Draft:Sebastian Manson

Sebastian Manson (born 7 February 2008) is a racing driver from New Zealand who is currently competing in the 2024 Formula Regional Japanese Championship.

Karting
Manson has had a decorated karting career in his country, with two major titles coming in 2020 and 2022. He competed in karting in 2022 and 2023, whilst also competing in Formula Ford.

2022
Manson debuted in Formula Ford in 2022, at the age of 14. His best championship results were finishing 4th in both the North Island Series and the Manfeild Winter Series. In the latter series, he managed three wins from six races, as well as four podiums.

2023
In 2023, Manson had a campaign that largely resembled his 2022, once again with two fourth-placed finishes in the New Zealand Championship and also in the Manfeild Winter Series.

2024
Manson has so far had a superb 2024, and overall he has amassed 26 wins in 38 races in the New Zealand Championship and the North and South Island Series. This has proved to be a breakthrough year for Manson so far, as he won 8 and recorded 12 podiums in the North Island Series, and has already finished second in the New Zealand Championship, and has won the South Island Series.

Formula Regional
In early 2024, it was announced that Manson would be contesting the final two rounds of the 2024 Formula Regional Oceania Championship, with Giles Motorsport, as he turned 16 and was eligible for the championship. He competed in the New Zealand Grand Prix weekend, with a best result of 8th at Highlands Motorsport Park. Manson was then selected by the Birth Racing Project alongside Aussie Jesse Lacey to race in the 2024 Formula Regional Japanese Championship. He secured his first pole position at Sugo, in the second round of the championship.

Racing career summary
† - As Manson was a guest driver, he was ineligible for championship points.