New Zealand’s Liam Sceats will return to Indy NXT competition with HMD Motorsports next month, confirming a two-event deal for the upcoming rounds at Barber Motorsports Park and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.
Sceats, 19, made a strong impression during his Indy NXT debut at St. Petersburg earlier this year, qualifying an outstanding fifth in a highly competitive field. Unfortunately, his race ended prematurely following an incident, cutting short what had looked set to be a memorable first outing.
Despite the disappointment, the performance underlined the young Kiwi’s ability to quickly adapt to the demands of one of the most competitive junior categories in world motorsport.
After nearly two months back home in New Zealand, Sceats returned to the United States last week and immediately jumped back into action, completing a valuable test day at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with HMD Motorsports.
Arriving in Houston just 24 hours before the test, Sceats faced a steep challenge shaking off the rust — but responded strongly, finishing the day inside the top 10 overall while working with the team to refine race setups and rebuild momentum.
“I touched down for a month-long stint and already jumped straight back into the car a couple of days ago at Mid-Ohio,” Sceats said. “The goal was clear: get back in the groove after a couple months out of the car, build data, and sharpen both my driving and the car’s performance.”
“Being among the top rookies at this stage gives me confidence, but I’m hungry for more — the goal I set for myself is to be fighting at the front regardless of experience levels.”
Sceats now faces a critical stretch in his American open-wheel journey, with three races in May that could shape his career trajectory.
The first stop is Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama — a fast, flowing circuit renowned for its physical demands and technical challenge, where Sceats completed a positive test with HMD Motorsports late last year.
“I’ve never raced at Barber, but the test was promising,” he said. “It’s a real driver’s track, so I’m optimistic heading into the weekend.”
Following Barber, the focus will shift to the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course for a doubleheader event. The venue brings fond memories for Sceats, who won a race there last season in USF Pro 2000 competition on his way up the American ladder.
“Indy brings good memories — we won there last year, and even though it’s a step up now in Indy NXT, I’m confident going in.”
Currently based in Indianapolis, Sceats is living and training alongside fellow Kiwis Callum Hedge and Sebastian Wheldon as he prepares with his engineer for the upcoming challenge. With a packed month ahead and future opportunities potentially on the line, Sceats is embracing the pressure.
“May is big — with races at Barber and the Indianapolis Road Course coming up. A lot’s gone into just being here, and while I’ll enjoy it, I know how critical these next races are. It’s make or break, so I’m all-in with my preparation.”
The Barber round of Indy NXT takes place next weekend (May 2–4), with the Indianapolis doubleheader to follow on May 10–11.
Header Image: Supplied
