10 feeder series racers from 2025 who didn’t get enough credit

Across the 2025 season, we watched many drivers who are aiming to be the next big star and win their championships. However, many went a little under the radar compared to other names who made headlines. Here are 10 who I believe deserved more recognition.

Dino Beganovic - Formula 2

Ferrari junior driver Dino Beganovic made his full F2 season debut for Hitech TGR in 2025 and ended the year a strong seventh overall, taking one win and four further podiums, as well as figuring in two Formula 1 FP1 sessions for Ferrari and taking part in the F1 end of season young driver test. He’s back in F2 in 2026 with DAMS Lucas Oil.

Roman Stanek - Formula 2

Czech star Roman Staněk helped his Invicta Racing team to a second consecutive Teams’ Championship crown in F2 alongside his Drivers’ Champion teammate Leonardo Fornaroli. Stanek himself won one race and took four further podiums as he improved on previous F2 standings finishes of 18th and 22nd to leap up to 10th. His 2026 plans are unclear as yet, but he’s been linked with a switch to the Super Formula series.

Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak - Formula 3

Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak is another driver who showed massive improvements from 2024 in his 2025 season, managing to win three times in Formula 3 and taking multiple points finishes on the way to a strong seventh place overall in F3, before making his F2 debut with Trident Racing ahead of the 2026 season in which he’ll race ART Grand Prix for his first full season in the series.

Théophile Naël - Formula 3

Formula 3 is usually a good marker of how strong a driver can be, especially when said driver outperforms the usual story for their team. Théophile Naël did just that, racing for Van Amersfoort Racing, a team usually fighting for points.

The Frenchman took three podiums, finishing eighth in the F3 standings before going onto write his name in Macau Grand Prix history, winning the Formula Regional World Cup. He’s back for more F3 action in 2026, switching to reigning Teams’ Champions, Campos where he’ll hope to fight for the title.

Lochie Hughes - Indy NXT

Indy NXT has been on the rise over the last few seasons as the Road to Indy has gained popularity with European based drivers defecting to America to try compete, notably with 2025 champion Dennis Hauger and former Alpine junior driver, Caio Collet who have graduated to IndyCar for 2026.

However, 23 year old Lochie Hughes established himself in American junior categories and in his rookie Indy NXT season managed an excellent third place overall. The Australian driver took eight total podiums with two wins behind Hauger and Collet as he impressed and will return in 2026 for a crack at top honours in the series.

Salvador De Alba - Indy NXT

Another star of the Indy NXT field in 2026 was Mexican racer, Salvador De Alba. While not always taking a haul of points, De Alba oftentimes found himself close to the action and battling with tenacity and confidence.

He rounded out the season with his maiden Indy NXT win at Milwaukee and further podium in the last race in Nashville and finished fifth overall.

Niels Koolen - Indy NXT

Those who don’t watch Indy NXT, but do watch Formula 2 will probably be surprised to see Niels Koolen pop up here. The Dutchman struggled to make an impact in his few F2 outings, regularly heavily off the pace. He’s not yet announced his 2026 racing plans.

In America however, Koolen has enjoyed a resurgence. A regular point scorer in Indy NXT, the 24 year old ended the year eighth overall and was rewarded with an IndyCar test with front runners Chip Ganassi Racing. He’s back in Indy NXT for 2026, sticking with CGR’s junior entry.

Yuki Sano - Super Formula Lights

Yuki Sano is by far one of the most interesting on this list. Racing in Super Formula Lights, the level below Super Formula, Sano finished second behind winner Yuto Nomura and won four races, with 12 total podiums to his name from 18 races. Nomura and third placed Rikuto Kobayashi graduate to Super Formula, while Sani has confirmed he will not take that path.

At 19, with a strong season behind him and an impressive showing at Macau, he’s one to watch. In a strange twist, Sano has confirmed he will switch to European based racing and will race for R-ace GP in Formula Regional machinery in 2026, which is something of a step down. Title contender? He’ll hope so, and so do l.

Evan Giltaire - FREC

From one interesting driver to another in Evan Giltaire, and this one is actually eligible to compete in Formula 1 as he has his Super License complete with the mandatory 40 points required by the FIA.

The French driver raced in FREC in 2025, finishing fifth overall in his sophomore season. Before the season had started, Giltaire won the Formula Regional Middle East title, before going onto take one win and four further podiums, finishing every race, and finishing all but two outside the points.

Due to funding issues, he was unable to seal a Formula 2 or 3 seat, and is expected to race in Super Formula Lights in 2026. Keep an eye on his progress next year. Lights, to Super Formula…to F1 by 2028?

Taito Kato - FREC

Racing is popular as ever and Taito Kato may well be the next hero for the country. Already part of Honda’s ‘Formula Dream’ Project, the 2024 French F4 champion enjoyed a strong rookie season in FREC, becoming a symbol of consistency as he finished seventh overall.

Kato is joining the Formula 3 grid with ART Grand Prix in 2026 and could well be an exciting driver to watch. As part of the Honda setup, perhaps Aston Martin will have a close eye on his progress.

Special mention: Chloe Chambers - F1 Academy

I couldn’t do an article on unsung heroes and miss out F1 Academy’s Chloe Chambers.

While Champion Doriane Pin and Ferrari’s Maya Weug stole headline, Chambers was regularly at the forefront of everything good about F1 Academy. Two wins, five pole positions and five further podiums, she was less than two feature race wins away from the title in the points standings. With a little more luck, who knows what could have happened?

She’s not announced her 2026 plans, but I’m excited to see what’s next for the Chinese-American driver.

📸 Image credits: Ferrari, Formula Motorsport Limited, F1 Academy, Yuki Sano, Indy NXT.