Photo: Team Canada Scholarship
Callum Baxter and Antonio Costantino have won the Team Canada Scholarship for 2024, earning themselves seats at this weekend’s Formula Ford Festival.
The pair will represent their nation while driving for Scottish team Graham Brunton Racing at Brands Hatch.
A panel of five judges chose the two scholars, with Team Canada founder Brian Graham and former IndyCar star James Hinchcliffe among that quintet.
Baxter, 18, has already raced in Britain and with GBR this year as he was part of its line-up in the GB4 series for Formula 4 cars. He came seventh in the standings with two podiums from reversed-grid races.
Last year he was one of the losing finalists under consideration for the scholarship, and on home soil was runner-up in Ontario’s Toyo Tires F1600 series with five wins. He came fifth in the 2022 standings.
Costantino came second in Toyo Tires F1600 this year, after being fourth in 2023, and the 17-year-old had only one non-podium finish.
He also raced FFord cars in the USA, coming 18th in the SCCA Super Tour after contesting two rounds, won the Northeast Conference, came 10th in the Southeast Conference. His podium finishes helped him qualify for the SCCA National Runoffs at Road America last weekend, which he finished fourth in.
The Team USA Scholarship supported Ayrton Houk and Thomas Schrage’s entries into the USF2000 season finale at Portland this August, with the latter taking two poles and a podium. The pair came 11th and 12th in the standings respectively, and had been Team USA scholars in 2023 and 2022 respectively.
The backing they received that weekend reflected a change in strategy for the scholarship, which had been sending drivers to the FFord Festival and Walter Hayes Trophy events in England every year since 2008 and for the Festival only from 1990 to ’94 prior to that.
“This represents a switch in emphasis for our program, which has proudly been supporting deserving young American drivers since 1990,” said Team USA founder Jeremy Shaw at the time. “Traditionally, we have provided an opportunity for some drivers to compete overseas, often for the first time.”
He added: “Even though I remain firm in my belief that FFord continues to provide a magnificent first step for young drivers, the reality is that the most efficacious way forward for drivers who are seeking a future in IndyCar is via the USF Pro championships ladder, and after consultation with all our partners and constituents, I am delighted to be able to ensure that Ayrton and Thomas will be able to finish their seasons and build toward full championship challenges in 2025.”