Note: This is the first of a series of 2024 INDY NXT by Firestone team previews on INDYNXT.com. The season starts Sunday, March 10 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.
Starting Lineup: Christian Bogle (No. 7 HMD Motorsports), Reece Gold (No. 10 HMD Motorsports), Nolan Allaer (No. 11 HMD Motorsports), Josh Pierson (No. 14 HMD Motorsports), Callum Hedge (No. 17 HMD Motorsports), Caio Collet (No. 18 HMD Motorsports), Jonathan Browne (No. 23 HMD Motorsports), Niels Koolen (No. 33 HMD Motorsports), Nolan Siegel (No. 39 HMD Motorsports), Myles Rowe (No. 99 HMD Motorsports with Force Indy).
2023 in Review: It was another banner season for HMD Motorsports, with Christian Rasmussen giving the team its second consecutive INDY NXT by Firestone championship to go along with Nolan Siegel taking Rookie of the Year honors. Rasmussen accumulated five wins in 14 starts, including eight podium finishes. His second-half surge saw him snare six podiums in the final eight races to secure the title. Siegel (two wins, three runner-up finishes) finished third in points. Overall, HMD Motorsports featured seven different drivers on the podium, including five different winners. It scored at least one podium in every race in 2023.
New for ’24: HMD Motorsports will field more than half of the grid, with 10 cars. The lineup features a diverse set of drivers from all around the world, including the United States, Netherlands, Ireland, Brazil and New Zealand. HMD also will shed the Dale Coyne Racing moniker, with nine of the 10 entries falling under the HMD Motorsports banner and the 10th, the car of 2023 Indy Pro 2000 champion Myles Rowe, including a partnership with Force Indy. As for drivers, four of the nine from 2023 return – Christian Bogle, Reece Gold, Josh Pierson and Nolan Siegel. Can those four continue a trend for HMD? The last two series champions – Rasmussen and Linus Lundqvist – were sophomore drivers competing for HMD. Siegel, a second-year driver, leads all returning INDY NXT by Firestone drivers in points scored in 2023.
Keep an Eye on This: Brazilian rookie Caio Collet could turn some heads. He drove an INDY NXT car for the first time last October with HMD Motorsports at the Chris Griffis Memorial Test on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. He ended up fifth quickest overall, behind series veterans Louis Foster, Jacob Abel and Siegel, and reigning USF Pro 2000 champion Rowe. Collet found more pace in a test in November at Barber Motorsports Park, finishing second overall.
Little-Known Fact: HMD Motorsports has a star-studded cast of reigning champions for 2024. On the team’s roster is USF Pro 2000 champion Rowe and FR Americas champion Callum Hedge). It’s not a championship, but Siegel won 2023 INDY NXT by Firestone Rookie of the Year honors.