashed his No. 77 car during the warmup session, though he was unharmed by the accident. He went on to finish 22nd, one lap behind the lead pack. In the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, Ilott qualified 18th. However, after completing 47 of the 85 laps, he was forced to retire with a mechanical issue, finishing 26th.

2022
On 24 September 2021, Ilott announced that he would remain with Juncos Hollinger Racing and race full-time for the team in the 2022 IndyCar Series.

Following a crash in the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500, Ilott broke his right hand and was not given medical clearance to race in the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, which took place the following weekend. He made his return in the Sonsio Grand Prix at Road America, where he finished 11th. He finished the 2022 season at Laguna Seca qualifying on the front row, with his best qualifying result at 2nd, but ultimately retiring from the race with engine issues.

On 28 July 2022, it was announced that Ilott has signed a two-year extension with Juncos Hollinger Racing, keeping him with the team through the 2024 season.

2023
Ilott started the 2023 IndyCar season at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg where he finished fifth, his best finish in the series. Preparation for the 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500 left Ilott frustrated, commenting "I couldn't even go in a straight line. It was like a ping-pong ball across a corridor. Just bouncing, bouncing, so I'm like, 'That's not good…'" during the first Indy 500 Open Test day in April. Ilott continued to finish towards the bottom in all the practice days in May, before Juncos Hollinger Racing decided to switch the chassis. Ilott, despite only having done 11 laps with the new chassis, qualified 28th, led a few laps, and eventually finished 12th.

On October 26, Ilott and Juncos Hollinger Racing announced that they had mutually agreed to part ways after more than two seasons together.

2024
Ilott returned to IndyCar with Arrow McLaren for 2024, deputising for an injured David Malukas during the opening race in St. Petersburg. Ilott also drove in the 2024 Indianapolis 500 after Malukas was released from the Arrow McLaren team in late-April, finishing in 11th.

GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup
In February 2021, Ilott signed with Italian outfit Iron Lynx to compete in the 2021 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, driving the No. 71 Ferrari 488 GT3 alongside fellow Ferrari Driver Academy member Antonio Fuoco and Italian driver Davide Rigon.

24 Hours of Le Mans
Ilott made his 24 Hours of Le Mans debut in the 2021 edition with Iron Lynx, driving the No. 80 Ferrari 488 GTE alongside Italian drivers Matteo Cressoni and Rino Mastronardi. Ilott replaced Andrea Piccini for the race, as Piccini chose to step away from driving and focus on his duties as Iron Lynx team principal. He achieved a podium in his first outing, finishing third in the GTE Am class and 27th overall.

Intercontinental GT Challenge
Ilott contested the first round of the 2021 Intercontinental GT Challenge, the 24 Hours of Spa, with Iron Lynx Motorsport Lab in the No. 71 Ferrari 488 GT3. Their race ended prematurely, as the No. 71 was involved in a four-car accident during lap 10. In a bid to win the Manufacturer's championship for the first time, Ferrari announced in October 2021 that they would contest the remaining two rounds of the three-round championship. Ilott, alongside Antonio Fuoco and Alessio Rovera (later replaced by Davide Rigon), were announced as drivers in the No. 71 Ferrari entry for the 2021 Indianapolis 8 Hours, this time racing with AF Corse.

2024
After failing to secure a full-time IndyCar seat for 2024, Ilott moved to the FIA World Endurance Championship for his campaign, piloting the 12 car for Jota Sport alongside Norman Nato and Will Stevens. The team would score their maiden top-class podium during the first race in Qatar, finishing second. Two rounds later Ilott, together with his teammate Will Stevens, got his first win at Spa-Francorchamps. This also marked the first win in hypercar for Jota.

Racing career summary
* Season still in progress. † As Ilott was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points.

Complete Toyota Racing Series results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete FIA Formula 3 European Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) † Driver did not finish the race but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.

Complete GP3 Series results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete FIA Formula 2 Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate points for the fastest lap of top ten finishers) ‡ Half points were awarded as less than 75% of the scheduled race distance was completed.

Complete Formula One participations
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete GT World Challenge Europe Endurance results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

IndyCar Series
(key)

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
 * Season still in progress.