Crowned Formula 2 Champion at the end of the 2023 season and invited to compete in the IndyCar Series in 2024, this young driver from Grasse is now a leading figure in the new French motorsport generation.
In February 2018, as a member of the FFSA Academy with an impressive national and international karting record, 14-year-old Théo Pourchaire was preparing his transition into single-seaters. At the time, he knew little about the “Winfield” school, apart from its “good reputation.”
“I started racing at a very young age, and Winfield was my bridge from karting to single-seaters,” explains the driver from Grasse. “It was an incredible experience—very intense. We did driving sessions, simulator training, technical workshops to understand how a car works, physical preparation, coaching, and more. It’s amazing how much we learned in the focused yet relaxed atmosphere of the Winfield Campus. Those three enriching days changed our lives forever. I say ‘our’ because many of my fellow students were also from the FFSA Academy. Together, we all learned the fundamentals of motorsport at Winfield.”
Théo Pourchaire during the 2018 Trophée Winfield at the Paul Ricard circuit
The transition from karting to single-seaters is significant, as the two disciplines are quite different, especially for a teenager. “I was 14 in 2018 and too young to compete for the Volant Winfield,” he recalls. “However, I won the ‘Trophée’, which was reserved for drivers under 15, earning a scholarship to help fund my debut in the French F4 Championship.”
Crowned Junior category winner the same year, he continued to build his career: claiming the German F4 title, then becoming FIA F3 runner-up, and advancing to Formula 2. Youngest driver in F2 history to win a race in 2021, runner-up in 2022, he made his debut in Formula 1 as a test driver for Alfa Romeo/Sauber. By 2023, he had clinched the FIA F2 Championship, opening the doors to the prestigious IndyCar Series in 2024 but also to the mythic World Endurance Championship with Peugeot.
Théo Pourchaire during the 2022 FIA F2 race at the Paul Ricard circuit
“Without the incredible stepping stone that Winfield provided, I’m not sure my journey in motorsport would have been the same,” he reflects. “It was a unique adventure that left a lasting mark on me, and I’m proud to join the prestigious list of drivers who have come through the school.” Along the way, he also discovered the rich 60-year history of Winfield.
Photo credits: Morgan Mathurin / FIA F2
