Kiwi star Callum Hedge will return for a sophomore season in Indy NXT, but will compete with a new team.
The 21-year-old has made the move from HMD Motorsports to join Abel Motorsports for the 2025 campaign. He will run with the #17 on his car once again, the same number he used on his way to fourth overall in his rookie season this year.
He tested with Abel Motorsport at Indianapolis earlier this year..
“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.
“Our goal in 2025 is simple: Contend for the INDY NXT by Firestone championship. (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”
Hedge’s connection to Abel Motorsports comes from the 2023 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship, where team owner Bill Abel’s son Jacob Abel competed.
“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,” said Bill Abel.
“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.
“The speed that Callum showed last season proves he has what it takes to get the job done.”
Hedge, the 2023 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia and Formula Regional North Americas champion took one Indy NXT podium in 2024, but featured in the top ten in eight of the 14 races.
The 2025 Indy NXT season begins with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 2.
Header Image: Penske Entertainment/Chris Jones
