Payton Westcott

Payton Westcott is an American racing driver proving that when you start late, you’d better move fast—and she has, rocketing from karting newbie to Formula 4 competitor in just a few years with a trajectory that’s turning heads across motorsport.

EARLY YEARS

Born March 20, 2009, in California, Payton Westcott grew up in Laguna Beach with her parents, her brother, and their puppy Nico. She started karting at six years old, but didn’t begin competing until she was twelve—an age when most drivers already have years of wheel-to-wheel combat under their belts. The late start didn’t faze her. If anything, it lit a fire.

Westcott started racing competitively in 2022, entering the intensely competitive junior karting scene in the United States. Within three years, she climbed from karting rookie to single-seater standout, compressing what usually takes a decade into a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it ascent. She wasn’t just keeping up—she was winning.

OTHER INTERESTS

Details about Westcott’s life outside the cockpit remain largely focused on racing. At fifteen, she was already traveling across Europe for the Champions of the Future Academy Program, balancing life as a teenager with the demands of an international racing schedule. Her world revolves around the track, her family, and her dog Nico back home in California.

EARLY SUCCESS

Westcott made her mark quickly in karting. Despite starting competitive racing only three years ago, she racked up wins in KA100 Junior events at the California ProKart Challenge, earning recognition as one of the rising stars in the US junior ranks. She competed in prestigious events like the SKUSA SuperNationals and the United States Pro Kart Series (USPKS), where she finished seventh in KA 100 Jr. in 2024.

Her breakout moment came in 2024 when she was selected as one of nine drivers for the F1 Academy Discover Your Drive scholarship as part of the newly launched Champions of the Future Academy Program. The six-event arrive-and-drive series gave her international exposure and a direct pipeline to single-seater racing—a chance she seized with both hands.

By late 2024, Westcott made her single-seater debut in the Formula Winter Series, showing immediate promise. She transitioned from karts to cars with the kind of confidence that only comes from knowing you belong there.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2024: Selected for F1 Academy Discover Your Drive scholarship and competed in the Champions of the Future Academy Program[1].
• 2024: Competed in California ProKart Challenge KA100 Junior, securing multiple wins and finishing third in the championship[2].
• 2024: Made single-seater debut in Formula Winter Series[3].
• 2025: Selected for inaugural F1 Academy Rookie Test, finishing first in afternoon session and third overall[4].
• 2025: Named Wild Card entry for F1 Academy season finale in Las Vegas[5].
• 2025: Scored points with a sixth-place finish in F1 Academy Race 1 in Las Vegas, becoming the highest-finishing Wild Card driver of the 2025 season[6].
• 2025: Joined Van Amersfoort Racing for full Formula 4 campaign across Italian F4, Euro4 Championship, and Formula Winter Series[7].
• 2025: Won Female Trophy in Formula Winter Series final race at Aragon[8].
• 2025: Claimed maiden F4 victory at Formula Trophy UAE in Dubai, becoming the first female race winner in Formula Trophy history[9].

INSPIRATIONS

Westcott has not publicly detailed specific inspirations or role models, but her actions speak clearly: she races to challenge herself, to grow, and to prove she belongs in motorsport. That drive—internal, relentless, and unapologetic—is what fuels her.

REPUTATION

At just sixteen, Westcott has built a reputation as a fast learner with serious racecraft. Her performances in the F1 Academy Rookie Test caught attention across the paddock—topping the afternoon session and consistently running at the sharp end showed she could adapt quickly under pressure. When she earned her Wild Card spot for the Las Vegas finale, she didn’t just show up for the experience; she delivered, scoring points and outperforming every other Wild Card driver that season.

Her historic win in the Formula Trophy UAE cemented her status as a driver who doesn’t just compete—she wins. Becoming the first female victor in the series’ history wasn’t about making a statement; it was about being faster than everyone else that day. Clean, composed, and competitive, Westcott races with the kind of confidence that makes you forget she only started competing three years ago.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

For 2025 and beyond, Westcott is focused on her full-season Formula 4 campaign with Van Amersfoort Racing, competing in Italian F4, the Euro4 Championship, and the Formula Winter Series. She’s using the multi-series approach to rack up seat time, sharpen her racecraft, and build momentum toward higher levels of single-seater competition.

After her strong showing in F1 Academy and her historic Formula Trophy win, the path forward is clear: continue climbing the ladder with the same speed and determination that got her here. Her ultimate goal is proving she belongs at the top levels of motorsport—and she’s well on her way.

REFERENCES

[1] Van Amersfoort Racing – Payton Westcott joins for full 2025 Formula 4 campaign
[2] SuperKartsUSA – Champions Crowned in 20th Season for California ProKart Challenge
[3] Racers Behind the Helmet – Payton Westcott makes promising single seater debut at Formula Winter Series opener
[4] Formula 1 – Ella Stevens tops the inaugural F1 ACADEMY Rookie Test
[5] Formula 1 – Payton Westcott confirmed as F1 ACADEMY Las Vegas Wild Card
[6] Payton Westcott Racing – Las Vegas Finale: Westcott Becomes 2025’s Highest-Finishing F1 Academy Wildcard
[7] Italian F4 Championship – Payton Westcott joins Van Amersfoort Racing for full 2025 Formula 4 campaign
[8] Racers Behind the Helmet – FWS: Payton Westcott wins Female Trophy in thrilling final race at Aragon
[9] Payton Westcott Racing – Payton Westcott Takes Historic Win with PREMA at Formula Trophy UAE Debut
EKN – Driver Diary: Payton Westcott – Champions of the Future Academy Program Cremona
F1 Academy – Payton Westcott Driver Profile
Wikipedia – Payton Westcott
Payton Westcott Racing – Official Website