Jack Aitken Bio
Jack Anthony Han-Aitken, born 23 September 1995, is a British and South Korean racing driver currently competing in the IMSA SportsCar Championship for Cadillac Whelen and in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters for Emil Frey. He is best known to wider audiences for a one-off Formula One appearance at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, where he drove for Williams after George Russell was promoted to Mercedes. Beyond that single grand prix, Aitken has built a versatile career that spans junior single-seaters, Formula 2, GT racing, endurance events, and the demanding world of North American sportscar competition.
Holding dual British and South Korean citizenship, Aitken has raced under the British flag throughout his career. He has earned victories and titles in Formula Renault, GP3, and endurance categories, establishing himself as a respected all-round driver. His career arc from junior karting circuits in Kent to global endurance and GT programs reflects years of steady progression through the motorsport ladder.
Early Life and Background
Jack Anthony Han-Aitken was born on 23 September 1995 in London, England, to a Scottish father and a South Korean mother. The cross-cultural upbringing gave him a distinctive identity, and he later adopted the Korean name Han Se-yong alongside his English name. He holds dual British and South Korean citizenship, which has shaped both his personal outlook and the way his racing career has been reported internationally.
Aitken began his motorsport journey close to home. He started competitive karting at Buckmore Park Kart Circuit in Kent at the age of seven, an early start that laid the foundation for a long climb through the junior ranks. By 2010, he was competing in the Super 1 National Kart Championships in the Rotax Mini Max class with ProTrain racing, finishing third behind champion and future Formula 2 teammate George Russell.
During his teenage years, Aitken balanced his racing commitments with his education. While contesting the 2014 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 season, he completed his A-Level qualifications at Westminster School in London, an academic schedule that required careful time management alongside a demanding European racing calendar.
Path to NASCAR
Aitken’s career to date has developed along the international open-wheel and sportscar ladder rather than the stock car pathway. After karting, he moved into single-seaters with Fortec Motorsport, contesting the Intersteps Championship, Formula Renault BARC Winter Series, Formula Renault NEC, and Formula Renault Eurocup. He won the Formula Renault Eurocup in 2015, a breakthrough that brought him to the attention of manufacturer young driver programs.
In February 2016, Aitken joined the Renault young driver academy, where he remained until 2019. He progressed through the GP3 Series with Arden International and ART Grand Prix, finishing as runner-up in 2017, before stepping up to the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2018 with ART Grand Prix. Although his career has remained rooted in open-wheel and sportscar racing, the discipline, race craft, and team-oriented mindset developed through these ladder series are directly relevant to NASCAR-style competition. Any transition to stock car racing would build on a foundation of strong single-seater results and endurance racing experience.
Jack Aitken Career
Early Career (2012–2015)
Aitken’s first car-racing season came in 2012 with Fortec Motorsport. He won the final round of the Formula Renault BARC Winter Series at Rockingham Motor Speedway and finished second in the standings behind teammate Seb Morris. He also took two wins in the 2012 Dunlop InterSteps Championship, placing third overall behind Matt Parry.
In 2013, Aitken moved into the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup, racing alongside future Formula One drivers Esteban Ocon and Alex Albon. He finished second in the championship, again behind Fortec teammate Parry. After a full 2014 Eurocup campaign with one win and three further podiums, he switched to Koiranen GP for 2015. That year he swept both the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and the Alps series titles, winning nine races across the two championships.
Formula Renault Breakthrough (2014–2015)
Aitken’s breakthrough arrived in 2015 with Koiranen GP, when he won both the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and the Formula Renault 2.0 Alps titles at the final rounds at the Circuito de Jerez, a week apart. He took nine race wins in total, finishing ahead of Louis Delétraz in the Eurocup and Jake Hughes in the Alps series. The double championship confirmed him as one of the top junior talents in the Renault ladder and helped earn him a place in the Renault young driver academy.
GP3 Series Breakthrough (2016–2017)
In January 2016, Aitken stepped up to the GP3 Series with Arden International. In his maiden season, he claimed a victory at Spa-Francorchamps and six additional podiums to finish fifth in the overall standings, one point behind teammate Jake Dennis. He also made brief appearances in the Euroformula Open and Formula V8 3.5 series that year, claiming two wins and two pole positions in four Euroformula Open races and a pole in Formula V8 3.5.
For 2017, Aitken switched to reigning team champions ART Grand Prix. He took one race win at the Hungaroring and five further podiums, finishing second in the championship with 141 points, behind champion and former karting rival George Russell on 220 points.
Formula 2 Breakthrough (2018–2021)
In January 2018, ART Grand Prix announced Aitken would join their Formula 2 team for the 2018 season, again partnering Russell. He took his first podium with second place in the Baku feature race, and later scored his first victory in the Barcelona sprint race. He finished 11th in the championship with 63 points, while Russell claimed the title with 287 points.
For 2019, Aitken moved to Campos Racing. He took his first win of the season, and Campos’s first win in Formula 2, at the Baku feature race. He also won his home sprint race at Silverstone after overtaking Louis Delétraz on lap 17, and won the Monza sprint race after defending from Jordan King. He finished fifth in the standings with 159 points, the bulk of Campos’ 189-point team total. After a quieter 2020 campaign, he returned briefly in 2021 with HWA Racelab, with a best finish of ninth in the second Monaco sprint race.
Formula One Debut (2020)
Aitken made his Formula One race debut with Williams at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, replacing George Russell after Russell was promoted to Mercedes. He chose to race with car number 89, in reference to a number he previously used in karting. He qualified 18th, within a tenth of a second of teammate Nicholas Latifi. On lap 61 of 87, he spun at the final corner, broke off his front wing, and pitted for a replacement, eventually finishing 16th. He did not take part in any further grand prix weekends, with Russell returning to Williams in Abu Dhabi.
Sportscar Racing Era (2021–Present)
After leaving Formula 2, Aitken switched to sportscar racing with Emil Frey Racing. In 2021, he drove a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance and Sprint cups alongside Konsta Lappalainen. During the Spa 24 Hours in July 2021, he was involved in a serious crash that left him with a broken collarbone, a fractured vertebra, and a small lung contusion.
He returned strongly in 2022, contesting the ADAC GT Masters with Emil Frey Racing and racing in the LMP2 Pro-Am class for Racing Team Turkey. He also made his 24 Hours of Le Mans debut in 2022 with Algarve Pro Racing, finishing 25th overall. In 2023, he won the 12 Hours of Sebring with Whelen Engineering Racing in the new Cadillac V-LMDh, while also contesting the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters with Emil Frey. In 2024, he became a full-time IMSA driver with Action Express Racing alongside Pipo Derani and returned to the DTM with Emil Frey. He is also set to compete full-time in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2026 for Cadillac Hertz Team Jota in the No. 38 car, replacing the retiring Jenson Button.
Driving Style and Strengths
Aitken is recognised for a calm, analytical driving style developed across single-seaters, GT3 machinery, and GTP prototypes. His race craft has been most visible in wheel-to-wheel Formula 2 battles, including the Monza sprint win where he defended position from Jordan King. He has shown particular strength in endurance formats, where consistent stints and clean execution are critical, and his partnership with the Emil Frey Racing operation has been central to his GT3 and DTM campaigns.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among Aitken’s most significant results are the 2015 Formula Renault Eurocup and Alps double title, his 2017 GP3 runner-up finish, his Formula 2 victories at Barcelona, Baku, Silverstone, and Monza, his one-off 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix appearance with Williams, and his 2023 12 Hours of Sebring victory with Whelen Engineering Racing. His 2022 Le Mans debut added another major endurance milestone to his résumé.
Jack Aitken Career Wins
Jack Aitken’s verified career wins span junior single-seaters, Formula 2, and the international sportscar scene. Highlights include a Formula Renault Eurocup and Alps double championship in 2015, a GP3 victory at Spa-Francorchamps in 2016 and at the Hungaroring in 2017, four Formula 2 race wins across 2018 and 2019, and the 2023 12 Hours of Sebring overall win in the Cadillac V-LMDh.
Formula 2 Highlights
Aitken’s first Formula 2 victory came in the 2018 Barcelona sprint race with ART Grand Prix, while his most celebrated 2019 wins were the Baku feature race, his home Silverstone sprint race, and the Monza sprint race. He scored double-podium finishes at the second Silverstone round in 2020 before moving on to sportscar competition.
Other Wins and Performances
In sportscar racing, Aitken’s standout results include the 2023 12 Hours of Sebring overall win and consistent GT World Challenge Europe and DTM campaigns with Emil Frey Racing. He has also been a race winner in Formula Renault, GP3, and endurance categories across Europe and North America.
Jack Aitken Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jack Anthony Han-Aitken was born in London to a Scottish father and a South Korean mother. The combination of British and Korean heritage is reflected in his dual citizenship and in his official Korean name, Han Se-yong. No broader racing lineage is recorded, and his path into motorsport began through local karting rather than a family team.
Personal Life
Aitken has largely kept his personal life out of the public eye. He is based in Europe and balances racing programs in the IMSA SportsCar Championship and the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. No public information on a spouse or children is currently available.
2025 Season Performance
Jack Aitken’s 2025 campaign centres on his dual commitments in the IMSA SportsCar Championship with Cadillac Whelen and in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters with Emil Frey Racing. As a full-time IMSA driver now entering his third season of GTP-level competition, he is focused on converting race pace into consistent podium and win results, building on the momentum of the 2023 12 Hours of Sebring victory and the 2024 transition to Action Express Racing.
In the DTM, Aitken continues to develop his GT3 race craft with the Emil Frey Racing Lamborghini operation, an environment he knows well from previous GT World Challenge Europe and DTM campaigns. The combination of prototype racing in IMSA and GT racing in the DTM offers a demanding schedule but a strong platform to sharpen his versatility across two of the world’s most competitive touring car and sportscar championships.
Looking ahead, Aitken is also set to step into a full-time FIA World Endurance Championship seat in 2026 with Cadillac Hertz Team Jota, replacing the retiring Jenson Button in the No. 38 car. That long-term commitment signals clear momentum in his sportscar career and gives his 2025 season added importance as a bridge to the WEC program.
