The next generation: Rising stars to watch on the Road to Indy in 2026
The Road to Indy offers a development path for young drivers as they aim to reach the NTT Indycar series. The four tier system allows drivers to take a step by step approach up the junior ladder and develop their driving abilities as they progress. The journey across the Road to Indy includes USF Juniors, USF 2000, USF Pro 2000 and finally Indy NXT. The championships also offer scholarships to high finishing drivers to help fund the next step of their careers. It’s a perfect place for young drivers to show their capabilities and grow into professional racing drivers.
There has been some incredible standout talent shown across the championships in 2025. From Indycar hopefuls in Indy NXT to young drives starting out in USF Juniors, there is plenty of talent on show. This article shows ten of the up and coming drivers to watch out for in 2026, starting with drivers competing in the 2026 Indy NXT season.
1. Lochie Hughes
2024: USF Pro 2000, 1st with Turn 3 Motorsport. 5 wins across 18 races.
2025: Indy NXT, 3rd with Andretti Global. 2 wins across 14 races.
2026: Indy NXT with Andretti Global. Also serving as the team’s Indycar reserve driver.
Lochie Hughes stepped up to Indy NXT as reigning USF Pro 2000 champion for 2025 and the Aussie would take 2 wins for Andretti Global. He couldn’t quite match Dennis Hauger and Caio Collet in 2025, but his raw pace was undeniable.
As the 2026 Indy NXT grid has started to form, Hughes has increasingly become the championship favourite, stating winning the championship is ‘job number one’. Finishing third in what was a very strong grid in 2025 undoubtedly increased Hughes’s perception in the Indycar paddock. Subsequently, he has been announced as Andretti’s reserve driver for 2026, combining the role with his championship hopeful campaign in Indy NXT. He also recently made his Indycar test debut with the team at IMS road course as he aims for an Indycar seat in 2027.
2. Nikita Johnson
2024: USF Pro 2000, 2nd with Velocity Racing Development. 8 wins in 18 races. 11th in GB3 with 2 wins.
2025: Partial campaigns in Indy NXT, GB3 and FIA F3. 3rd in FR Oceania.
2026: Indy NXT with Andretti Cape.
Johnson finished second in USF Pro 2000 in 2024, just behind Lochie Hughes, despite take more wins across the season. Johnson would likely have won the championship if it wasn’t for a disqualification at IMS. It was a close 2024 season between the pair, both demonstrating how talented they are.
For 2025 Nikita decided on partial campaigns across Indy NXT, GB3 and FIA F3, three of the most demanding junior championships. Not completing the whole season in any championship halted any meaningful campaign for the young American. In recent years, several drives have opted for multiple series across a racing season in order to try and maximise their development. However, driving three very different cars can limit a driver’s chance of adapting to a championship.
Johnson may have fell victim to this in 2025, and has since decided for a full time campaign in Indy NXT for 2026. The American clearly has the driving ability to fight for championships, therefore choosing one series for the upcoming season should allow him to reignite his career and potentially become one of Hughes championship rivals.
3. Max Garcia
2024: USF 2000, 1st with Pabst Racing. 5 wins across 18 races.
2025: USF Pro 2000, 1st with Pabst Racing. 9 wins across 18 races.
2026: Indy NXT with Abel Motorsports.
Max Garcia has one of the most impressive Road to Indy records in recent years, similar to the domination that saw Kyle Kirkwood rise to Indycar. Taking back to back championship wins in USF 2000 and Pro 2000 makes Garcia an interesting prospect for any Indycar team as the youngster embarks on his debut Indy NXT campaign. Finishing over 60% of his races across the last two seasons on the podium is an impressive statistic for the American, showing his incredible consistency on track.
Garcia places emphasis on his relationship with his engineer, stating ‘being able to communicate very well’ with his engineer was a reason to his success in 2025. This approach should allow him to adapt well to the step up to Indy NXT. Combined with his raw talent, it could propel him into championship contention alongside Johnson and Hughes. Could he make an Indycar start before the age of 18?
4. Max Taylor
2024: USF Juniors/USF 2000, 1st/3rd with Velocity Racing Development. 7 wins across 33 races. Also made 3 appearances in GB3.
2025: USF Pro 2000, 6th with Velocity Racing Development. 1 win across 18 races. Also made 6 starts in Indy NXT with HMD and 3 further appearances in GB3.
2026: Indy NXT with Andretti Global.
Taylor combined a dual programme of USF Juniors and USF 2000 in 2024, adapting well to both on the way to a championship win in the former and third place in the latter. A very impressive season highlighted Taylor as one to watch, and he decided to step up to USF Pro 2000 for 2025. It turned out to be a disappointing year for the young American, taking only one win at Road America on his way to sixth in the standings.
He did also make six starts in Indy NXT in 2025 with HMD Motorsports, impressing with a fourth place finish in race two at Laguna Seca. 2025 wasn’t what Taylor would’ve aimed for, but with two solid years behind him and a seat with Andretti Global in Indy NXT for 2026 occupying the championship winning No.28 car from 2025, Max Taylor will look to return to his best and many will predict him to do just that.
Make sure to read our recent article about Max Garica and Max Taylor: Taking It Two The Max: Two of Indycar’s top prospects to make Indy NXT debuts in 2026 by Owen White.
5. Ariel Elkin
2024: USF Juniors, 4th with International Motorsport. 3 wins across 16 races. Also made appearances in Spanish F4.
2025: USF Pro 2000, 2nd with TJ Speed Motorsports. 3 wins across 17 races.
2026: Unknown.
Elkin moved to the Road to Indy in 2024 and adapted instantly. He competed at the top end of both categories, despite skipping USF 2000. The young driver was a regular feature in the top five and on the podium throughout his recent run to second in USF Pro 2000.
The Israeli came into America as a largely unknown prospect after competing in Italian F4, but he has managed to transform himself into a championship contender across the last two years. His plans for 2026 are currently unknown, although a step up to Indy NXT may be the logical step. However, he may look outside the Road To Indy for the next stage of his career.
6. Liam McNeilly
2024: USF Juniors, 2nd with Jay Howard Driver Development. 5 wins across 16 races. Also made appearances in USF 2000 and GB4.
2025: Partial campaigns in USF 2000, USF Pro 2000 and GB3.
2026: Likely USF Pro 2000.
Liam McNeilly is arguably one of the biggest prospects coming up in RTI. Having fought for the championship across multiple seasons in the UK’s Ginetta Junior Championship, which has seen notable competitors including Lando Norris, Luke Browning and Freddie Slater, putting the youngster in great company.
After coming to America, McNeilly proved quickly he was one to watch, missing out on the USF Juniors championship by just five points behind Max Taylor. He also finished on the podium in just his second USF 2000 start that year. The young Brit was set to contest a full season of USF 2000 in 2025, and went on to take five wins in the first five races. However, his championship was derailed after he faced Visa issues. He would only contest two other rounds that year, with two top five results in USF Pro 2000 in Toronto and a podium finish in just his third GB3 race, illustrating he would have been a strong contender for the 2025 USF 2000 title.
McNeilly hasn’t announced his 2026 plans yet, however he is likely to opt for a full time campaign in USF Pro 2000 and will be many people’s championship favourite as he looks to get his career back on track. The youngster is also rumoured to have signed a developmental deal with an Indycar team illustrating the bright future ahead for the Brit.
7. Jack Jeffers
2024: USF Juniors, 5th with Exclusive Autosport. Also made 2 appearances in USF 2000.
2025: USF 2000, 1st with Exclusive Autosport. 6 wins in 18 races.
2026: Likely USF Pro 2000.
Jack Jeffers dominated the 2025 USF 2000 season after moving up from a top five run in USF Juniors the previous year. Jeffers finished 67 points ahead of second placed driver Teddy Musella. His championship run was helped by the withdrawal of Liam McNeilly due to his Visa issues.
Jeffers has demonstrated he has the ability to move up the RTI and potentially earn a move to Indycar in the coming years. He’s likely to complete a move up to USF Pro 2000 for 2026, where we should finally get to see him and McNeilly directly fight for a championship. The American will have to continue to develop and prove he has what it takes as he aims for his second title in two years.
8. Leonardo Escorpioni
2024: USF Juniors, 9th with Zanella Racing. 1 podium across 16 races.
2025: USF Juniors, 1st with Zanella Racing. 6 wins across 16 races.
2026: USF 2000 with Zanella Racing.
Escorpioni came into 2025 off the back of a mediocre debut season in USF Juniors and he went on to shatter the competition in his second season, finishing a massive 71 points ahead of Liam Loiacono in the 2025 USF Juniors standings. The Brazilian built his season on incredible consistency, finishing on the podium in 14 out of 16 races. The lack of mistakes and his tremendous ability to fight at the front every weekend allowed the youngster to wrap up the championship with a race to spare.
Escorpioni has spent a large part of his career with Zanella Racing and they played a huge role in his recent championship win as they also claimed the teams title. The team has decided to expand their program into USF 2000 for 2026, allowing Escorpioni to step up with them, making the pair a duo to watch as they both make their series debut.
9. Liam Loiacono
2024: Australian Formula Ford Series(Duratec)/Victorian Formula Ford Series(Duratec), 4th/3rd with BF Racing. 5 wins across 35 races.
2025: USF Juniors, 2nd with Jay Howard Driver Development. 5 wins across 16 races.
2026: Potentially USF 2000
Liam Loiacono is one of the most intriguing prospects on the RTI right now. The Australian began racing in Formula Ford, one of the oldest single seater categories in the world. Arriving in the US with such a unique background certainly would’ve put some eyes on the Aussie.
Loiacono didn’t take long to adapt to the USF 2000 car and American single seater racing as he scored a podium finish in just his second race of 2025. He went on to take five wins, including four in succession on his way to second in the standings behind Leonardo Escorpioni. The Aussie has demonstrated he can adapt to a new car and instantly be on pace of championship contenders, perhaps suggesting he has a successful career ahead.
However, Loiacono will likely pursue a move up to USF 2000 for 2026, but this goal may be blocked due to financial factors. He missed out on the scholarship for winning the USF Juniors championship meaning he may not be able to make the step up. Hopefully he can find the funds to secure a seat for 2026 because he certainly looks to have the talent to move up the RTI.
10. Oliver Weldon
2024: Skip Barber Formula Race Series, 1st. 9 wins across 14 races.
2025: USF Juniors, 5th with VRD Racing. 7 podiums across 16 races.
2026: potentially Italian F4
Son of the late Indycar driver, Dan Weldon, Oliver has had a successful start to his single seater career. The now fourteen year old had an incredibly impressive win percentage of over 60% on his way to becoming the 2024 Skip Barber champion. Stepping up to the bottom step of the Road to Indy in 2025 would come with some expectation due to his father and brother’s success in motorsport.
It was a promising start to life in USF Juniors for the American, he took seven podium finishes in the first eight races of 2025. Weldon did however have a very tricky second half of the season, he would only return to the top five once the rest of the season. Despite this, it was still a successful debut season. At such a young age Oliver can still build consistency and championship form in the years to come, but it is no doubt he will be a rising star.
Weldon’s future may lie outside of the RTI as he looks likely to follow his brother’s footsteps and pursue a seat in Italian F4 for 2026. Either way both Oliver and Sebastian Weldon have promising careers ahead of them as they move to Europe, maybe one day we will see them in the NTT Indycar series.
The 2026 Road to Indy championships look set to be one of the most competitive yet. With proven race winners like Hughes and Garcia, and emerging talent like Escorpioni and Loiacono, the future of Indycar looks bright. All four stages of the RTI are a must watch for 2026.
written by Michael Williams / Media Credit: Penske Entertainment