Juan Manuel Correa Bio
Juan Manuel “J.M.” Correa Borja, born on August 9, 1999, in Quito, Ecuador, is an American-Ecuadorian racing driver known for his resilience and single-seater talent. He currently competes in the 2025 Indy NXT championship with HMD Motorsports, driving the No. 39 car. Throughout his career, Correa has raced across karting, junior formulae, FIA Formula 2, and endurance events, building a reputation as a determined competitor who returned to racing after a life-threatening accident.
Early Life and Background
Juan Manuel Correa Borja was born on August 9, 1999, in Quito, Ecuador, where he spent his early childhood before his family eventually relocated, giving him access to broader motorsport opportunities abroad. Growing up in a country without a strong single-seater racing tradition, Correa developed his initial racing instincts through local karting events. He began karting professionally in 2008, quickly establishing himself as a standout talent in regional competitions across Ecuador and the United States.
By 2013, Correa’s hard work had paid off when he became the Rotax Max Challenge Junior Champion, a title that caught the attention of international scouts. During his karting years, he was noticed by the now-defunct Lotus F1 Team’s driver development program, an early signal of his potential to climb the global motorsport ladder. These formative years in karting provided the technical foundation and race craft that would shape his future in open-wheel racing.
Path to Single-Seater Racing
Correa made his single-seater debut in 2016 with the renowned Prema Powerteam, contesting both the ADAC Formula 4 and Italian F4 championships. Over the course of that campaign, he secured three race wins and finished sixth in the Italian F4 standings and tenth in ADAC F4, an impressive performance for a rookie season. The following year, he continued with Prema, focusing primarily on the ADAC Formula 4 championship to build further experience.
In August 2017, Correa stepped up to the GP3 Series, making his debut at the Spa-Francorchamps round with Jenzer Motorsport. He returned to the series full-time in 2018, also with Jenzer, where he scored 42 points and finished twelfth in the standings, four positions ahead of his only full-time teammate, Tatiana Calderón. Although he did not secure a podium, his two reverse-grid pole starts in the sprint races highlighted his raw pace and potential at the junior international level.
Juan Manuel Correa Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
Correa’s professional single-seater career began in 2016 with Prema Powerteam in Formula 4, where he quickly adapted to the demands of open-wheel racing. His three victories across the ADAC F4 and Italian F4 campaigns marked him as one of the promising rookies of his generation. The consistency he demonstrated in 2017, paired with his GP3 debut later that year, showed a clear development path toward higher formulae.
FIA Formula 2 Breakthrough (2019)
The 2019 season marked Correa’s first full FIA Formula 2 campaign, driving for Sauber Junior Team by Charouz alongside teammate Callum Ilott. After a slow start, his fortunes changed at Baku, where he scored his first Formula 2 points with a seventh-place finish in the feature race, followed by a second-place result in the sprint race. He added another podium at Le Castellet, finishing second just two seconds behind Anthoine Hubert.
Tragically, on August 31, 2019, Correa was involved in a serious crash with Anthoine Hubert on the second lap of the feature race at Spa-Francorchamps. Hubert subsequently died from his injuries, and Correa sustained critical fractures to both legs and a minor spinal injury, registering a peak g-force of 65G. He was placed in an induced coma in London due to acute respiratory distress syndrome and faced at least a year of rehabilitation. In January 2020, he received the FIA Americas award in the car category, accepting it in person from his wheelchair.
Recovery and Formula 3 Return (2021–2022)
After skipping the 2020 season to focus on his recovery, Correa made his racing comeback in 2021 with ART Grand Prix in the FIA Formula 3 Championship. He scored his first point of his return at Barcelona and added further results at Le Castellet, ultimately finishing 21st in the standings with eleven points. He remained with ART Grand Prix for the 2022 F3 season, improving to thirteenth in the final standings, highlighted by a podium finish at Zandvoort.
Return to Formula 2 (2022–2024)
Correa returned to the FIA Formula 2 Championship in late 2022, replacing David Beckmann at Van Amersfoort Racing for the Yas Marina finale. He moved to a full-time F2 seat with Van Amersfoort Racing in 2023, partnering Richard Verschoor, and scored points on six occasions to finish nineteenth in the standings. In 2024, he switched to DAMS Lucas Oil, forming an all-American lineup alongside Jak Crawford, though he was replaced by Dino Beganovic following the Baku round.
Endurance Racing and HMD Motorsports Era (2022–Present)
Alongside his single-seater commitments, Correa began an endurance racing career at the end of 2021, testing Prema Powerteam’s LMP2 car. In 2022, he joined Prema for selected European Le Mans Series rounds, helping the team secure third at Spa-Francorchamps before winning his first endurance race at the Portimão finale, contributing to Prema’s teams’ championship. He continued in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2023 with Prema, finishing ninth in the LMP2 standings.
In 2025, Correa joined HMD Motorsports to race in selected rounds of the Indy NXT season, beginning at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. He was also announced in March 2025 to drive in the IMSA SportsCar Championship with United Autosports in the LMP2 category, expanding his presence on the American motorsport scene.
Driving Style and Strengths
Correa has shown particular strength on road and street circuits throughout his junior career, where his smooth driving style and consistent race pace have produced his best results. His ability to deliver under pressure, combined with strong technical feedback, has made him a valuable asset to teams like ART Grand Prix, Van Amersfoort Racing, and HMD Motorsports.
Notable Races and Milestones
Correa’s first Formula 2 podium at Baku in 2019 announced him as a rising talent, while his second-place finish at Le Castellet that same year remains a defining pre-accident moment. His return to racing in 2021 and his European Le Mans Series victory at Portimão in 2022 stand as powerful milestones of perseverance and recovery.
Juan Manuel Correa Career Wins
Correa’s verified victories include three wins across the 2016 ADAC Formula 4 and Italian F4 seasons, as well as a class victory at the 2022 European Le Mans Series finale at Portimão with Prema Powerteam. His career wins reflect steady progression from junior formulae into professional endurance racing.
Formula 4 Highlights
In his 2016 rookie single-seater campaign, Correa claimed three race wins across the ADAC Formula 4 and Italian F4 championships with Prema Powerteam. These results established him as a podium contender in his first year of car racing and earned him a continued role with Prema in 2017.
Other Wins and Performances
Correa’s standout performance outside single-seaters came at the 2022 European Le Mans Series finale at Portimão, where he secured his first endurance race victory with Prema Powerteam, helping the squad claim the LMP2 teams’ championship. He also scored two top-five finishes in the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship LMP2 class.
Juan Manuel Correa Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Born in Quito, Ecuador, Correa holds both American and Ecuadorian nationality, reflecting his family’s international ties. His family played a central role during his 2019 recovery, issuing public statements about his medical condition and supporting his long road back to competition. Limited public details are available regarding his broader personal life.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marks a significant new chapter for Juan Manuel Correa as he splits his commitments between Indy NXT with HMD Motorsports and the IMSA SportsCar Championship with United Autosports. Driving the No. 39 car in selected Indy NXT rounds, he began his campaign at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, adapting to the American open-wheel ladder series after years in European formulae.
His parallel endurance program with United Autosports in the LMP2 category adds another competitive dimension, allowing him to build experience on a wider range of circuits and race formats. The dual campaign reflects both his recovery progress and his ambition to establish a long-term presence in North American motorsport.
Looking ahead, Correa’s combination of single-seater pedigree and endurance racing versatility positions him as a driver to watch across both series. With continued support from HMD Motorsports and United Autosports, his 2025 results will likely shape the next phase of his career trajectory.
