Photo: Fotocar13
Top IndyCar team Chip Ganassi Racing has announced some changes to its driver development programme for 2025.
CGR had been supporting young drivers on-and-off over the years until 2022 when it officially signed a driver for the purposes of developing their talents as they moved up the single-seater ladder.
Kyffin Simpson was the first, and so far only, driver to recieve that mantle and the 2021 Formula Regional Americas champion went on to take two podiums from two seasons in Indy Nxt, winning the European Le Mans Series and taking class victories in the IMSA sportscar championship before receiving a surprise promotion to IndyCar with CGR this year.
His best result, a 12th place, came on his debut and he finished 21st in the standings. He will remain part of the team’s reduced three-car line-up next season.
Earlier this week, CGR spoke about the ambitions it now carries with its driver development programme and what changes will be implemented for 2025 onwards now Simpson has graduated from the scheme.
“Young race drivers should have unselfish support to develop from a young age,” said CGR’s managing director Mike Hull.
“The defined ladder steps are only the first chapter. The match of an open mind with a diversified plan becomes the best avenue for career development. To become successful at the highest level starts with a disciplined structure. The creation of the separation mindset starts away from the race track which feeds the on-track choices. Finding the best functional race team avenues speeds career development. Mentoring within the CGR ethic feeds on-going growth.”
A key component of its new approach is having a team-led scope to the programme rather than starting off supporting one or two drivers. It has partnered with Eurocup-3 team Palou Motorsport, launched by Simpson’s title-winning team-mate Alex Palou and run by his father Ramon, and the multi-discipline and multi-continental Kiwi Motorsport operation.
Later down the line it will also partner with teams in sportscars and karting.
The drivers at these teams will have factory access at CGR, including being able to utilise its training facilities for drivers. This includes its simulator and physical testing areas, but also means the provision of mental, media and technical trainining and the teaching of business skills. These drivers will then be invited to shadow the team at select IndyCar races.
CGR is making its own way into junior single-seaters in 2025 by expanding into Indy Nxt, where Jonathan Browne and Neils Koolen will be its drivers.
IndyCar rivals Andretti Global, Ed Carpenter Racing and McLaren have their own driver development programmes, while Team Penske has an alliance with the Force Indy programme. Andretti, Juncos Hollinger Racing and Prema also have their own squads in junior single-seater series.