Photo: WEC
HMD Motorsports has completed its record eight-car Indy Lights line-up for 2023 with the signing of Josh Pierson.
The 16-year-old is the youngest ever driver to race in the Le Mans 24 Hours, as backing earned him a seat at United Autosport seat this year across the Asian Le Mans Series, IMSA and the World Endurance Championship in the LMP2 class.
He won his first two races in ALMS, sharing his car with Paul di Resta, came sixth in IMSA’s LMP2 class and is currently second in the FIA’s Endurance Trophy for LMP2 cars after taking class victory in the 1000 Miles of Sebring and finishing 10th overall at Le Mans.
“I am excited to start the next chapter of my motorsports career,” said Pierson.
“While I will continue on with United Autosport in WEC [for 2023], I could not pass up the opportunity to join HMD Motorsports and further my open-wheel racing career in North America.
“Age is just a number and on the track, we are all racers and competitors. It is not going to be easy, but I have my personal goals set, and the team has goals for me as well. I am ready to get started later this week.”
Pierson stepped up from junior karting into USF2000 in 2020 aged 14. He finished 20th in the points with one top-10 finish, drove a USF2000 car in Atlantics where he claimed two overall podiums, and came 16th in the entry-level F1600 Championship Series after contesting a third of the season.
In his second USF2000 season he was fourth in the standings, and picked up five podium finishes. Having skipped USF Pro 2000 (previously known as Indy Pro 2000), he will begin his preparations for Indy Lights by joining HMD for post-season testing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway later this week.
“Josh has proven himself in all forms of motorsports,” HMD’s general manager Mike Maurini said.
“For his young age, he has been extremely impressive in the sportscar ranks and shown that he has what it takes to be a champion in every discipline. We welcome him to the HMD Motorsports family and look forward to watching him progress in the future.”