Few rookies adapt to cars as quickly as Noah Killion did in 2025, converting raw pace and resilience into a title-winning campaign in Australia’s premier single-seater championship. Feeder Series caught up with the Sydney teenager to discuss his breakthrough year in AU4, championship battle and plans to take on Europe next year.

By Anabelle Bremner

At Phillip Island, AGI Sport’s Noah Killion wrestled a damaged car to victory in a moment that summed up his first season in cars: gritty, fast, and fearless. 

Just fifteen years old, Sydney’s Killion has already achieved what most young drivers only dream of: winning a national championship in his first season of car racing. After years spent honing his craft in karting, 2025 marked his debut in the newly updated AU4 championship, the first real step between karting and the global single-seater ladder. 

It’s a big leap: heavier cars, more power and greater pressure. But Killion adjusted quickly, using what he’d learned in karting to build confidence and consistency across the season.

“It was pretty hard to get used to at first,” Killion admitted. “The car is much bigger, and it’s different to karts because you’ve got all four wheels braking instead of just the rears. You’ve got so much more power [in an F4 car].”

By the end of the season, the rookie had outpaced more experienced drivers to clinch the AU4 Championship’s Gen2 title, an outcome that underlined how effectively he adapted to the step up from karting.

Killion faced a challenging start to the season, taking two podiums – both victories – from the first six races and allowing title rival Isaac McNeill to pull ahead with six podiums. Round two, though, proved a quiet turning point. Though he took only one win, Killion’s pace throughout the weekend was clear – and that’s when his title campaign began to take shape. 

“I always felt like I was within [reach of] the championship, but a turning point for me was definitely round two, where I was the fastest,” he said. “That’s when I believed I was definitely a championship contender.”

Killion’s debut season was a steep learning curve, teaching him how to balance speed with awareness.

“[This season] taught me a lot,” he reflected. “I got a few penalties in the races – I missed a few yellow flags and stuff – and then that led me to learn how to be more cautious and focus on my surroundings while still being able to drive as fast as I can.”

He also highlighted the challenge of trail braking – light, continued braking into a corner, as opposed to braking hard – a skill he had to master early in the season.

“Trail braking was also a really big thing for me this season. The first two rounds, I was braking much earlier than most people, but then once I learned it, it was great.”

That learning curve came into sharp focus at Phillip Island, during the third race of round three.

“After the safety car [restart], I made contact with another competitor, which caused some damage and left me with only half my front wing,” Killion recalled. “I still went on to take the lead and win the race, which was pretty great.”

The AU4 Championship came down to the wire, with Killion and McNeill neck and neck all season. While McNeill held a slim four-point advantage in raw points, Killion’s dropped-score advantage meant he went into the final round at Sydney Motorsport Park effectively leading the championship. He carried that form into the finale, delivering a title-winning performance of two wins and a fifth place – and firmly leaving his mark on the Australian single-seater scene. 

Killion’s AU4 success didn’t go unnoticed, attracting interest from a number of teams outside of Australia. The Sydney-based racer will be looking to build on that momentum when he competes in Europe next year. 

“I have plans to race in Italian Formula 4 next year with US Racing,” Killion told Feeder Series. “And at the end of this year, I’m racing in the UAE Trophy Series Formula 4 with AGI Sport again.”

To pursue these opportunities, Killion will relocate to Oxford, England, placing himself closer to the heart of Europe’s single-seater racing scene.

“I haven’t done any racing in Europe yet, so I’m not sure how I’ll go,” Killion said. “But hopefully I’ll adjust quickly.”

Looking ahead, the young racer has his sights set on the pinnacle of motorsport – but above all, he’s just keen to keep racing.

“My long-term ambition is definitely Formula 1,” he said. “But if that doesn’t work out, I’d probably go with endurance racing.”

And when asked for a message to the world, Killion had just two words:

“Watch out.”

Header photo credit: JCR Multi Media