Callum Hedge Bio
Callum Rennie Allan Hedge, born on 17 November 2003 in Auckland, New Zealand, is a New Zealand racing driver who currently competes in the 2025 Indy NXT season with Abel Motorsports. A versatile competitor across open-wheel and sports car categories, Hedge has built a résumé that includes national karting titles and championship trophies on three continents. He pilots the No. 17 car for Abel Motorsports as he continues his progression through the IndyCar development ladder.
Early Life and Background
Callum Hedge was born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, where he developed an early interest in motorsport through karting. He attended St Kentigern College in Pakuranga, Auckland, balancing his education with a rising schedule of competitive racing. As a young karter, Hedge established himself as a multiple-time national karting champion in New Zealand, laying the technical and competitive foundation that would shape his single-seater career.
His early karting success opened doors to a step up into single-seater racing, where his adaptability behind the wheel became a defining trait. The disciplined work ethic formed in those junior years, paired with strong family support, helped him transition smoothly into formula cars in his mid-teens.
Path to NASCAR
Hedge’s path to international motorsport has run through formula and sports car series rather than the traditional NASCAR ladder. He won the 2017–18 NZ Formula 1600 Championship and followed it with the 2018–19 Toyota Finance 86 Championship, marking himself as one of the top young talents in New Zealand. In 2020, he expanded into sports car racing through Porsche, contesting the Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia and gaining experience in closed-cockpit machinery.
His career has since been built on the open-wheel side of the sport, including a strong run in the 2023 Formula Regional Oceania Championship and the Formula Regional Americas Championship. While his professional trajectory has not included NASCAR national series events, his resume reflects a driver whose skill set translates across categories.
Callum Hedge Career
Early Career (2016–2020)
Hedge’s early career centered on New Zealand’s domestic formulas and a growing presence in the Toyota Finance 86 Championship. He captured the 2017–18 NZ Formula 1600 Championship and added the 2018–19 Toyota Finance 86 Championship the following season, signaling his readiness for bigger machinery. He also competed in the SsangYong Racing Series during this developmental window, rounding out his experience across tin-top and single-seater formats.
By 2020, Hedge made the strategic decision to pivot toward sports car racing, joining the Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia. The move broadened his race craft, teaching him the art of longer stints, tire management, and multi-class traffic, skills that would later serve him well in formula competition.
Formula Regional Breakthrough (2021–2023)
Hedge’s breakthrough came in 2023, when he split his season between the Formula Regional Oceania Championship and the Formula Regional Americas Championship. In Oceania, driving for M2 Competition, he engaged in a season-long duel with teammate Charlie Wurz, trading the championship lead repeatedly. He won the opening race at Highlands and added another victory in the opening race of the final weekend at Taupo, but ultimately finished second in the standings.
Traveling to the United States after the Oceania campaign, Hedge joined Crosslink Kiwi Motorsports for the 2023 Formula Regional Americas Championship. The decision paid off, as he clinched the championship title that season, adding a significant international trophy to his résumé. That same year, he also captured the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia championship, completing a remarkable 2023 campaign with two major titles.
Abel Motorsports Era (2025–Present)
For 2025, Hedge remains in the Indy NXT series but switches to Abel Motorsports for his sophomore campaign, driving the No. 17 entry. The move to Abel comes after a learning-year debut in 2024 with HMD Motorsports, where he recorded one podium and a best championship finish of fourth overall. The transition marks a new chapter as he works to convert experience into regular podiums and race wins.
Hedge’s current form reflects a driver growing more comfortable with the ovals, road courses, and street circuits that make up the Indy NXT calendar. With Abel Motorsports, he aims to build consistency and position himself as a championship contender in the seasons ahead.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hedge is recognized for his smooth, calculated driving style and his ability to manage tires and fuel over long runs. His background in both formula cars and Porsche sports car racing has sharpened his race craft, particularly in traffic and during mixed-condition sessions. These traits make him well suited to the varied circuits of the Indy NXT schedule.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among his signature results are his 2023 Formula Regional Americas Championship title with Crosslink Kiwi Motorsports and his Porsche Carrera Cup Australia championship in the same year. His duel with Charlie Wurz in the 2023 Formula Regional Oceania Championship, decided at the Taupo finale, remains one of the most memorable title fights in the series. His podium finish during his 2024 Indy NXT rookie season with HMD Motorsports further underlined his adaptability.
Callum Hedge Career Wins
Callum Hedge has built a varied win portfolio across formula and sports car racing, with championships in both the Formula Regional Americas Championship and the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia. His early domestic success in New Zealand established him as a winner, and his 2023 double-title campaign confirmed his standing on the international stage.
Formula Regional Highlights
Hedge’s most significant formula title came in the 2023 Formula Regional Americas Championship, where he drove for Crosslink Kiwi Motorsports and secured the overall championship. The crown included multiple race wins across the season and a consistent points campaign that left little doubt about his pace. Earlier in the year, he also recorded victories in the Formula Regional Oceania Championship, including the opening race at Highlands and the opening race of the Taupo finale, while finishing second in the final standings behind teammate Charlie Wurz.
Other Wins and Performances
On the sports car side, Hedge won the 2023 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia championship, adding a manufacturer-backed title to his growing collection. His earlier single-seater achievements include the 2017–18 NZ Formula 1600 Championship and the 2018–19 Toyota Finance 86 Championship, both of which marked him as a rising star in New Zealand motorsport.
Callum Hedge Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Callum Hedge was raised in Auckland, New Zealand, in a family that supported his early involvement in karting and junior formula racing. While specific details about his parents and any racing heritage within the family are not widely documented, the early commitment required to compete at national and international levels points to a strong family support system behind his career.
Personal Life
Hedge continues to focus on his racing career, balancing his commitments on the Indy NXT circuit with time in his home base of New Zealand. He is widely regarded as a dedicated, mature young professional whose priorities revolve around training, competition, and continued progression up the open-wheel ladder.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marks Callum Hedge’s sophomore year in the Indy NXT series, now with Abel Motorsports and behind the wheel of the No. 17 entry. After a productive rookie campaign with HMD Motorsports in 2024, which included a podium and a fourth-place championship finish, he entered the new season with elevated expectations. The switch to Abel brings a fresh technical environment and a renewed opportunity to challenge for race wins on a regular basis.
Throughout the early rounds of 2025, Hedge has focused on building consistency, translating his prior single-seater and sports car experience into strong qualifying and race-trim pace. His ability to adapt across ovals, road courses, and street circuits will be central to his push up the championship standings. As the season unfolds, his partnership with Abel Motorsports will be a key storyline in determining whether he can convert potential into podiums and title contention.
Looking ahead, Hedge’s 2025 campaign represents a critical step in his long-term development toward potential top-tier open-wheel opportunities. Continued strong results with Abel could position him as one of the leading contenders in the Indy NXT championship fight as the year progresses.
