The rapid rise of Brazilian teenager Leonardo Escorpioni through the open-wheel ranks will continue in 2027, as he was announced Oct. 27 to make his INDY NXT by Firestone debut with HMD Motorsports.

The 16-year-old earned his move to INDY NXT after finishing runner-up in the 2026 USF Pro 2000 championship in his first season at the level. Escorpioni led the standings for much of the campaign before visa complications affected his title bid. The result followed a championship-winning 2025 season in USF Juniors, continuing an impressive progression since his single-seater debut in 2024.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to race in INDY NXT with HMD Motorsports,” Escorpioni said. “After working with the team as its junior driver throughout the 2026 season, I feel I have a strong foundation heading into my debut year.”

Escorpioni’s promotion to INDY NXT marks another important step toward his long-term goal of reaching the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. He spent the 2026 season as HMD Motorsports’ official junior driver, building familiarity with the team’s personnel, engineering processes and day-to-day operations while learning from its drivers and engineers.

Leonardo Escorpioni

That preparation already has extended to the track, with Escorpioni (photo, above) taking part in the Driver Evaluation Test and the Chris Griffis Memorial Test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He finished seventh among 22 drivers in the annual Griffis test on Oct. 16.

“Spending time with the drivers and engineers and learning from them last season was valuable, so getting into the car for the first time at the Driver Evaluation Test was a dream come true,” Escorpioni said. “I’m really looking forward to the season and hope to be competing at the front.”

HMD Motorsports Team President Mike Maurini believes that experience within the organization will help Escorpioni make a smooth transition to INDY NXT.

“We’re looking forward to Leonardo’s debut season,” Maurini said. “After spending the 2026 season learning the ins and outs of our team, Leo already has a strong understanding of our people and processes. We believe that familiarity will be an advantage as he transitions into INDY NXT, and we see a great deal of potential in him. Our goal is to give him the tools and support he needs to be competitive from the opening round.”