Nikita Johnson Teams Up with Cape Motorsports for 2026 Season

Another teenage phenom is about to grace the INDY NXT paddock, and this time it’s Nikita Johnson. Cape Motorsports announced Monday that they’ve snagged the kid for their 2026 campaign, because apparently having one incredibly fast teenager wasn’t enough for this series.

Let’s be honest here: when a driver barely old enough to vote has already conquered four different racing series on three continents in a single year, you either genuflect in awe or wonder what the rest of us were doing with our lives at 17. Johnson falls firmly into the former category, and Cape Motorsports clearly agrees.

The Resume That Makes You Feel Inadequate

Here’s where things get ridiculous in the best possible way. This kid didn’t just dabble in different racing series—he dominated them with the casual confidence of someone ordering coffee. In 2024, he became the youngest race winner in British GB3 history, taking the checkered flag at Zandvoort at age 16. Because apparently, being a teenager means you’re supposed to rewrite record books before you can legally drink champagne on the podium.

But wait, there’s more. Johnson followed up his Zandvoort triumph with another victory at Brands Hatch, because why stop at one historic achievement when you can collect them like trading cards? The kid’s track record reads like a greatest hits album: second place in USF Pro 2000 championship with eight race wins in 2024, second in USF2000 in 2023, and oh yeah, he also became the youngest race winner in USF Pro 2000 history at Circuit of the Americas when he was just 15.

Fifteen. Let that sink in for a moment.

Johnson’s Global Racing Adventure

This year alone, Johnson has been busier than a one-legged cat in a sandbox, competing in Formula Regional Oceania, British GB3, FIA Formula 3, and making three INDY NXT starts with HMD Motorsports. It’s like he’s trying to collect passport stamps and racing trophies simultaneously. His European adventure with FIA F3 might not have yielded podium finishes, but gaining experience racing wheel-to-wheel with future Formula 1 hopefuls? That’s the kind of education money can’t buy.

The three INDY NXT appearances this season were clearly a taste test for what’s coming in 2026. Getting his feet wet with HMD Motorsports was smart—nothing like a little reconnaissance before committing to a full campaign. Now, with Cape Motorsports rolling out the red carpet, Johnson is ready to make some serious noise in IndyCar’s premier developmental series.

Why Cape Motorsports Makes Perfect Sense

Cape Motorsports isn’t exactly new to this whole “developing future IndyCar stars” business. They’ve got Kyle Kirkwood and Jak Crawford on their alumni list, two drivers who’ve made their mark in the big leagues. When Johnson says they “have demonstrated the ability to win and to develop young drivers,” he’s not blowing smoke—he’s stating facts.

Team manager Dominic Cape seems genuinely excited about his new acquisition, noting that Johnson “has been gaining great experience in New Zealand and Europe” and predicting we’ll see him “at the front of the field.” Coming from a guy who’s seen his fair share of hot prospects come and go, that’s not just politeness—that’s genuine expectation.

The 2026 Season Opener Can’t Come Soon Enough

Mark your calendars, racing fans. March 1, 2026, on the streets of St. Petersburg—that’s when Johnson makes his full-season debut with Cape Motorsports. The irony isn’t lost that he’ll be racing in his home state of Florida, where this whole journey began. There’s something poetic about coming full circle, even when you’re still a teenager. When teenagers from around the world view INDY NXT as their pathway to the pinnacle of American open-wheel racing, you know the series has achieved something special.