Sebastian Manson (born 7 February 2008) is a racing driver from New Zealand who is set to compete in the USF Pro 2000 Championship with Turn 3 Motorsport.
Manson previously competed in the 2024 Formula Regional Japanese Championship.
Career
Karting Manson has had a decorated karting career in his country, with two major titles coming in 2020 and 2022. He competed in karting in 2022 and 2023, whilst also competing in Formula Ford.
Formula Ford
2022 Manson debuted in Formula Ford in 2022, at the age of fourteen. His best championship results were finishing fourth 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.
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.
2024 Manson had a successful 2024, and overall he amassed 29 wins across the New Zealand Championship and the North and South Island Series. This also proved to be a breakthrough year for Manson, as he won eight and recorded twelve podiums in the North Island Series, and has already finished second in the New Zealand Championship, and won the South Island Series.
Formula Regional 2024 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 sixteen and was eligible for the championship. He competed in the New Zealand Grand Prix weekend, with a best result of eighth at Highlands Motorsport Park. Manson was then selected by the Birth Racing Project alongside Aussie Jesse Lacey to race in the 2024 Formula Regional Japanese Championship. He secured his first pole position at Sugo, in the second round of the championship.
2026 During pre-season, Manson raced in the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy with M2 Competition.
USF Pro 2000 Championship 2025 On December 17, 2024, it was announced Manson would join the 2025 grid with TJ Speed Motorsports.
2026 Manson will remain in USF Pro 2000 for 2026, moving to Turn 3 Motorsport.
Karting record Karting career summary SeasonSeriesTeamPosition2015Kartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - Cadet15thKartsport NZ North Island Sprint Championship - Cadet15thKartsport Auckland Club Point Series - Cadet Raket6thKartsport Auckland Club Point Series - Cadet Rok7th47th Blossom Festival - Cadet8th2016Kartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - Cadet14thKartsport NZ North Island Sprint Championship - Cadet5thKartsport Auckland Club Point Series - Cadet Rok5thKartsport Auckland Club Point Series - Cadet Raket4thKartsport NZ National Schools Championship - Cadet6th48th Blossom Festival - Cadet8th2017Kartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - Cadet8thNZ Top Half Series - Mini RokNCKartsport Auckland Club Point Series - Cadet Rok3rdKartsport Auckland City of Sails - Cadet Rok5thKartsport NZ National Schools Championship - Cadet7th49th Blossom Festival - Mini Rok6th2018Kartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - Mini Rok3rdKartsport Auckland Club Point Series - Mini Rok5thKartsport NZ National Schools Championship - Mini Rok5thKartsport Auckland Regional Schools Championship - Mini Rok2nd2019Kartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - Mini Rok23rdRotax Max Challenge Grand Finals - Mini MaxLuke Manson5thKartsport NZ National Schools Championship - Mini Rok3rd2020Kartsport Auckland City of Sails - Rotax Junior7thKartsport NZ North Island Sprint Championship - Rotax Junior7th52nd Blossom Festival - Rotax Junior1st2021Kartsport Auckland City of Sails - Rotax Junior2ndKartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - Rotax Junior2ndKartsport NZ National Schools Championship - Rotax Junior16thNZ Top Half Series - Rotax JuniorNCKartsport Auckland Club Point Series - Rotax Junior7thKartsport NZ National Schools Championship - Junior Rok2nd2022Kartsport Auckland City of Sails - Rotax Junior5thKartsport Auckland City of Sails - Junior Rok4thCIK Trophy of New Zealand - Junior Rok1stKartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - Rotax Junior11thNZ Top Half Series - Rotax Junior32ndKartsport Auckland Club Point Series - Rotax Junior12thAustralian Kart Championship - KA233rdKartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - Junior Rok7thWSK Final Cup - OKIPK Official Racing Team38th2023Kartsport Auckland City of Sails - KZ2Manson Racing8thKartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - Rotax Light25thKartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - KZ25thKartstars New Zealand - Rotax Light46thKartstars New Zealand - Senior Rok17thKartstars New Zealand - KZ214thKartsport NZ National Schools Championship - Rotax LightSaint Kentigern College2ndKartsport NZ National Sprint Championship - Senior Rok11thKartsport Auckland Club Point Series - Rotax Light32ndKartsport Auckland Club Point Series - KZ23rdSources:
Racing record Racing career summary SeasonSeriesTeamRacesWinsPolesF/LapsPodiumsPointsPosition2022North Island Formula Ford Series1310166714thSouth Island Formula Ford Championship4000011427thNZ Formula Ford Championship800013127thFormula Ford Manfeild Winter Series631243244th2023South Island F1600 Championship1100105149thNZ Formula Ford Championship1601148344thFormula Ford Manfeild Winter Series620164184th2024South Island Formula Ford Championship18144101411531stNorth Island Formula Ford Series13825126567thFormula Regional Oceania ChampionshipGiles Motorsport500004321stNZ Formula Ford Championship14736118882ndSummerset GT New Zealand Championship - Open Class30001016thFormula Regional Japanese Championship Birth Racing Project1402161552ndGVI Formula Open NZ31013N/ANC†2025 Formula Regional Oceania ChampionshipM2 Competition1520022256th Tasman Series61000834th USF Pro 2000 Championship TJ Speed Motorsports18000015212th2026Formula Regional Oceania TrophyM2 Competition15000010517thTasman Series1500001056thUSF Pro 2000 ChampionshipTurn 3 Motorsport 18 0 0 0 0 185 10thSources: † - As Manson was a guest driver, he was ineligible for championship points.
Complete Formula Regional Oceania Championship/Trophy results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 DC Points2024Giles MotorsportTAU1TAU2TAU3MAN1MAN2MAN3HMP1HMP2HMP3RUA1RUA2RUA3HIG1 HIG2NZGP3 21st 43 2025 M2 CompetitionTAU1TAU2TAU3HMP1HMP2HMP3MAN1MAN2MAN3TER1TER2TER3HIG1 HIG2NZGP3 6th 225 2026 M2 CompetitionHMP1HMP2HMP3HMP4TAU1TAU2TAU3TAU4TER1TER2TER3TER4HIG1 HIG2HIG3NZGP4 17th 105
Complete New Zealand Grand Prix results Year Team Car Qualifying Main race 2024 Giles Motorsport Tatuus FT-60 - Toyota 13th 12th 2025 M2 Competition Tatuus FT-60 - Toyota 13th 9th 2026 M2 Competition Tatuus FT-60 - Toyota 8th 10th
Complete Formula Regional Japanese Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pos Points 2024 Birth Racing Project 【BRP】 SUZ1 SUZ2 SUZ3 SUG1 SUG2 OKA1 OKA2 OKA3 MOT1 MOT2 FUJ11 FUJ12 FUJ21 FUJ22 2nd 155
American open-wheel racing results
USF Pro 2000 Championship (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Position Points2025 TJ Speed MotorsportsSTP1STP2LOU1LOU2LOU3IMS1IMS2IMS3IRPROA1ROA2ROA3MOH1MOH2TOR1TOR2POR1POR2 12th 152 2026 Turn 3 Motorsport ARL1 ARL2 IMS1 IMS2 IRP ROA1 ROA2 MOH1 MOH2 MOH3 POR1 POR2 MAR1 MAR2 MIL ROA1 ROA2 ROA3 10th 185 * Season still in progress.
External links Official Website
References