Sebastian Manson

Last updated

Sebastian Manson
Nationality Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealander
Born (2008-02-07) 7 February 2008 (age 16)
Formula Regional Japanese Championship career
Current teamBirth Racing Project
Car number55
Starts14
Wins0
Podiums6
Poles2
Fastest laps1
Best finish2nd in 2024
Previous series
2024

2022-2024		 Formula Regional Oceania Championship
NZ Formula Ford Championship
Championship titles
2024 NZ Formula Ford Championship

Sebastian Manson (born 7 February 2008) is a racing driver from New Zealand who is currently competing in the 2024 Formula Regional Japanese Championship. [1]

Contents

Career

Karting

Manson has had a decorated karting career in his country, with two major titles coming in 2020 and 2022. [2] [3] He competed in karting in 2022 and 2023, whilst also competing in Formula Ford. [1]

Formula Ford

2022

Manson debuted in Formula Ford in 2022, at the age of 14. His best championship results were finishing 4th in both the North Island Series and the Manfeild Winter Series. In the latter series, he managed three wins from six races, as well as four podiums. [1]

2023

In 2023, Manson had a campaign that largely resembled his 2022, once again with two fourth-placed finishes in the New Zealand Championship and also in the Manfeild Winter Series. [1]

2024

Manson has so far had a superb 2024, and overall he has amassed 26 wins in 38 races in the New Zealand Championship and the North and South Island Series. This has proved to be a breakthrough year for Manson so far, as he won 8 and recorded 12 podiums in the North Island Series, and has already finished second in the New Zealand Championship, and has won the South Island Series. [1]

Formula Regional

In early 2024, it was announced that Manson would be contesting the final two rounds of the 2024 Formula Regional Oceania Championship, with Giles Motorsport, as he turned 16 and was eligible for the championship. [4] He competed in the New Zealand Grand Prix weekend, with a best result of 8th at Highlands Motorsport Park. [5] Manson was then selected by the Birth Racing Project alongside Aussie Jesse Lacey to race in the 2024 Formula Regional Japanese Championship. [6] He secured his first pole position at Sugo, in the second round of the championship. [7]

Road to Indy

USF Pro 2000

On December 17, 2024, it was announced Manson would join the 2025 grid with TJ Speed Motorsports. [8]

Karting record

Karting career summary

SeasonSeriesTeamPosition
2015Kartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - Cadet15th
Kartsport NZ North Island Sprint Championship - Cadet15th
Kartsport Auckland Club Point Series - Cadet Raket6th
Kartsport Auckland Club Point Series - Cadet Rok7th
47th Blossom Festival - Cadet8th
2016Kartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - Cadet14th
Kartsport NZ North Island Sprint Championship - Cadet5th
Kartsport Auckland Club Point Series - Cadet Rok5th
Kartsport Auckland Club Point Series - Cadet Raket4th
Kartsport NZ National Schools Championship - Cadet6th
48th Blossom Festival - Cadet8th
2017Kartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - Cadet8th
NZ Top Half Series - Mini RokNC
Kartsport Auckland Club Point Series - Cadet Rok3rd
Kartsport Auckland City of Sails - Cadet Rok5th
Kartsport NZ National Schools Championship - Cadet7th
49th Blossom Festival - Mini Rok6th
2018Kartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - Mini Rok3rd
Kartsport Auckland Club Point Series - Mini Rok5th
Kartsport NZ National Schools Championship - Mini Rok5th
Kartsport Auckland Regional Schools Championship - Mini Rok2nd
2019Kartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - Mini Rok23rd
Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals - Mini MaxLuke Manson5th
Kartsport NZ National Schools Championship - Mini Rok3rd
2020Kartsport Auckland City of Sails - Rotax Junior7th
Kartsport NZ North Island Sprint Championship - Rotax Junior7th
52nd Blossom Festival - Rotax Junior1st
2021Kartsport Auckland City of Sails - Rotax Junior2nd
Kartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - Rotax Junior2nd
Kartsport NZ National Schools Championship - Rotax Junior16th
NZ Top Half Series - Rotax JuniorNC
Kartsport Auckland Club Point Series - Rotax Junior7th
Kartsport NZ National Schools Championship - Junior Rok2nd
2022Kartsport Auckland City of Sails - Rotax Junior5th
Kartsport Auckland City of Sails - Junior Rok4th
CIK Trophy of New Zealand - Junior Rok1st
Kartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - Rotax Junior11th
NZ Top Half Series - Rotax Junior32nd
Kartsport Auckland Club Point Series - Rotax Junior12th
Australian Kart Championship - KA233rd
Kartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - Junior Rok7th
WSK Final Cup - OK IPK Official Racing Team38th
2023Kartsport Auckland City of Sails - KZ2 Manson Racing8th
Kartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - Rotax Light25th
Kartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - KZ2 5th
Kartstars New Zealand - Rotax Light46th
Kartstars New Zealand - Senior Rok17th
Kartstars New Zealand - KZ2 14th
Kartsport NZ National Schools Championship - Rotax Light Saint Kentigern College 2nd
Kartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - Senior Rok11th
Kartsport Auckland Club Point Series - Rotax Light32nd
Kartsport Auckland Club Point Series - KZ2 3rd
Sources: [1] [9]

Racing record

Racing career summary

SeasonSeriesTeamRacesWinsPolesF/LapsPodiumsPointsPosition
2022North Island Formula Ford Series1310166714th
South Island Formula Ford Championship4000011427th
NZ Formula Ford Championship 800013127th
Formula Ford Manfeild Winter Series631243244th
2023South Island F1600 Championship1100105149th
NZ Formula Ford Championship 1601148344th
Formula Ford Manfeild Winter Series620164184th
2024South Island Formula Ford Championship18144101411531st
North Island Formula Ford Series13825126567th
Formula Regional Oceania Championship Giles Motorsport500004321st
NZ Formula Ford Championship 14736118882nd
Summerset GT New Zealand Championship - Open Class30001016th
Formula Regional Japanese Championship Birth Racing Project1402161552nd
GVI Formula Open NZ31013N/ANC†
2025 Formula Regional Oceania Championship M2 Competition
USF Pro 2000 Championship TJ Speed Motorsports
Sources: [1]

† - As Manson was a guest driver, he was ineligible for championship points.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Driver: Sebastian Manson | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  2. ↑ "Championships | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  3. ↑ "Championships | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  4. ↑ "Manson ready for Grand Prix challenge". Toyota NZ. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  5. ↑ Waring, Bethonie (2024-02-17). "Bilinski takes FRegional Oceania title as Aron wins Highlands race two". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  6. ↑ Wood, Ida (2024-02-14). "New driver development programme sends F4 and FFord stars to FRJC". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  7. ↑ "Results of qualifying at Sugo". X.com. 11 May 2024.
  8. ↑ "Kiwi Sebastian Manson Joins TJ Speed in USF Pro 2000 Program". USF Pro 2000. December 17, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Manson Sebastian". Kartcom. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
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