Andretti Global announced Feb. 6 that junior development driver Sebastian Wheldon will compete with VRD Racing in the 2024 USF Juniors Presented by Continental Tire Championship.
Gainbridge and Group 1001 again will support the elder Wheldon brother’s career. Wheldon’s USF Juniors firesuit and VRD car livery will match those of Andretti NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver Colton Herta’s, further showcasing the Gainbridge family of athletes.
"I am really excited to be joining VRD Racing for the 2024 USF Juniors season – Dan (Mitchell) and his team run a first-class organization,” Wheldon said. “Having the support of Gainbridge and Andretti is giving me the extra confidence I need heading into the season. It's a great feeling knowing I have everything I need to be competitive to contend for the championship."
Wheldon, 15, son of the late, two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon, makes the move up to USF Juniors after his 2023 Skip Barber Formula Racing Series championship-winning campaign earned him a $100,000 scholarship to compete in a USF-sanctioned series. In his first season of car racing, Wheldon recorded six wins and 13 podiums on his way to the championship title.
Along with younger brother Oliver, Wheldon was named a junior driver in Andretti Global’s driver development program in 2021. Since joining the team, the Wheldon brothers have received oversight and career guidance from Michael Andretti and the Indianapolis-based team where their father, Dan, recorded his first Indianapolis 500 victory and won the INDYCAR SERIES championship in 2005.
“Since joining the Andretti team, Sebastian’s motorsports career has been on a steady rise,” Andretti Global President J-F Thormann said. “Our team is committed to developing and mentoring the next generation of drivers, and we could not be prouder of Sebastian for his winning mindset and dedication to racing. We look forward to watching his continued growth in the USF Juniors Championship.”
VRD Racing, led by team owner Dan Mitchell and team manager Jacob Loomis, will spearhead Wheldon’s 2024 USF Juniors program. The junior formula car racing team based at Atlanta Motorsports Park has a long history of helping young talent climb the ladder to motorsport success.
Wheldon will make his USF Juniors debut Feb. 7 as the 2024 season kicks off with the first round of the 2024 YACademy Winter Series at Sebring International Raceway. The two-round winter championship will conclude Feb. 9-11 at Homestead Miami Speedway.