Callum Ilott is staying put at Juncos Hollinger Racing after signing a long-term extension. Image courtesy of Joe Skibinski / Penske Entertainment
Callum Ilott is staying put at Juncos Hollinger Racing after inking a multi-year contract extension, the team announced on Thursday.
The 23-year-old Briton has put together a respectable rookie campaign with the only single-car outfit in the NTT IndyCar Series. He has guided the No. 77 Chevrolet to top 12 qualifying appearances in each of the road course events that was capped with a seventh-place result in the GMR Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in May.
"After seeing the results that we have been able to put forward at JHR for most of the year and the work that has been going on in the background by Ricardo and Brad to improve for the years beyond, made sense to continue with the team and keep building," said Ilott. "The potential that we have shown as a one car team can only get better as we grow and expand this program. I am super happy to continue working with all the team members at JHR, we have created a great foundation together this season. The effort that everyone puts in and the working environment that they have is amazing. From where we started at a year ago, to where we are now, I am confident that we will find more success together."
Ricardo Juncos, co-owner and team principal of JHR, added, "Back in 2021, I took my time to choose our NTT IndyCar Series driver from a list of five drivers. Even when Callum was not on the radar for most of the teams here in the states, I knew he was the perfect fit for our team. Not only for his potential as a driver, but his personality and his desire to win which aligns with our team philosophy. Today, almost a year later, I'm happy to confirm Callum's continuation with the team for long term. From the last three races during the 2021 season and the great results we have had so far this year, shows we were right in choosing him as our driver. Together with our new members of JHR, we have proven so much in a short time, which is incredible with the caliber of drivers and teams currently in the NTT IndyCar Series. This is just the beginning of a new era at JHR and I'm looking forward to continuing our work with Callum and to the results we know we can receive together as a team."
Brad Hollinger, the other half of the JHR co-ownership, provided his thoughts on retaining the Ilott, who has also been a Ferrari Academy driver since 2017, for the foreseeable future.
"Callum is a supremely talented young driver who beyond his driving skills and technical feedback, possesses the character and passion required to be a champion. He is a very quick study, having learned with exceptional speed how to exact the best from the car. His team rapport is excellent and public speaking shows he is a natural media talent as well. We could not be more excited to have Callum drive for and represent JHR. He is a rare combination of raw talent, intelligence, and maturity."
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