The trackside talents of up-and-coming Melbourne race car driver, Brad, have caught the eye of 2 x Formula 1 champion and current F1 driver, Fernando Alonso.
The teenager is currently racing in the USF 2000 and with two pole positions, two wins, five podium places and 10 top five finishes in his season so far, Brad is currently sitting in second place in the USF 2000 table.
Brad, 17, scored his first USF2000 series win at perhaps the most famous racetrack in the world – the Indianapolis Motor Speedway which hosts the Indianapolis 500. The most popular single day sporting event in the world attracts around 400,000 people.
His standing this year puts Brad in prime position to move to the USF Pro 2000 next year and moves him even closer towards his goal of racing in the famous INDYCAR series.
To help him achieve his dream, Brad is being mentored by one of Formula 1’s most successful competitors after Fernando Alonso’s talent scouts spotted Brad’s on track performances.
“My parents received an email from Fernando’s management company, asking them if they’d be interested in meeting to discuss what they could offer our family,” says Brad, who’s currently based in Indianapolis, the home of INDYCAR.
“We signed a contract and then I flew to Spain where I met Fernando in person. He’s taught me the importance of every little detail in racing and how all the small details add up to make a big difference.
“He’s also taught me the importance of how to be a complete and whole driver by explaining certain track characteristics and by ensuring I learn how to get the most out of myself and my team at all times. Fernando has taken me under his wing, and I’m privileged to be learning from a driver as amazing as him.”
Brad’s racing career began in Melbourne at the tender age of five when he drove his first go kart.
“My Dad did go karting for fun when I was a toddler and I always enjoyed watching him and I loved being at the track and around cars,” says Brad.
Days after his seventh birthday – the minimum age for go kart racing – he took part in his first race with Go Kart Club of Victoria at his local track in Port Melbourne, just under the West Gate Bridge.
“I remember feeling really excited and I loved it immediately,” he recalls.
During COVID-19, Brad was offered an opportunity to hone his go karting skills in Desenzano Del Garda, the epicentre of go karting in Italy located about 45 minutes from Milan He was 11-years-old and was the only one in his family granted a government exemption to be able to leave Australia during the pandemic.
After moving up the go karting ranks overseas and in Australia, at the end of 2023, Brad switched to race cars. His ability and dedication quickly saw him move from Australia to America.
“We chose to move to Indianapolis because this is the place to be when it comes to INDYCAR – the same way Melbourne is the place to be for AFL,” says Brad.
His days are long and Brad juggles sessions at the gym and three or four hours a day developing his skills on a racing simulator with schoolwork.
He is currently in Year 10 at Haileybury Pangea – Victoria’s first private online school for students from Years 5 to 12. Classes with his teachers back in Melbourne are delivered fully online, giving Brad the flexibility to learn and complete homework around his racing schedule.
“A typical day begins with schoolwork, the gym, lunch and then driver training on my racing simulator. After dinner I do more self-paced schoolwork and then log on to my Haileybury Pangea classes before bedtime,” says Brad.
“Juggling schoolwork and racing have been part of my life for a long time now and studying online means I don’t need to choose between my education and pursuing my dreams. School is also a positive distraction because it means I’m not exclusively focused on racing 24/7. I work best when I have balance in my life.”
During race weeks, Brad flies or drives to the race on Wednesday, has practice sessions on Thursday and then qualifying races on Friday. He spends the weekend competing, with days beginning at 4.00 am and often not finishing until 6.00 pm.
It’s a punishing schedule but one that Brad is happy to pursue as he aims to join the ranks of the INDYCAR professionals.
“That’s my goal once I graduate Year 12. I want to win the Indianapolis 500,” he says.
