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Louis Foster

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Louis Foster
Foster at 2024 Detroit Grand Prix
NationalityUnited Kingdom British
Born (2003-07-27) 27 July 2003 (age 21)
Odiham, Hampshire, England
Indy NXT career
Debut season2023
Current teamAndretti Global
Car number26
Starts28
Championships1
Wins10
Podiums18
Poles11
Fastest laps9
Best finish1st in 2024
Previous series
2022
2020–21
2020

2019
2018		Indy Pro 2000 Championship
Euroformula Open Championship
BRDC British Formula 3 Championship
F4 British Championship
Ginetta Junior Championship
Championship titles
2024
2022
2020

2018		Indy NXT
Indy Pro 2000 Championship
BRDC British Formula 3 Rookie Championship
Ginetta Junior Rookie Championship

Louis Foster (born 27 July 2003) is a British racing driver. He is set to compete in the NTT IndyCar Series driving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. He is the 2024 Indy NXT champion and also won the 2022 Indy Pro 2000 championship.[1] Foster previously competed in the 2021 Euroformula Open Championship with CryptoTower Racing and the 2020 BRDC British Formula 3 Championship with Double R Racing where he finished third.

Personal life

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Louis is the son of former British Touring Car Championship racer Nick Foster. He attended Lord Wandsworth College in Hook, Hampshirein secondary school and yately manor primary school in primary.

Career

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Karting

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Foster began karting at the age of 9. He competed at local karting circuits Camberley Kart Club and Forest Edge Kart Club winning championships at both, in 2013 and 2015 respectively.

Ginetta Junior Championship

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He made his car racing debut in the final three meetings of the 2017 Ginetta Junior Championship, driving with Elite Motorsport. He then competed in that year's Ginetta Junior Winter Series, where he won the Rookie Championship.

He returned to the championship in 2018 and was a persistent title contender throughout the season. Foster claimed 19 podiums, of which 9 were victories plus four pole positions and two fastest laps on his way to second place in the championship. He scored the most points of any driver but lost out on the title by just eight points to teammate Adam Smalley after dropped scores were accounted for.[2]

During the campaign, Foster accrued several records; the first rookie to win three races in one weekend, the first driver to win five races in succession and the youngest driver to score an outright victory.

F4 British Championship

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Following his successful stint in Ginetta Juniors, Foster moved to single-seaters when he joined Double R Racing for the 2019 F4 British Championship certified by FIA, powered by Ford EcoBoost season. In February 2019, Foster received sponsorship from global used car dealership Copart.[3]

Foster was immediately on the pace, taking victory in only the second race of the season. He followed that with a sublime weekend in Donington, winning two races and scoring a third-place finish in the other to give him a 17-point lead in the championship table.

Across the rest of the season, Foster accrued another three wins and nine podium finishes - dominating at Silverstone – to finish the year third in the championship, remaining in the title hunt until the season finale weekend at Brands Hatch.[4]

BRDC F3 Championship

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For 2020, Foster graduated to the BRDC British F3 Championship, remaining with Double R Racing.[5] The opening round at Oulton Park, scheduled for 11 and 13 April, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]

The season subsequently began at Oulton Park on the 1st and 2 August. In the opening qualifying session of the year, Louis set the benchmark and claimed double pole position in his debut weekend in the series.[7] He followed his qualifying success with a maiden podium finish.[8]

Moving on to Donington Park, Foster claimed his first win the series with a mature drive from the front-row of the grid.[9] He then claimed a string of top-ten finishes, including climbing ten places from 18th to 8th in the second race at Donington.

Further success came at Brands Hatch when Foster scored three top-six finishes, including a third-place podium in the final race.[10] The 17-year-old carried this momentum into the series' second visit to Donington Park, where he claimed another race victory, this time climbing from sixth on the grid, alongside two 11th-place finishes.[11]

Snetterton marked Foster's most successful weekend in the series to date as the Hampshire racer took his second double pole position of the season before converting those into his third win of the year and a further second-place podium alongside fourth and fifth in the additional two races.[12] It also meant Foster took the lead of the Jack Cavill Pole Position Cup.[13]

Euroformula Open

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Foster driving at the Red Bull Ring during the 2021 Euroformula Open Championship.

It was announced in October 2020 that Foster would make his debut in Euroformula Open at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.[14] Competing with Double R Racing once again, Foster quickly found himself on the pace as he gained four places in the opening race to break into the top ten. Qualifying fifth for the second race, Foster launched himself to third on the first lap and put himself in prime position to take victory in only his second race in the series.

Shortly after making his debut at Spa-Francorchamps, it was announced that Foster would also contest the rescheduled season finale at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya,[15] with the track hosting four races in lieu of the cancelled round at Circuito del Jarama.[16] After qualifying 11th, 10th, 4th and 12th, Foster pulled off a number of daring overtakes in races one and two to climb into the top ten, finishing eighth in both races.[17] Starting from fourth in race three, the 17-year-old leapfrogged two cars on the first lap to take second place and another podium finish in the series, coming within touching distance of the win.[18][19]

In 2021, Foster switched to CryptoTower Racing to contest the full season. He took pole position at the first round at Portimão and finished in the podium in races 1 and 3, with his brake disc exploding on the formation lap in race 2. Foster secured another two podiums at the second round at Paul Ricard before going on to take a triple win at the third round of the championship at Spa-Francorchamps.

In September, for finishing as Euroformula Open vice champion, Foster was nominated for the Autosport BRDC Award.[20]

Indy Pro 2000

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Earlier in 2021, Foster ran in a private test with Jay Howard Driver Development and later ran in the Chris Griffis Memorial Test with Exclusive Autosport, setting the fastest time of the test.[21] For the 2022 season, Foster signed to drive for Exclusive Autosport for the full season.[22][23] A dominant season ensued, as the Briton won seven races, taking the title at the final round at Portland.[1]

Formula Regional

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During his 2023 pre-season, Foster joined the 2023 Formula Regional Oceania Championship with Giles Motorsport for the final three rounds.[24]

Indy NXT

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Foster's 2024 Indy NXT car

Following his Indy Pro Championship victory, Foster was announced to be signing for Andretti Autosport for the 2023 Indy NXT season.[25] Foster won the 2024 Indy NXT season championship in dominant fashion, winning 8 of 14 races.[26]

IndyCar

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Foster tested an Andretti Autosport car at Road America in September 2023.[27]

On October 9, Foster was announced to have signed a multi-year deal with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.[28]

Racing record

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Career summary

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Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2017 Ginetta Junior Championship Elite Motorsport 9 0 0 0 0 75 19th
Ginetta Junior Winter Series 4 0 0 0 0 76 6th
2018 Ginetta Junior Championship Elite Motorsport 26 9 4 2 19 671 2nd
2019 F4 British Championship Double R Racing 30 6 5 9 13 353 3rd
2019–20 MRF Challenge Formula 2000 MRF Racing 6 1 0 2 2 79 10th
2020 BRDC British Formula 3 Championship Double R Racing 24 3 4 1 6 396 3rd
Euroformula Open Championship 7 1 0 0 2 57 12th
2021 Euroformula Open Championship CryptoTower Racing 24 3 2 4 13 315 2nd
2022 Indy Pro 2000 Championship Exclusive Autosport 18 7 5 10 12 451 1st
2023 Formula Regional Oceania Championship Giles Motorsport 9 1 0 4 4 147 12th
Indy NXT Andretti Autosport 14 2 4 2 6 410 4th
2024 Indy NXT Andretti Global 14 8 7 7 12 639 1st

Complete F4 British Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Pos Points
2019 Double R Racing BRI
1
7 		BRI
2
1 		BRI
3
4 		DON
1
1 		DON
2
3 		DON
3
1 		THR1
1
10 		THR1
2
4 		THR1
3
2 		CRO
1
3 		CRO
2
6 		CRO
3
2 		OUL
1
6 		OUL
2
6 		OUL
3
5 		SNE
1
8 		SNE
2
4 		SNE
3
8 		THR2
1
12 		THR2
2
Ret 		THR2
3
3 		KNO
1
Ret 		KNO
2
5 		KNO
3
1 		SIL
1
1 		SIL
2
3 		SIL
3
1 		BHGP
1
Ret 		BHGP
2
6 		BHGP
3
6 		3rd 353

Complete BRDC British Formula 3 Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 DC Points
2020 Double R Racing OUL
1
13 		OUL
2
Ret 		OUL
3
3 		OUL
4
8 		DON1
1
1 		DON1
2
810 		DON1
3
6 		BRH
1
4 		BRH
2
14 		BRH
3
6 		BRH
4
3 		DON2
1
11 		DON2
2
15 		DON2
3
11 		SNE
1
2 		SNE
2
48 		SNE
3
1 		SNE
4
5 		DON3
1
Ret 		DON3
2
12 		DON3
3
4 		SIL
1
5 		SIL
2
58 		SIL
3
16 		3rd 396

Complete Euroformula Open Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate points for the fastest lap of top ten finishers)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 DC Points
2020 Double R Racing HUN
1 		HUN
2 		LEC
1 		LEC
2 		RBR
1 		RBR
2 		MNZ
1 		MNZ
2 		MNZ
3 		MUG
1 		MUG
2 		SPA
1
7 		SPA
2
1 		SPA
3
Ret 		CAT
1
8 		CAT
2
8 		CAT
3
2 		CAT
4
Ret 		12th 57
2021 CryptoTower Racing POR
1
2 		POR
2
NC 		POR
3
2 		LEC
1
3 		LEC
2
2 		LEC
3
6 		SPA
1
1 		SPA
2
1 		SPA
3
1 		HUN
1
7 		HUN
2
4 		HUN
3
6 		IMO
1
2 		IMO
2
5 		IMO
3
4 		RBR
1
2 		RBR
2
3 		RBR
3
3 		MNZ
1
Ret 		MNZ
2
14 		MNZ
3
Ret 		CAT
1
5 		CAT
2
2 		CAT
3
3 		2nd 315

Complete Formula Regional Oceania Championship Results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 DC Points
2023 Giles Motorsport HIG
1
 HIG
2
 HIG
3
 TER
1
 TER
2
 TER
3
 MAN
1
1 		MAN
2
2 		MAN
3
13 		HMP
1
Ret 		HMP
2
8 		HMP
3
2 		TAU
1
2 		TAU
2
7 		TAU
3
15 		12th 147

American open-wheel racing results

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Indy Pro 2000 Championship

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) (Races with * indicate most race laps led)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Ran Points
2022 Exclusive Autosport STP
1
3 		STP
2
2 		ALA
1
4 		ALA
2
3 		IMS
1
14 		IMS
2
13 		IMS
3
1* 		IRP
1 		ROA
1
1* 		ROA
2
13 		MOH
1
1* 		MOH
2
2 		TOR
1
1* 		TOR
2
1* 		GMP
4 		POR
1
1* 		POR
2
2 		POR
3
6 		1st 451

Indy NXT

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) (Races with L indicate a race lap led) (Races with * indicate most race laps led)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Rank Points
2023 Andretti Autosport STP
14L 		BAR
14 		IMS
2 		DET
19 		DET
3L 		RDA
6 		MDO
1L 		IOW
7 		NSH
6 		IMS
17 		GMP
2 		POR
1* 		LAG
18 		LAG
3 		4th 410
2024 Andretti Global STP
3 		BAR
5 		IMS
7 		IMS
1 		DET
1 		RDA
2 		LAG
1* 		LAG
1* 		MDO
2 		IOW
1 		GMP
1* 		POR
2 		MIL
1* 		NSH
1* 		1st 639

IndyCar Series

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Chassis No. Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rank Points Ref
2025 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Dallara DW12 30 Honda STP
 THE
 LBH
 ALA
 IMS
 INDY
 DET
 GTW
 ROA
 MDO
 IOW
 IOW
 TOR
 LAG
 POR
 MIL
 NSH
 - 0

References

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  1. ^ a b Smith, Daniel (7 September 2022). "Team UK member Louis Foster claims Indy Pro 2000 Championship title". Motorsport UK. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  2. ^ Paice, Simon (14 November 2018). "2018 BTCC Supports Season Review: Top 15 Drivers". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Louis Foster teams up with Copart for Debut British F4 season". 19 February 2019. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ "Advantage Maloney after Carlin racer storms to victory in Brands Hatch opener | British F4". fiaformula4.com. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  5. ^ "British F3 - British ace Foster remains with Double R for British F3 graduation". BRDC British F3 Championship. 31 January 2020. Archived from the original on 31 January 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  6. ^ "British F3 - BRDC British F3 season opener postponed due to Coronavirus outbreak". BRDC British F3 Championship. 17 March 2020. Archived from the original on 17 March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  7. ^ Wood, Elliot (1 August 2020). "Louis Foster takes two BRDC British F3 poles on Oulton Park debut". Formula Scout. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  8. ^ Wood, Elliot (2 August 2020). "Frederick gets redemptive British F3 win in Oulton Park race three". Formula Scout. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  9. ^ "British F3 - Foster flies to maiden British F3 victory in Donington race one". BRDC British F3 Championship. 15 August 2020. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  10. ^ Woollard, Craig (30 August 2020). "Kush Maini earns Hitech GP its first British F3 win of 2020". Formula Scout. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  11. ^ Wood, Elliot (20 September 2020). "Louis Foster wins reversed grid BRDC British F3 race at Donington Park". Formula Scout. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  12. ^ Woollard, Craig (4 October 2020). "Foster beats Frederick in wet BRDC British F3 race three at Snetterton". Formula Scout. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  13. ^ "British F3 - Foster flies to the top of the Jack Cavill Pole Position Cup". BRDC British F3 Championship. 5 October 2020. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  14. ^ Wood, Elliot (12 October 2020). "Double R calls up Louis Foster for Euroformula debut at Spa". Formula Scout. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  15. ^ Wood, Elliot (27 October 2020). "Louis Foster stays in Euroformula for Barcelona after debut weekend win". Formula Scout. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  16. ^ Wood, Elliot (22 October 2020). "Euroformula cancels Jarama season finale, Barcelona to host four races". Formula Scout. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  17. ^ Wood, Elliot (31 October 2020). "Yifei Ye crowned Euroformula champion with dominant Barcelona win". Formula Scout. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  18. ^ Wood, Elliot (1 November 2020). "Ye overcomes penalty to win third Barcelona Euroformula race". Formula Scout. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  19. ^ Partners, M. B. (2 November 2020). "Further podium success for Foster in Barcelona". Mysite. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  20. ^ "FOUR FINALISTS SELECTED FOR 2021 ASTON MARTIN AUTOSPORT BRDC AWARD". British Racing Drivers' Club. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  21. ^ Wood, Ida (1 November 2021). "Foster fastest as he evaluates IP2000 teams, Putsch signs for Legacy". Formula Scout. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  22. ^ "Louis Foster Joins Exclusive Autosport for the 2022 Indy Pro 2000 Season". www.indypro2000.com. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  23. ^ Series, F1 Feeder (23 February 2022). "Your expert guide to the 2022 Indy Pro 2000 driver lineup". F1 Feeder Series. Retrieved 9 September 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ Wood, Ida (26 January 2023). "USF Pro 2000 champion Louis Foster to join FRegional Oceania grid". Formula Scout. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  25. ^ "Foster joins Andretti Autosport for 2023 Indy Lights season". www.motorsport.com. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  26. ^ "Foster closes out Indy NXT title year with eighth win at Nashville". RACER. 15 September 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  27. ^ "Andretti team impressed after Foster's first IndyCar test". RACER. 20 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  28. ^ "INDY NXT Champion Foster Joins RLL in Multiyear Deal". IndyCar.com. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
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