Visit Las Vegas Taps Payton Westcott as Wild Card Entry for F1 Academy Season Finale
The F1 ACADEMY is about to tear up the Las Vegas Strip for its season finale, and they’re bringing a hometown hero along for the ride. Sixteen-year-old American sensation, Payton Westcott, is strapping in as the final Wild Card entry, and folks, this is a story you’re gonna want to follow. This isn’t just another race. It’s a statement. Westcott is a rising star with gasoline in her veins, and she’s about to get the biggest shot of her young career, right under the brightest lights in the world.
Payton Westcott: An American Dream on Wheels
Let’s talk about Payton Westcott. This isn’t some rookie who just showed up. This kid has been grinding. In 2024 she earned a spot in the champions of the Future Academy Program a place where talent gets nurtured and drivers leave their mark. She proved her mettle in the OK-N Senior category and just kept climbing.
From the Formula Winter Series to the rough-and-tumble Italian F4, Westcott has been collecting wins and podiums like they’re going out of style. This is the type of raw talent and determination that landed Westcott a spot with the F1 Academy Rookie Test, and now she’s ready to take it to the big stage in Las Vegas. You don’t get opportunities like this by accident. You earn them with sweat, speed, and a whole lot of heart.
Vegas Backs a Winner
When you’re racing in Vegas, you’d better bring the flash, and Westcott’s entry is backed by none other than the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority [Visit Las Vegas]. They know a star when they see one. They’re decking her out in a Las Vegas-themed livery and race suit that’s going to pop under those famous neon lights.
It’s a perfect match, a city known for unforgettable moments supporting a driver ready to make her own. Kate Wik, the CMO of Visit Las Vegas, put it best: “The energy and ambition of F1 ACADEMY mirror the spirit of our city: bold, innovative, and unstoppable.” They aren’t just putting their name on a car; they’re investing in the future of the sport and championing a young American driver on the biggest stage imaginable.
The Heart and Soul of F1 ACADEMY
F1 ACADEMY is making history here, becoming the first single-seater support series to burn rubber on the Las Vegas Strip. For Managing Director Susie Wolff, bringing the finale to Vegas is a landmark moment. “Finishing our third season in Las Vegas will be an unforgettable moment for F1 ACADEMY,” Wolff said, her excitement practically jumping off the page.
She highlighted how this gives a young American driver, one who has come up through their own pipeline, a chance to race during one of the most electrifying weekends in F1. This is what the Road to F1 is all about: finding the next generation of racers and giving them a platform to shine.
Final Thoughts
For Payton Westcott, this is more than just a race. “I’m so proud to be racing as the F1 ACADEMY Wild Card driver in Las Vegas, especially as an American driver,” she shared. “To be racing on the iconic Las Vegas Strip, under the lights, is a dream come true.” You can feel the passion in her words.
This is one of those moments every rookie driver dreams of: to race on their home turf in front of a global audience, proving you deserve to be exactly where you are. So, you better believe when the green flag drops in Sin City, it won’t just be about lap times but also a passion, pride, and the relentless pursuit of the feeling of thrills behind the wheel.
