Liam Sceats Bio
Liam Sceats (born 20 September 2005) is a racing driver from Auckland, New Zealand. He formerly competed in the 2025 Indy NXT season driving for HMD Motorsports in the No. 30 car. Earlier in his career, he raced in the USF Pro 2000 Championship, the Formula Regional Oceania Championship, and the Formula Regional Japanese Championship.
Sceats built his reputation as a teenager in junior single-seater racing across New Zealand, Japan, and the United States. He is best known for finishing as runner-up in two regional Formula Regional championships and for earning his first Indy NXT opportunity with HMD Motorsports in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Liam Sceats was born on 20 September 2005 in Auckland, New Zealand. Growing up in New Zealand gave him early access to local karting circuits and grassroots motorsport events that shape the country’s open-wheel pipeline. As a young Kiwi, he began building his racing skills in karting before stepping into formula cars.
He progressed from karting into Formula Ford championships in his homeland, where he developed the race craft that would later serve him in international competition. These early years in New Zealand’s domestic scene laid the foundation for his move into higher-profile junior formulae abroad.
Path to Open-Wheel Racing
On 29 December 2022, it was announced that Sceats would make his debut in the 2023 Formula Regional Oceania Championship with M2 Competition. He earned his first podium of the series at Highlands Motorsport Park and finished the season fourth in the standings with three podiums.
In 2024, Sceats returned to the Formula Regional Oceania Championship, once again with M2 Competition. He qualified on pole for the third race at Euromarque Motorsport Park and went on to take his first series win. He later dominated race one at Highlands Motorsport Park, won his home New Zealand Grand Prix after a late-race battle with Callum Hedge, and finished second in the championship to Roman Bilinski. He also joined the 2023 Formula Regional Japanese Championship with Sutekina Racing Team, where he became the first foreign race winner in the championship’s history at Okayama International Circuit, added wins at Twin Ring Motegi and Fuji Speedway, and ended the year second in points to Sota Ogawa.
In 2024, Sceats made the move to America to compete in the USF Pro 2000 Championship with TJ Speed Motorsports. A second-place finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was promoted to victory after Nikita Johnson was disqualified, and he added further podiums at Road America and the Grand Prix of Toronto, finishing the championship in fifth with 256 points.
Liam Sceats Career
Early Career (2023)
Sceats opened his single-seater career in 2023 with a dual campaign across the Southern Hemisphere and Asia. In the Formula Regional Oceania Championship with M2 Competition, he collected three podiums and finished fourth overall, signaling his ability to adapt quickly to a competitive junior field.
That same year, Sceats joined Sutekina Racing Team in the Formula Regional Japanese Championship, where he made history as the first foreign race winner in the series at Okayama International Circuit. His two additional wins at Twin Ring Motegi and Fuji Speedway pushed him into title contention, and he ultimately finished second in the championship behind Sota Ogawa.
USF Pro 2000 Breakthrough (2024)
For 2024, Sceats relocated to the United States to race in the USF Pro 2000 Championship with TJ Speed Motorsports. He quickly adapted to American road courses, scoring his first series victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after inheriting the win post-race.
He continued to perform on diverse track types, claiming podiums at Road America and the Grand Prix of Toronto. Sceats concluded the season in fifth place in the championship standings with 256 points, reinforcing his reputation as one of the leading New Zealand talents of his generation.
HMD Motorsports Era (2025)
On 13 February 2025, it was announced that Sceats would join HMD Motorsports to compete in the 2025 Indy NXT season, beginning at St. Petersburg in the No. 30 car. The move marked his graduation to a major North American open-wheel development series.
His campaign in Indy NXT was short-lived, as he formerly competed in the category during 2025. The experience with HMD Motorsports gave Sceats exposure to oval and road course competition at a high level and positioned him for future opportunities in American motorsport.
Driving Style and Strengths
Sceats has demonstrated versatility across road courses, street circuits, and high-speed ovals, an asset that served him well in Formula Regional, USF Pro 2000, and Indy NXT. He has shown a strong qualifying pace, particularly evident in his multiple pole positions in the Formula Regional Oceania Championship. His ability to manage tire degradation and execute late-race passes, such as holding off Callum Hedge to win the New Zealand Grand Prix, highlights his composure under pressure.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among his signature results, Sceats became the first foreign race winner in Formula Regional Japanese Championship history at Okayama International Circuit in 2023. He also won the New Zealand Grand Prix in 2024 and earned his first USF Pro 2000 victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, results that established him as one of New Zealand’s most promising young drivers.
Liam Sceats Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Liam Sceats comes from Auckland, New Zealand, and has built his career through New Zealand’s grassroots karting and Formula Ford scene. Further public details about his family’s racing background are not widely documented.
Personal Life
Born and raised in Auckland, Sceats relocated overseas to pursue his motorsport ambitions, racing in Japan, Australia and New Zealand’s regional series, and across the United States. He maintains a public presence through his official Facebook page, where fans can follow his racing updates.
2025 Season Performance
Sceats’s 2025 season was centered on his rookie Indy NXT campaign with HMD Motorsports, where he drove the No. 30 car. The team confirmed the move in February 2025, with the St Petersburg race marking his series debut. The season represented a significant step up in competition and track variety, including ovals, road courses, and street circuits.
Throughout the year, Sceats worked to adapt to Indy NXT’s demanding schedule and competitive depth, drawing on his prior experience in USF Pro 2000 and Formula Regional competition. His tenure with HMD Motorsports came to an end during the 2025 season, as he is listed as a former Indy NXT competitor.
Looking ahead, Sceats remains a young talent with a strong international résumé across Formula Regional Oceania, Formula Regional Japanese, USF Pro 2000, and Indy NXT. His progression through multiple high-level junior series and his history of contending for championships position him for future opportunities in American or international open-wheel racing.
