Callum Hedge is excited ahead of his debut in the INDY NXT by Firestone championship at St Petersburg this weekend. Driving the #17 HMD Motorsport entry, the 20-year-old is aiming to follow in the footsteps of compatriots Scott Dixon, Scott McLaughlin and Marcus Armstrong and rise up the American open-wheel ladder.
Hedge planned to undergo two tests in the pre-season, but he was hampered by appendicitis on the day of his first test at Sebring, Florida. Six weeks after surgery, Hedge feels almost back to normal, but he admits he is on the back foot.
“I’m expecting it to be a tough weekend, but I’m still going to give it all I’ve got. The surgery I had six weeks ago left me bedridden for three weeks, and I lost most of my fitness and strength. I’ve recently gotten back into the gym, building up the strength I need to drive one of the INDY NXT machines.”
Hedge has recently returned to America, from New Zealand where he was a last minute entry to the final round of the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania championship at Highlands Motorsport Park. Hedge finished 2nd in the 68th New Zealand Grand Prix, with the seat time being invaluable ahead of the upcoming INDY NXT round.
“To get some laps at in the FT-60 at the New Zealand Grand Prix was a great way to test how my body was feeling in the car, and just get some mileage for the first time since November 2023.”
The Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is the opening round for the NTT INDY CAR series, and it’s official feeder series, INDY NXT by Firestone. Hedge’s first on-track session will be at 7:35 am (NZ Time)
“This weekend will be my first proper test drive in the car, so it’s going to be a big challenge. I need to continue to learn the car and the St. Petersburg Street Track. I’m really excited to get out there and see how I stack up against some really tough competitors.
“My goal isn’t to go and win, although that’d be nice! I’m expecting to take some time to adapt to the car and the championship, finish every race and build my season from there.”
This is the next step in Hedge’s career after he won both the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship and the Formula Regional Americas Championship in 2023 and finished as runner-up in the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship.
“I just want to send a huge thank you to everyone who helped me get to this point—the Tony Quinn Foundation, Giltrap Group, Tasman Motorsports Group, Honda US, and so many others. Bring on the weekend.
Viewers in New Zealand can catch the weekend’s coverage through the INDYCAR Live subscription.
