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IMSA has named its 12 finalists for the 2026-27 Diverse Driver Development Scholarship, whose recipient will be announced this autumn.
The winner of this two-year scholarship will receive benefits worth up to $300,000 to compete in a full season in one of four IMSA-sanctioned series: The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Michelin Pilot Challenge, VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, or the Mustang Challenge.
The finalists will use the next few months to work on IMSA-developed modules for marketing, business development, personal branding, media training, nutrition, and networking. By 8 August, they must submit a business plan, and they must also secure a full-season ride in one of the four participating series for the following season before the scholarship winner is named.
Over the next several months, the finalists will work on IMSA-developed modules. Previous topics included marketing, business development, personal branding, media training, nutrition and how to approach teams and represent an automotive manufacturer. The final step for finalists is submission by 8 August of a business plan – and securing a full-season ride with a team in one of the four participating IMSA-sanctioned series for the following season before the winner is named.
The list of finalists, seven women and five men, includes six new applicants and six returning finalists.
The new finalists are:
Julian DaCosta (17), Myakka City, FL – DaCosta advanced to the Whelen MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin ranks for 2024 and finished eighth in the championship with a runner-up finish at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. This season, he is racing with JTR Motorsports Engineering in MX-5 Cup. The teenager has already accumulated extensive experience testing or racing Trans Am TA2, Pro Late Model, Late Model, MX-5 Cup, Spec Miata and GR Cup cars since his karting days.
Max Hewitt (23), Houston, TX – Hewitt has spent time in FR Americas and GR Cup as he’s worked to advance his career. An entry point to a potential greater role comes with his presence as part of the Aston Martin Drivers Academy, racing in the GT4 Winter Series in Europe. He is exploring joining the IMSA paddock later in 2025.
Sally Mott (19), Crawford, TX – Mott competed in her first season of Whelen MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin in 2024 after winning the MX-5 Cup Women’s Initiative Scholarship, finishing 12th in the championship with a best result of sixth at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. She is back in the series for 2025 with JTR Motorsports Engineering in an Iron Dames-inspired livery and helmet. She is also a Spec Miata race winner, championship karter and driver coach.
Riley Pegram (20), Hebron, OH – The daughter of motorcycle road racing champion Larry, the younger Pegram is competing alongside her dad for the full 2025 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season in the No. 72 Pegram Racing Hyundai Elantra N TCR in Touring Car (TCR). She has shifted up from both driving and coaching in karting into racing in Porsche Sprint Challenge in 2023. She made her TCR debut with her dad in 2024 running select races and securing a best finish of sixth in Indianapolis.
Ashlyn Speed (18), Mansfield, TX – Speed joined Whelen MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin with Hendricks Motorsports on the heels of winning the Mazda Women in Motorsports Initiative Scholarship and made her debut in Daytona. Prior to that, she raced in Spec Miata, F1600, F4 and Formula Mazda, capturing the SCCA FX Class Southern Class Championship in the latter series. Outside of driving, she volunteers with the U.S. Olympians and Paralympians in training and raises awareness for Hands On Driving Academy, providing fully sponsored racing in the SCCA for disabled racers.
Joao Vergara (17), Sunny Isles Beach, FL – Shifting up from karting in Brazil, Vergara has gained his initial American racing experience through the junior open-wheel categories of the Lucas Oil Formula Car Series (where he won a shootout scholarship in 2023) and USF Juniors. He’s also already had engineering experience as a junior engineer with a leading USF Pro 2000 Championship team.
Returning finalists from previous years are:
Andre Castro (26), New York, NY – Castro made his third and fourth career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts in 2024 at Portland and the Chicago street course. Beyond his stock car career, Castro is also a very experienced open-wheel driver across Skip Barber F2000, USF2000, F1600, Formula Ford, F4 U.S. and USF Juniors. He holds an economics degree and won the Team USA Scholarship in 2021, which allowed him to race abroad in the Formula Ford Festival.
Sabre Cook (30), Carmel, IN – Cook joins JDX Racing in 2025 for her third season of Porsche Carrera Cup North America, looking to improve upon a best result of sixth place achieved in Miami, 2023. A vastly successful karter with eight Colorado state titles and three TAG USA world titles, Cook’s racing career has taken her to the W Series, Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by Michelin, Indy Pro 2000, USF2000, F4 U.S. Championship and more. She holds a mechanical engineering degree and is in her third year as a Porsche female development driver for Porsche Motorsport North America.
Ernie Francis Jnr (27), Southwest Ranches, FL – Francis Jr. took to the IMSA-sanctioned Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America like a duck to water in his 2024 rookie season, claiming the Pro class championship with co-driver Giano Taurino at TR3 Racing on the strength of four victories. A multi-time champion in Trans Am (47 wins) and a regular winner in World Challenge (16 wins), Francis’ versatility has also taken him to Indy NXT open-wheel cars, where he podiumed, and the half dirt-track, half-paved track SRX Series, where he won a race and finished second in the 2021 championship.
Nicky Hays (23), Huntington Beach, CA – Hays advanced from karting into formula cars in 2018 and has since accumulated a wealth of experience across Formula F, F1600, F4, FR Americas and USF2000. Since adding sports cars to his résumé, he’s been in several academy programs (notably the Richard Mille Young Talent Academy and HPD Acura NSX GT3 Academy) while also making a pair of Porsche Carrera Cup North America starts in 2023. Hays has been confirmed to run in Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America this season with ANSA Motorsports.
Christina Lam (36), Vienna, VA – A longtime SCCA and NASA series competitor, Lam has also achieved a bevy of success both as a driving coach and racing in BMW Car Club of America (BMW CCA) competition. Outside the track, Lam has focused on several STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs. She’s been involved with Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, Center for Women’s Innovations and Collegiate FSAE. She stepped up to IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Touring Car (TCR) competition in 2025, sharing the No. 10 Rockwell Automotive Development Audi RS3 LMS TCR with the father-son pair of Alex and Eric Rockwell. She finished tenth on debut in Daytona, and hosted FSAE students from Florida State University and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University during the weekend.
Westin Workman (20), Charlotte, NC – Workman has become a workhorse in his early sports car racing career across multiple series. He captured the 2024 Whelen MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin Rookie of the Year Award with two wins – one at Sebring International Raceway and the other at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park en route to sixth place in points. He also scored 11 podiums in GR Cup competition. He moved into MX-5 Cup after winning the 2023 MX-5 Cup Scholarship Shootout, following a successful rise through the junior formula car ranks (third in 2022 Lucas Oil Formula Car Series) and karting. He competes with BSI Racing in both MX-5 and GR Cup in 2025.
Author: RJ O’Connell
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