Jack Aitken

Jack Aitken Bio

Jack Anthony Han-Aitken, known professionally as Jack Aitken, is a British and South Korean racing driver born on 23 September 1995 in London, England. He competes in the IMSA SportsCar Championship for Cadillac Whelen and in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters for Emil Frey, and he previously raced under the British flag in Formula One at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix. Aitken has built a versatile career that spans junior single-seaters, Formula 2, a one-off Formula One appearance, GT racing, and top-line sportscar competition.

Over the years, Aitken has become recognized for his adaptability across disciplines, moving from open-wheel ladder series into endurance and GT racing while maintaining a strong reputation as a consistent points scorer. His current campaigns place him inside two of the most competitive sportscar championships in the world.

Early Life and Background

Jack Anthony Han-Aitken was born on 23 September 1995 in London, England, to a Scottish father and a South Korean mother. This family background granted him dual British and South Korean citizenship, and he has carried both heritages throughout his career. Growing up in the United Kingdom, Aitken was surrounded by motorsport culture from a young age, which fueled his interest in racing.

He began competitive kart racing at the age of seven at Buckmore Park Kart Circuit in Kent. He competed in the 2010 Super 1 National Kart Championships in the Rotax Mini Max class with ProTrain racing, finishing third behind a champion who would later become a familiar rival. During his teenage years, Aitken attended Westminster School while balancing his growing racing commitments, and he completed his A-Level qualifications during the first half of the 2014 Formula Renault Eurocup season.

Path to NASCAR

Note: Jack Aitken is not a NASCAR competitor. His professional path has run through European single-seaters, Formula 2, Formula One, and international sportscar racing rather than the NASCAR ladder. This section is therefore omitted to avoid unsupported claims.

Jack Aitken Career

Early Career (2012–2015)

Aitken moved into single-seater car racing in 2012, contesting four races in the Formula Renault BARC Winter Series with Fortec Motorsport and winning the final round at Rockingham Motor Speedway. He also competed in the Dunlop InterSteps Championship that year, taking two wins to finish third overall. In 2013, he raced in the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup, finishing as runner-up to teammate Matt Parry in a field that included future Formula One drivers Esteban Ocon and Alex Albon.

His 2014 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 campaign with Fortec produced a victory at the Hungaroring and three further podiums, ending the year seventh in the standings. In 2015, Aitken joined Koiranen GP and swept both the Formula Renault Eurocup and Formula Renault 2.0 Alps titles at the final rounds at the Circuito de Jerez, taking nine race wins in total. He also won the 2015 Pro Mazda Winterfest with Team Pelfrey in the United States.

GP3 Series Breakthrough (2016–2017)

In January 2016, Aitken stepped up to the GP3 Series with Arden International. In his maiden season, he claimed a victory at Spa-Francorchamps and six additional podiums to finish fifth in the overall standings, just one point behind teammate Jake Dennis. He also made brief appearances in the Euroformula Open and Formula V8 3.5 series that year, recording two wins and two pole positions in Euroformula Open and a pole in Formula V8 3.5.

For 2017, Aitken switched to ART Grand Prix and took one race win at the Hungaroring along with five further podiums. He finished the season as runner-up with 141 points, behind champion and former karting rival George Russell on 220 points.

Formula 2 Breakthrough (2018–2021)

In January 2018, ART Grand Prix announced Aitken would join their Formula 2 team alongside Russell. He earned his first F2 podium with second place in the Baku feature race and his maiden victory in the Barcelona sprint race, finishing the year 11th with 63 points while Russell claimed the championship. For 2019, Aitken moved to Campos Racing, taking the Baku feature race win, the Silverstone sprint race at his home event, and the Monza sprint race to finish fifth in the standings with 159 points.

He remained at Campos for 2020, taking a double-podium finish at the second Silverstone round with third places in both the feature and sprint races. He left Formula 2 after 2020 but returned in 2021 as a replacement driver for HWA Racelab across the Monaco, Baku, and Silverstone rounds, recording a best finish of ninth place in the second Monaco sprint race.

Formula One Appearance (2020)

Aitken joined the Williams Driver Academy for the 2020 season as a reserve driver. He made his Formula One race debut with Williams at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, replacing George Russell after Russell was promoted to Mercedes following Lewis Hamilton’s positive coronavirus test. Aitken qualified 18th, within a tenth of a second of regular driver Nicholas Latifi, and finished the race 16th after a late spin at the final corner that required a front-wing change. He remained with Williams as a reserve driver through 2022 before announcing his departure in early 2023 to focus on his sportscar career.

Sportscar Racing Era (2021–Present)

After leaving Formula 2, Aitken switched to sports car racing in 2021, joining Emil Frey Racing in the GT World Challenge Europe with a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo. He suffered a serious crash during the Spa 24 Hours event in July 2021, sustaining a broken collarbone, a fractured vertebra, and a small lung contusion, all described as non life-threatening. In 2022, he raced in the ADAC GT Masters with Emil Frey, made his 24 Hours of Le Mans debut with Algarve Pro Racing, and competed in the European Le Mans Series with Racing Team Turkey.

For 2023, Aitken took on a dual campaign in the IMSA SportsCar Championship with Whelen Engineering Racing in the new Cadillac V-LMDh and in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters with Emil Frey Racing. He won the 12 Hours of Sebring that March after GTP cars ahead of him crashed in the closing minutes. In 2024, he became a full-time IMSA driver with Action Express Racing alongside Pipo Derani while continuing in DTM with Emil Frey Racing.

Cadillac Whelen Era (2025–Present)

Aitken continued as a full-time IMSA driver in 2025 at Action Express Racing with Earl Bamber and Frederik Vesti, driving the No. 31 Cadillac Whelen entry. He finished the IMSA season as runner-up in the GTP class following consecutive victories at Indianapolis and Road Atlanta. He also contested the 2025 DTM season with Emil Frey Racing, finishing eighth in the championship with two wins before announcing his departure to focus on other commitments. At the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans, Aitken did not finish due to a loss of drive in the 17th hour. Looking ahead, he is set to compete full-time in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2026 with Cadillac Hertz Team Jota in the No. 38 car, replacing the retiring Jenson Button.

Driving Style and Strengths

Aitken is widely regarded as a versatile and methodical driver who has adapted smoothly between single-seaters, GT3 machinery, and GTP prototypes. His race craft is built on tire management and consistent lap times over long stints, which has suited endurance formats. His partnerships with experienced co-drivers such as Pipo Derani, Earl Bamber, and Frederik Vesti have helped him sharpen his sportscar instincts, while his DTM results demonstrate a competitive edge in sprint racing as well.

Notable Races and Milestones

Signature moments in Aitken’s career include his Formula One debut at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix with Williams, his dominant 2015 Formula Renault Eurocup and Alps double title, and his victory at the 2023 12 Hours of Sebring in the Cadillac V-LMDh. His late-season run of back-to-back IMSA wins at Indianapolis and Road Atlanta in 2025 to clinch the GTP runner-up spot stands as one of his strongest stretches in sportscar racing.

Jack Aitken Career Wins

Jack Aitken has accumulated victories across multiple championships, including the Formula Renault Eurocup, the Formula Renault 2.0 Alps series, the Pro Mazda Winterfest, the GP3 Series, the FIA Formula 2 Championship, the IMSA SportsCar Championship, and the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. His win totals reflect a driver who has consistently delivered results across open-wheel and sportscar formats.

IMSA SportsCar Championship Highlights

According to his infobox, Aitken has recorded 4 wins, 12 podiums, and 8 pole positions across 26 IMSA starts in the Cadillac V-LMDh. His best championship result is second place in the GTP class in 2025, secured through a strong end-of-season run that included victories at Indianapolis and Road Atlanta. He also won the 2023 IMSA Endurance Cup as part of his Sebring victory with Whelen Engineering Racing.

Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Highlights

Aitken has tallied 6 wins, 9 podiums, and 8 pole positions across 46 DTM starts with Emil Frey Racing. His best championship finishes are eighth place in both 2024 and 2025. In the 2025 season, he added two victories to his DTM tally before announcing his exit from the championship.

Other Wins and Performances

Beyond his current campaigns, Aitken captured the 2015 Formula Renault Eurocup, the 2015 Formula Renault 2.0 Alps title, and the 2015 Pro Mazda Winterfest, all in the same breakthrough season. He also scored victories in the GP3 Series, the FIA Formula 2 Championship, and the 2023 12 Hours of Sebring, highlighting a broad success record across international motorsport.

Jack Aitken Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Jack Aitken was born to a Scottish father and a South Korean mother, which granted him dual British and South Korean citizenship. He is also known by his Korean name, Han Se-yong, reflecting his maternal heritage. While he has spoken proudly of his mixed background throughout his career, limited public information is available about other immediate family members.

Personal Life

Aitken was raised and educated in the United Kingdom, attending Westminster School in London while pursuing his early racing career. Outside of motorsport, he maintains an active presence on social media under the handle jaitkenracer. Public details about his marital status and personal relationships are not widely reported.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season marked Aitken’s second full year in the IMSA SportsCar Championship with Action Express Racing, where he drove the No. 31 Cadillac Whelen entry alongside Earl Bamber and Frederik Vesti. The trio built momentum through the middle of the year and finished the season as runners-up in the GTP class, capped by consecutive victories at Indianapolis and Road Atlanta in the closing rounds. Those wins were crucial in locking down second place in the championship standings.

In the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, Aitken returned to Emil Frey Racing for a second consecutive season and finished eighth in the championship with two victories to his name. His DTM form complemented his IMSA program and reinforced his reputation as a versatile sportscar and touring car driver. Together, the two campaigns showcased his ability to balance demanding schedules across continents while remaining competitive in both.

At the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans, Aitken’s No. 311 Cadillac Whelen entry retired from the race following a loss of drive in the 17th hour, ending his Le Mans effort for the year. Despite that setback, his IMSA runner-up finish and DTM victories made 2025 one of the strongest seasons of his sportscar career and set the stage for his full-time move to the FIA World Endurance Championship with Cadillac Hertz Team Jota in 2026.