One of the two seats at PREMA Racing was officially confirmed today when the team announced the signing of Callum Ilott. It is a familiar pairing, as these two had a ton of success in Formula 3 back in 2017. After earning a pair of top-five finishes in his first full-time season in 2023 with Juncos Hollinger Racing, Ilott filled in for Arrow McLaren twice this year. He finished 11th both times – the season opener at St Petersburg and the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500.

While the team has announced the numbers of their two cars (No. 83 and No. 90) they did not state which one Ilott will be driving next year. There is no indication on when PREMA will announce their second driver, but rumors have Robert Shwartzman as the most likely candidate to get that seat. The full press release from today is below.

[PREMA Racing Press Release]

PREMA Racing announces that Callum Ilott will join the team’s brand-new NTT INDYCAR SERIES operation for its 2025 debut in the series.

The 25-year-old British, a veteran of 38 INDYCAR starts and two top-5 finishes, is no stranger to the PREMA family. Ilott joined the team for the first time in 2017, delivering six wins and 11 podium finishes in the Formula 3 European Championship. He is now set for a welcomed return to the team, and will be driving a Chevrolet-powered Dallara for PREMA’s highly-anticipated American effort.

“It’s an incredible opportunity to experience INDYCAR with PREMA, their first steps in the series and in the US,” Ilott said. “What an amazing chance. I love the racing, I love these cars and I love the team, so it’s great to be back to what they call the Italian family home. It’s going to be something special to build off, a lot of hard work but I’m excited to join the team and see what we can do together.”

One of the most brilliant kart racers of his generation, Ilott later moved to the GP3 Series in 2018, and eventually made his FIA Formula 2 debut in 2019. In the following season, he was a runner-up in the F1 feeder series, before moving to Endurance racing and eventually to INDYCAR in 2021. Earlier this year, he claimed his maiden FIA WEC Hypercar win in the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.

“We are really looking forward to welcoming Callum to our INDYCAR team,” said PREMA Racing CEO Piers Phillips. “His previous experiences in the series, combined with those with PREMA, will make him a key asset as we try to merge the team’s European heritage with what it will be able to learn in the US. We know Callum as a very talented driver, but we can also see how his professionalism has matured in the series. The information and feedback he will be able to share will be extremely important, as much as his impressive racing skills.”

Ilott also had the chance to make multiple Formula 1 outings in testing and practice between 2019 and 2021. He took part in two Free Practice sessions with Alfa Romeo Racing and also served as a Scuderia Ferrari Test Driver in 2021.

He has now the chance to be part of a new chapter in the history of PREMA in one of the world’s most competitive racing series.

“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Callum back with us for this new chapter of our history,” said Team Owner René Rosin. “We had a great time working with him in Formula 3, and we always kept an eye on him after that. He proved to be a great fit for us in the past, and I think he will feel like picking up something he had left off. He proved his outstanding speed skills everywhere he competed. In addition, his prior IndyCar experience will be an invaluable asset. Now that the opportunity to get back together has come, we are determined to make the most out of it.”