The next young guns in Australian motorsport revealed
With the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne this weekend in Melbourne, we reveal the country’s young guns hoping to follow in the footsteps of Oscar Piastri and Jack Doohan. These are our best motorsport young talents.
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When it comes to motorsport, Australia punches well above its weight.
It’s one of a few countries who has at least one driver in the top echelon of most forms of motorsports around the world.
And this year there will be two Australians in Formula 1 with Jack Doohan joining Oscar Piastri in the series.
For Piastri, he is Australia’s best chance of ending the country’s 45-year drought of winning a drivers world title.
But who are the next Doohan’s, Piastri’s, Jack Miller’s or Cameron Waters and Will Brown’s of the world?
From rising stars in open wheelers to the next young guns in Supercars to the next big thing on two wheels, there is plenty of talent coming through.
We list the best young guns in motorsport right now.
Note: Karters have not been included.
Kai Allen, South Australia
The 2023 Super 2 champion recently made his full-time debut in Supercars with Grove Racing. He finished 13th in the final race of the weekend in Sydney for his best performance of the round. A talented driver, who already has two Bathurst 1000 appearances, Allen is one to watch as he starts his full-time career in Supercars.
Senna Agius, New South Wales
Australia’s next hope of getting into the MotoGP and he could do it next year if everything goes to plan. Last year, he achieved his first podium in Moto2, at the Australian Grand Prix, and followed up with a podium in the first round of this year’s championship in Thailand. Time will tell if he is a championship contender, but if he is, Agius could become Australia’s next winner of a motorcycling championship and a contender to be in MotoGP.
Cadel Ambrose, Victoria
Will compete in the National Sports Sedans series in an Audi after impressing in the Toyota 86 scholarship series last year. Ambrose hasn’t revealed any more of his 2025 plans but he could be also racing in the Toyota 86 series, which starts later this year.
Aiva Anagnostiadis, Victoria
One of two Australians to compete for the first time in the F1 Academy. The F1 Academy is a girls-only championship run by Formula 1. Anagnostiadis is a young star of the future. She competed in karting until recently where she competed in the Indian F4 championship last year, finishing as the second best rookie.
Quinn Armstrong, New South Wales
Impressed last year in the United States, finishing in the top-10 in the USF2000 series. Armstrong had two top-five finishes during the season. It’s unclear what he is doing this year.
Valentino Astuti, Victoria
A former Formula Ford national champion who is now racing in the GT Championship in an Aston Martin. Astuti has also made a few Super 2 appearances and will be looking to do more racing in 2025.
Zach Bates, ACT
An odds on favourite to be in Supercars full-time next year. Bates last year won the Super 2 title, becoming the first Canberran to claim the crown. This year he returns to defend the title and will also compete with Craig Lowndes at the Bathurst 1000 in the SuperCheap Auto wildcard. Bates is the son of former rally driver, Rick, and nephew of five-time Australian Rally Championship winner Neil Bates.
Oli Bayliss, New South Wales
The son of Australian motorcycling legend and former Superbikes champion Troy Bayliss. Oli is forging his own career, competing in his fourth season of the SuperSport series, the feeder series to the top tier. In the first round recently at Phillip Island, the 21-year-old finished seventh in both races to move to fourth in the standings after round one.
Jack Beeton, Queensland
One to watch this year in terms of finding Australia’s next Formula 1 prospect. Beeton, last year finished, second in the Italian F4 championship and makes the rise to the Formula Regional European Championship. Success there and he could be on his way to F3, the third tier before Formula 1, in 2026.
Eddie Beswick, New South Wales
One of Australia’s rising stars in open wheel motorsport. Beswick last year won the Formula Ford national championship and finished second in the Victorian state series. He won two races in the national series to seal the title. This year, Beswick is overseas racing in the United States in the USF2000 series. It is one of the feeder series to IndyCar.
Lockie Bloxsom, Queensland
Finished 15th in his first season in Carrera Cup last year and is back this year to do it again. A rising star in the sport he’ll also compete in the Porsche Sprint Challenge, the feeder series.
Peter Bouzinelos, Victoria
A young gun racing overseas. Bouzinelos finished 16th in the Spanish F4 series last year and achieved a couple of top-five finishes. It’s unclear what he’s doing this season.
Alice Buckley, Queensland
Buckley last year competed in the Toyota 86 scholarship series and the main series and will do it again in 2025, looking to work her way towards the top drivers. Recently at Phillip Island she finished on the podium in the first round of the scholarship series.
Pip Casabene, Victoria
Will race in the Toyota 86 series after success in karting the past few years. In 2023 he won the KA3 Junior class in the Australian Karting Championship and has raced overseas for Australia. Now, he’s taking on the next challenge of racing in cars.
Ryan Casha, Queensland
The Ipswich racer is making the move to the Porsche Sprint Challenge after two successful years in Touring Car Racing Australia (TCR) and the Toyota 86 (T86) series. In 2023, he won the T86 series before moving to TCR and winning a race there.
Joanne Ciconte, Victoria
Ciconte will make history this year as one of two Aussies to compete in the F1 Academy. The F1 Academy is a girls-only competition using F4 cars. Ciconte, at 16, will be one of the youngest to compete. The talented teenager comes to the series after being part of the FIA Girls on Track – Rising Stars in 2023 before racing overseas in 2024.
Elliott Cleary, Queensland
Competes in Super 2 for the second straight year after racing in 2024 with Brad Jones Racing. This year he moves to Eggleston Motorsport and finished 16th and 11th in the first two races at Sydney. Will be looking to build towards a top-ten finish in the championship this year.
Hunter Corney, Queensland
Is the current Australian and Oceania Cup motorbikes champion. Corney dominated last year’s title winning by more than 100 points. The 13-year-old will race in the Asia Pacific Championship this year and has already had success in the series, finishing first and second in two races at The Bend at the end of last year.
Lachlan Evennett, Queensland
Will become one of the youngest drivers to race with Garry Rogers Motorsport this year. Evennett will race Trans Am with the team at 16. Last year and this year he competed in the Toyota 86 series.
Marcos Flack, Queensland
The son of former Porsche Carrera Cup racer Damien Flack. Flack is competing in his first full season in the Carrera Cup and is inside the top-10 after the first round. The 18-year-old, previously, competed overseas in open wheelers before moving back to Australia to race Porsche’s.
Max Geoghegan, New South Wales
The grandson of one of Australia’s best racers, Ian Geoghegan, who won five Australian Touring Car championships in the 1960s. Last year, he won the Toyota 86 series and rises up to Super 2 this year with the Image Racing team, which is part of the academy of Erebus.
Taylor Gill, New South Wales
Australia’s next best rally prospect. Gill is currently racing in the junior WRC series and also recently raced in Sweden in the FIA WRC 3 series. Competing in both series at the event, on snow, Gill won both overall. He could become the first Australian since Chris Atkinson to race in the WRC.
Reuben Goodall, South Australia
Finished inside the top-15 in the Super 2 series last year in his first season. Now makes the rise up the ranks to Tickford Racing in the same category and will be looking for his first podium.
Ben Gomersall, Queensland
Impressed in his Super 2 debut recently, finishing third in race two and third for the round. The son of team owner Jason Gomersall, Ben is forging his own path and has started well. He’ll also compete in the Trans Am series this year.
Rylan Gray, New South Wales
Still only 18 but already has two podiums at Mount Panorama. In his first full-time Super 2 season, Gray finished seventh and secured two podiums at Bathurst. He also finished second in the GT4 championship. Gray returns for another year at Tickford in Super 2 and is well on his way to becoming a Supercars driver.
Bayley Hall, Queensland
One of the best Porsche Carrera Cup racers in Australia. Hall last year finished fifth in the series, getting two podiums throughout the season. This year, he’s second in the standings after round one and already has two podiums after finishing second in two of the three races.
Rikki Henry, South Australia
One of two South Australians to compete in the Asia Talent Cup this year. In 2023, Henry won the Australian MiniGP championship and has also been a state champion in the past.
Pat Heuzenroeder, New South Wales
Will compete in the GP3 championship in Britain after finishing 12th last year in the series. The 19-year-old also recently competed in New Zealand in the Formula Regional Oceania Championship finishing fourth behind Arvid Lindblad who is destined for Formula 1.
Matt Hillyer, Victoria
Hillyer won the 2023 Formula Ford national title and was on track to win the Toyota 86 series until a crash at Bathurst in the second to last round ended his campaign. He still won six races in the series including two clean sweeps at Sydney and Sandown. This year, he’s making the step up to Super 2.
Jarrod Hughes, Queensland
One of a few racers on this list who will race at the Bathurst 1000 this year. Hughes will make his debut for Erebus Motorsport at Mount Panorama after impressing in Super 2. Last year, he finished fourth in the series and starts this year as one of the favourites for the title. Exceptional in the wet but very handy in the dry, Hughes is on the radar for a Supercars drive in coming years.
Ethan Johnson, Victoria
Finished second in the Oceania Cup last year and was the best young rider in Victoria, winning the road race championship in the junior 150 class. This year he is competing in the Junior Moto3 class at the state titles and clean swept the first round in January.
Mason Kelly, Victoria
The son of former Bathurst 1000 winner Todd Kelly. Kelly finished 17th in the Super 2 series last year and returns this year, looking for a rise up the standings.
Xavier Kokai, Victoria
Raced last year in the USF2000 series and finished 20th in the standings. He had one top-five finish. A talented driver who raced in Formula Ford in 2022 and 2023.
Jesse Lacey, Victoria
A racer who has won races in two different countries in the past two years. In 2023, he won a race in the USA F4 championship, finishing fourth in the series. Last year, he won a race in the Formula Regional Japanese Championship and finished fourth in the standings. Lacey comes from a Speedway background with his father and grandfather racing previously.
Jett Lawrence, Queensland
Will be on the sidelines for 2025 after rupturing his ACL last month. Lawrence is a superstar in Supercross in the United States and one of the best in the world. Last year he won the AMA Supercross 450cc title after winning the AMA Motocross 450cc title in 2023. He also won the SMX 450cc titles in 2023 and 2024.
James Lodge, Victoria
Won his first race in the Toyota 86 series last year and finished second in the series. Lodge, from Essendon, is also a talented Excel racer.
Campbell Logan, Tasmania
Will compete in his second season in Super 2 after making his debut last year with Walkinshaw Andretti United. The Tasmanian finished 12th in the standings and finished 4th in one race in Townsville. Will be looking to improve significantly again in his second year in Super 2 and contend for a top-five finish in 2025.
Liam Loiacono, Queensland
Another driver who is heading to the United States to compete. Loiacono finished fourth last year in the Australian Formula Ford championship, winning three races at Morgan Park. This year he’ll head to the United States to compete in the USF Juniors category. The 17-year-old is racing in the fourth rung on the way to Indycars.
Brad Majman, Victoria
A talented karter who is also driving well in car racing. Majman is racing in the USF2000 series after racing in the F4 series in the United States last year. He finished fifth in the standings with a couple of wins. Now, he’s competing in the next tier towards IndyCar, at just 16, and has already impressed. He finished 5th in one of the races in St Petersburg in the opening round of the series.
Christian Mansell, New South Wales
Still one of Australia’s leading young drivers despite taking a break from racing. Mansell was set to race in F2, one step below Formula 1, after doing well in F3 last year. He finished fifth in the series, getting five podiums and getting a pole position. But a week before the Australian Grand Prix he decided to take a break from the sport.
Cameron McLeod, Queensland
Another grandson of a famous race. McLeod’s grandfather, Peter, won the 1987 Bathurst 1000 with Peter Brock. Cameron last year finished 11th in the Super 2 series and made his debut at the Bathurst 1000 with Tim Slade and PremiAir Racing. He started this year in the perfect way with a win in Sydney in Super 2 and is currently second in the standings.
Kamal Mrad, New South Wales
Competed last year in the Italian F4 and the Central Europe F4 series (CEZ), winning a race in the CEZ and beating Oliver Wurz, the son of former F1 driver Alexander Wurz. Mrad has returned to Australia to compete this year.
Charlie Nash, Victoria
The son of Tickford Racing owner and former racer, Rod. Nash is forging his own path racing in the Toyota 86 series last year and is set to compete again this year. He is also racing in the Trans Am series on double duties. Nash is part of the Tickford Academy.
Marianos Nikolis, Victoria
Will compete in the FIM Junior GP World Championship looking to make the step towards competing in the MotoGP feeder classes. Nikolic, 17, won the Oceania Talent Cup in 2020. He now competes in a championship previous won by current MotoGP riders Alex Marquez and Fabio Quartararo.
Alex Ninovic, New South Wales
Will compete in the GP3 series after impressing last year in the British F4 championship. Ninovic finished second in the series, winning five races. He’s one of three Aussies racing in the series. Ninovic has also won two Australian Karting Championship titles, winning the KA4 Junior series in 2022 and the KA3 Senior series in 2023.
Bradi Owen, Queensland
Makes the move to Super 2 after racing in the Toyota 86 series last year. At one stage, last year he led the Toyota 86 series after winning the first three races of the season at Townsville. He ended up third in the standings. In the first round at Sydney, Owen finished 20th and 18th in the first two races.
Griffin Peebles, Australia
A rising star in sports car racing, Peebles is the first Australian to win a championship this year. He recently won the LMP3 title at the Asian Le Mans series and is planning on racing sports cars in Europe. Last year, he raced in the Spanish F4 series as well as the Formula Winter Series, winning the title. The 17-year-old is currently based in Europe and studies in London.
James Piszcyk, South Australia
Won the Australian F4 championship last year, winning the first nine races of the series to claim the title. The South Australian will race overseas this year in the British F4 championship. In 2023, he finished fifth in the series.
Luke Power, Victoria
Another Australian who is competing in the World SuperSport championship this year. Power finished 12th and 11th in the first two races of the season to be 13th in the standings after the first round. Another Aussie looking to get to Superbikes.
Gianmarco Pradel, New South Wales
Is one of three Australians set to compete in the GB3, British Formula 3, this year. Pradel last year competed in the Italian F4 series and finished seventh while also finishing inside the top 10 in the Euro F4 series. The talented 19-year-old has previously finished second in the Winter Series as well in 2023.
Daniel Quimby, New South Wales
Last year, Quimby won the US F4 championship. It will be a busy 2025 for the teenager with Quimby set to race in both Australia and the United States. He will compete in the US Formula Regional Championship Series in the States and the Porsche Sprint Challenge in Australia.
Imogen Radburn, New South Wales
Finished sixth last year in the Australian F4 Championship, getting one podium at Sydney Motorsport Park during the year. Radburn, who has also raced in Formula Ford, is looking to become part of the F1 Academy, which is a girls only F4 series run by the F1.
Jacob Roulstone, New South Wales
Roulstone is currently on the sidelines after fracturing his spine in testing before the Moto3 season. When he returns, Roulstone will be looking to improve on his first season, in 2024, where he finished 15th in the standings and had five top-10 finishes.
Levi Russo, New South Wales
Competed in the Asia Talent Cup last year and finished 11th. He also won the 190cc FIM MiniGP Australian championship. A talented 16-year-old who also recently competed at Phillip Island in the support class to the World Superbikes.
Archie Schmidt, South Australia
Won the Oceania Cup in 2023 and made the move to the Asia Talent Cup in 2024, gaining his first podium at an international event. Schmidt will be competing again in the series in 2025.
Harrison Sellars, Tasmania
Will race in the Trans Am series this year after impressing in Formula Ford last year. Sellars finished fifth in the series, dominating the Sandown round, winning all three races during the weekend. The 18-year-old will be looking to take the next step towards racing in Supercars.
Nicolas Stati, Western Australia
Finished second in both the Australia and United States F4 series last year. Recently he competed in the Formula Regional Oceania series in New Zealand, finishing 15th, in his rookie year. At just 16, he’s one to look out for in the future.
Jobe Stewart, South Australia
A talented driver who won at Bathurst last year in Super 2 and finished fifth in the series. Stewart will make his debut at the Bathurst 1000 with Erebus Motorsport and is one of the favourites for the Super 2 title this year. A driver who is also on the radar of Supercar teams.
Brock Stinson, New South Wales
Finished fourth in the Toyota 86 series last year in his second year in the championship. It’s unclear what he’s racing in 2025 but expect Stinson to be competing in an Australian series.
Caleb Sumich, Western Australia
A rising star in the Porsche Carrera Cup. Last year, he finished fourth in the Porsche Sprint Challenge, winning one race during the season. This year, he’s made the rise to the Carrera Cup series and is sitting seventh in the standings after round one in an impressive debut.
Cameron Swain, Queensland
Is one of two Aussies competing in the World Supersport 300 series this year. Swain won the 2021 Oceania Junior Cup and has raced overseas in Asia and Europe over the past few years. He’s also competed in Australia in the ASBK SuperSport titles.
Oscar Targett, Queensland
A driver to keep an eye on for Supercars in the next two to three years. Targett is part of the Grove Racing Academy and last year won the Porsche Sprint Challenge title at just 18. He was the second youngest driver to achieve the feat. Now, he’s in the Porsche Carrera Cup and has started the season well. He’s fourth in the title after gaining his first podium in Sydney.
Jack Taylor, Tasmania
Finished inside the top-10 last year in the GB4 series and returns this year to have another crack at the series. He races at Fortec, a British-based motorsport team.
Lincoln Taylor, Queensland
Competed in the Toyota 86 series last year, getting some impressive results. Taylor recently competed in the NZ Formula Ford series and is sure to be busy this year with his racing.
Carter Thompson, New South Wales
One of the rising riders in the Superbikes Championship. Thompson last year competed in the Supersport 300 World Championship in a few rounds, impressing with a third in the Czech Republic and second in Algarve in Portugal. He’ll be looking to impress this year to work his way to Superbikes.
Ryan Tomsett, New South Wales
One to watch in the Super 2 series. Tomsett makes the rise from the Toyota 86 series where he won four races in two years and finished inside the series top-10 last year. Tomsett also went to the Le Mans 24 hour after winning the Kaizen Award.
Costa Toparis, New South Wales
Competing in two rounds of the Formula Regional European series and raced in the Australia F4 series in one round in Malaysia. He finished second in two races to finish ninth in the series. It’s unclear what he’s doing in 2025 but Toparis is one of the rising stars in the sport. He’s previously won Australian Karting Championships.
Blake Tracey, New South Wales
From Albury, Tracey last year won the Australian Excel Championship. The rising star will now make the rise up to Trans Am this year, joining a host of youngsters looking to get one step closer to Supercars.
Dante Vinci, New South Wales
Will compete in the Italian Formula 4 championship, the Euro 4 Championship, and the Formula Winter Series this year after impressing last year in a limited campaign. Vinci is a talented karter who has represented Australia in the OK-J and OK World Championships. One to watch this year.
Cooper Webster, Victoria
Finished fifth last year at the Macau Grand Prix in an impressive performance. Webster also finished second in the GP4 championship in 2023. It’s unclear what he’s doing in 2025 but he’s a handy eSports racer.
James Wharton, Victoria
Will make his debut in F3 this year for ART after finishing second in the Formula Regional European Championship last year. A rising star in open wheelers, Wharton is two steps away from Formula 1. He is a previous champion in the Formula 4 UAE Championship in 2023.
Kobi Williams, Victoria
Finished second last year in the Australian Formula Ford national series, winning the round in Phillip Island and a few races during the year. One to look out for in 2025 for the Formula Ford title if he races again in the category.
Originally published as The next young guns in Australian motorsport revealed
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