Ricardo Escotto, a promising young talent from Mexico, has officially signed with Andretti Cape INDY NXT for the upcoming 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone season. The announcement was made on October 24, 2024, and marks Escotto as the first driver confirmed for the upcoming season under the technical alliance between Andretti INDY NXT and Cape Motorsports.
At just 19 years old, Escotto's journey in motorsport began in 2017 on the SKUSA senior karting circuit. His transition to open-wheel racing occurred in 2018 during the NACAM Formula 4 Championship, where he showcased his potential with two top-10 finishes in his three race entries. As his career progressed, he ventured to Europe in 2022, competing in the Spanish Formula 4 Championship and securing two additional top-10 placements. Moreover, he demonstrated his talent in the UAE Formula 4 Championship, finishing in the top five of the Rookies' standings.
In 2023, Escotto returned to the U.S. to climb the North American ladder with the USF Pro 2000 Presented by Continental Tire Championships. His rookie season included a notable victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, complemented by four top-10 finishes and a fastest race lap. Building on his foundation, his sophomore season saw him achieve two podiums, five top-five finishes, and ten top-10 results, all while participating part-time in INDY NXT, where he made four starts.
Last week, Escotto made his on-track debut with Andretti Cape INDY NXT during the annual Chris Griffis Memorial Test, held at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He completed the day within the top ten on the timing sheets, demonstrating a significant improvement in his performance by reducing his best lap time by nine-tenths of a second from the first to second session. Escotto is scheduled to retake the track with his new team on October 28 at Barber Motorsports Park.
J-F Thormann, President of Andretti Global, expressed enthusiasm for Escotto's addition to the team, stating, “After a successful first season for our technical partnership with Cape Motorsports, we’re looking forward to bringing Ricardo into the mix as we continue to grow the Andretti Cape INDY NXT program. Ricardo was strong in USF Pro 2000 the last two seasons and after getting a few INDY NXT starts under his belt last season, the natural next step was for him to move up to INDY NXT full-time.”
Thormann also commended Escotto's performance at the Chris Griffis test, remarking, “We were impressed with his pace... especially with how competitive the INDY NXT field is right now, and we’re eager to see what the 2025 season has in store for him.”
Dominic Cape, President of Cape Motorsports, echoed the excitement, adding, “We are extremely happy to have Ricardo in our lineup for the 2025 season. We had the opportunity to evaluate him while we were at the Chris Griffis test last week, and he immediately fit in with everyone on the team. Ricardo had excellent feedback and performed really well. We are all looking forward to working with him.”
Escotto himself expressed his enthusiasm about joining the team, saying, “I’m super excited to be with Andretti Cape in 2025. I’ve only worked with the team for a short amount of time, but after getting to do the test with them in Indianapolis, I feel like we already work together really well.” He recognized the opportunity presented by INDY NXT, eagerly anticipating a fruitful partnership with his new team: “This is a great career opportunity for me to be able to race in INDY NXT, so I’m looking forward to working hard with the team and getting some good results next season.”
As the 2025 INDY NXT season approaches, all eyes will be on Ricardo Escotto and the Andretti Cape team as they aim to make a significant mark in the competitive landscape of open-wheel racing. The road ahead looks promising, with high expectations set for both the driver and the organization as they embark on this exciting journey together.