INDY NXT by Firestone race winner Matteo Nannini will drive for Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR for the full 2026 season in the INDYCAR development series, team officials announced Jan. 30.

Nannini, 22, returns to INDY NXT for the first time since he competed in seven races in 2003 with Juncos Hollinger Racing, including a victory from pole in May on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. He will drive the No. 20 Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR car and recently tested with the team at Sebring International Raceway (photo, below).

Matteo Nannini

“I’m very happy to be back in INDY NXT with Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR,” Nannini said. “I’m grateful to the team for this great opportunity and for the trust they’ve shown in me. Our first test together was very positive; we worked well as a group and built a strong foundation from the start. I’m looking forward to the season ahead and to enjoying every moment on track.”

The Italian joins Nikita Johnson, who was announced for the No. 21 entry in September, completing the team’s two-car roster for this season.

Nannini began his racing career at age 6, progressing through multiple levels of karting. His first single-seater experience came in 2019, when he contested the Formula 4 UAE Championship with Xcel Motorsport. The Italian showed quick growth by claiming the drivers’ championship in his debut season, earning seven race wins and 16 podiums.

His career path brought him through multiple other racing series, including the F4 Spanish Championship and the Formula Regional European Championship. He advanced to Formula 3 and earned one win across two seasons with HWA Racelab and contested multiple rounds in Formula 2 during the 2021 season.

The first race of the 2026 season takes place March 1 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.