As the Formula Winter Series kicked off Europe’s single-seater action for 2026, global junior formulae testing proceeded to scale back across the continent. Instead, Florida was the host of two large-scale IndyCar feeder series tests. Feeder Series tells you who tested where over the past week.

By Marco Albertini

Indy NXT at Sebring

The week began with a two-day test at Sebring on Monday and Tuesday for Indy NXT machinery.

With most of the grid already being confirmed, almost all teams brought in their full-season drivers to the test. Abel Motorsports’ four cars were driven by the already confirmed Max Garcia (#12), Jordan Missig (#48), Colin Kaminsky (#57) and Myles Rowe (#99). Andretti Global’s Lochie Hughes (#26), Sebastian Murray (#27), Max Taylor (#28) and Josh Pierson (#29) were also present, and so were Chip Ganassi Racing’s James Roe (#8), Bryce Aron (#9), Niels Koolen (#10) and Carson Etter (#11). HMD Motorsports’ trio of Salvador de Alba (#17), Jack Beeton (#45) and Enzo Fittipaldi (#67) were joined by the recently announced Tymek Kucharczyk (#71). 

HMD-affiliated AJ Foyt Racing and Cusick Morgan Motorsports also brought their already confirmed duos to the test, with Nicholas Monteiro (#4) and Alessandro de Tullio (#14) driving for the former and Nicolas Stati (#15) and Juan Manuel Correa (#68) doing so for the latter.

Cape Motorsports by ECR fielded their only confirmed driver, Nikita Johnson (#21), alongside Matteo Nannini (#20), who last competed in Indy NXT in 2023 and currently spearheads USF2000 team ENVE Motorsports as its co-founder and team manager. In his only season in the series, the Italian-Argentine competed in the first seven races for Juncos Hollinger Racing, scoring a lone win at Indianapolis before leaving the team with immediate effect after Mid-Ohio.

Juncos Hollinger Racing, meanwhile, brought two cars to the test after spending last year on the sidelines. The recently confirmed Ricardo Escotto (#76) tested with the team, as did Jack William Miller (#75). The Indianapolis native raced in Indy NXT for the last two seasons for his family team, which had a collaboration with Abel last year. 

EC3, EFO, F4 at Aragon

From Monday to Wednesday, a three-day test for Eurocup-3, Euroformula Open and F4 machinery was held at MotorLand Aragón.

Three teams fielded Eurocup-3 machinery. Palou Motorsport brought two cars, with Bianca Bustamante and Heitor Dall’Agnol driving the #10 car on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, while the driver of the #11 car was unidentified. Tecnicar Motorsport and Drivex also fielded one car each, with the latter only taking part on Wednesday, but the identities of the drivers in both cars were unclear.

Motopark was the only team to participate in the test with Euroformula Open machinery, bringing three cars to the test with drivers whose identities remain unclear.

F4 cars, meanwhile, were fielded by eight teams. Mathilda Racing brought one car for Mathilda Paatz (#18), while Tecnicar’s four cars were driven by Zoe Florescu Potolea (#79) and three unnamed drivers. Drivex’s three cars were in the hands of Sebastian Frigolet (#96), who drove only on Tuesday, as well as two unnamed drivers. Monlau fielded Fausto Arnaudo (#37) on the same day, as well as Rahim Alibhai, Emma Scarbrough and one driver who remains unidentified. Real Racing and AS Motorsport both brought two cars each to the test, while GRS and G4 fielded one car each. None of the drivers were identified.

Aragón, 19–21 January	P1	P2	P3
EFO, Day 2	Motopark #9, 1:50.808	Motopark #8.2, +0.457s	Motopark #7, +0.939s
EFO, Day 3	Motopark #9, 1:50.261	Motopark #8.2, +0.803s	Motopark #7, +1.390s
EC3, Day 1	Tecnicar #78, 2:09.506	Palou #11.1, +3.341s
EC3, Day 2	Palou #11.1, 1:50.345	Bianca Bustamante, +0.119s	Tecnicar #78, +3.542s
EC3, Day 3	Heitor Dall’Agnol, 1:50.662	Tecnicar #78, +0.320s	Palou #11.1, +0.591s
F4, Day 1	Mathilda Paatz, 2:13.332	Real Racing #11.2, +0.287s	Real Racing #95, +0.726s
F4, Day 2	Real Racing #11.2, 2:00.400	Tecnicar #77, +0.045	Fausto Arnaudo, +0.125s
F4, Day 3	Monlau #8.1, 1:59.698	Fausto Arnaudo, +0.347s	Real Racing #95, +0.356s

USF Pro Championships at Homestead

For the second week in a row, USF Pro 2000, USF2000 and USF Juniors cars took to the track for a two-day test, this time held from Wednesday to Thursday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Only one USF Pro 2000 car was present at the test, fielded by JHDD. Its driver’s identity remains unclear, as were the identities of the team’s two USF2000 testers. Also in USF2000 machinery was Zanella Racing’s Leonardo Escorpioni (#55), who only turned laps on Wednesday.

USF Juniors cars were fielded by five different teams. Zanella Racing brought cars for Jared Oselka (#21), Maddie Colleran (#29), Leonardo Serravalle (#87) and Victor Couto (#88) as well as reigning USF Juniors champion Leonardo Escorpioni (#55), who joined them only on Thursday. DEForce Racing fielded three cars for Vilho Aatola (#8), Jack Heydu (#18) and Pipe Chaparro (#20), while VRD x Pole Position brought one car for Edward Kennedy (#27).

Exclusive Autosport participated at the test with four cars driven by Bex Cranston (#90), Connor Aspley (#91), Cam Becker (#93) and Cole Medeiros (#97). JHDD also brought three cars to the test, but the identity of their drivers remains unclear.

Homestead, 21–22 January	P1	P2	P3
USF Pro, Day 1	JHDD #7, 1:22.848
USF Pro, Day 2	JHDD #7, 1:22.028
USF2000, Day 1	JHDD #7, 1:23.613	JHDD #9, +2.776s	Leonardo Escorpioni, +2.975s
USF2000, Day 2	JHDD #7, 1:25.236	JHDD #9, +1.095s
USF Juniors, Day 1	Leonardo Serravalle, 1:23.359	Cam Becker, +0.019s	Victor Couto, +0.149s
USF Juniors, Day 2	Victor Couto, 1:23.095	JHDD #7, +0.093s	JHDD #6, +0.245s

Other testing

On Wednesday and Thursday, the Bahrain International Circuit was the host of another Aspire track day, in which two modified SF-23 chassis were driven by Mattia Colnaghi (#1) and Emerson Fittipaldi. Prema was also present at the test with three previous-generation F3 cars driven by James Wharton, Mari Boya and Enzo Deligny, with Wharton missing the FR Oceania round at Teretonga to participate. Van Amersfoort Racing brought one F2 car for Rafael Villagómez.

Nikola Tsolov and Fernando Barrichello were also present at the test for A2RL, but it was not clear what car they drove.

Read the previous week’s round-up here.

Header photo credit: Matt Fraver / Penske Entertainment