Photo credit: Gavin Baker Photography

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This is part of a two-part series focusing on the USF Pro Championships fall combine. The second part, previewing returning drivers, will be out closer to the start of the combine.

What do a British starlet who has tested a Formula 1 car, an American race winner in both F4 US and FR Americas, accomplished karters from around the world, and multiple open-wheel winners from across America have in common? They’re all among the new faces participating in the USF Pro Championships fall combine.

This weekend, over 50 drivers will take part in a comprehensive six-session test on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway ahead of the 2025 season. While many names will be familiar to fans of the USF Pro Championships, several newcomers could make an immediate impact if they race full-time in any of the series.

It’s important to note that the majority of drivers competing in the Fall Combine have not yet signed contracts for the 2025 season. Drivers may switch teams or series, or choose not to race in the USF Pro Championships at all. Stay tuned to USOpenWheelNation for updates on those moves as the offseason progresses.

Nevertheless, we have an exciting group of talented drivers competing this weekend. Here are six storylines that encapsulate the USF Pro Championships newcomers in full.

Loake Highlights Internationally-Experienced Field

The biggest name at the fall combine is 19-year-old Joseph Loake, one of Britain’s top young drivers. He finished third in the GB3 Championship in 2023 and competed in FIA Formula 3 last season, securing two top-10 finishes at Monaco.

Loake is best known for winning the prestigious Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Award, which has been awarded to drivers like George Russell and Lando Norris. This honor gave Loake the opportunity to test an Aston Martin Formula 1 car this year. He will drive for Turn 3 Motorsport in USF Pro 2000, the same team that won the 2023 championship with Lochie Hughes.

Sherlock Leads American Drivers Entering the Fray

Titus Sherlock, a familiar name to USF Pro Championships fans after his 2022 USF Juniors campaign, deserves reintroduction based on his recent accomplishments. In 2023, Sherlock finished runner-up in F4 US, a competitive field that included drivers like Michael Costello and Augusto Soto-Schirripa. He also won races in both F4 US and Formula Regional Americas, where he is set to secure another second-place finish. Sherlock will test for Turn 3 in USF Pro 2000.

Drivers Head to Indy After Success in Asia

One standout feature of the fall combine entry list is the number of drivers who have made a name for themselves in Asia before transitioning to the US. Brad Majman, one of Australia’s top karters, won multiple Ligier JS F4 races in 2024 and will compete in USF2000 with Jay Howard Driver Development.

TJ Speed Motorsports also fields a strong lineup of drivers with success in Asia. Sebastian Manson earned six podiums and finished second in the Formula Regional Japanese Championship, while Myles Bromley has won five races in Australian Formula Open and is still in contention for the championship.

Regional Open-Wheel Stars Move Up

Several drivers coming from regional American open-wheel series are taking the next step in their careers by testing in the USF Pro Championships. Four drivers with Skip Barber Race Series experience—Caleb Garfarar, Ryan Giannetta, Thomas Nordquist, and Matan Achituv—will test in USF2000 or USF Juniors after honing their skills on many of the same tracks where USF races are held.

Gabriel Cahan, a standout in the Formula Race Promotions F2000 class, will test in USF2000 with Exclusive Autosport, while Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series drivers Connor Aspley and Kaylee Countryman will test USF Juniors cars.

British Talent ‘Hops the Pond’

In addition to Joseph Loake, several drivers from the UK are set to make their mark at the fall combine. Mayer Deonarine, who earned four top-10 finishes in just eight GB4 Championship races, will test with VRD Racing in USF2000.

Noah Ping, who finished 10th in GB3 with a podium at Spa-Francorchamps, returns to the US with VRD Racing in USF2000. Keep an eye on Harry Moss, who joins Jay Howard Driver Development in USF Juniors after competing in Ginetta Juniors—a similar path followed by Liam McNeilly, the first British race winner in USF Juniors history.

Other Drivers to Watch

Three other drivers deserve mention for their promising backgrounds. Teddy Musella, currently in a tight championship battle in Ligier JS F4, will test in USF2000 with VRD. Cooper Shipman, one of the best karting recruits in the country, finished second in the USPKS KA Senior class and will jump straight into USF2000 with VRD. Lastly, Lincoln Day, who competed valiantly in a small but competitive F4 US field, will test as well.picked up multiple top-five finishes so far during the year. He’ll compete in USF Juniors with DEForce Racing.