As formularapida.net sources has known, Galician karting talent Christian Costoya, reigning European champion, is set to become the newest addition to the McLaren Driver Development Programme. At just 15 years old, Costoya will join forces with his fiercest on-track rival, Dries Van Langendonck, in what is being hailed as one of the most significant grassroots motorsport signings in recent years.
Costoya’s 2025 season has been extraordinary, with many experts describing it as one of the most dominant campaigns in international karting over the past decade. He began the year by clinching the WSK Euro Series title and finishing runner-up in the WSK Super Master Series, a championship that slipped from his grasp in the final race due to a costly error, which Van Langendonck capitalized on.
Represented by Nicolas Todt’s All Road Management, Costoya reached his peak in the FIA European Karting Championship, considered by many to be the most prestigious event in the sport. After finishing second in the OK-Junior category in 2024, he returned this year in top form and secured the title so convincingly that the final round became irrelevant, as he did not even need to score points to become champion.
This weekend, Costoya will compete in the final round of the Champions of the Future (COTF) series, where he currently sits second in the standings with 230 points, 34 behind leader Kenzo Craigie of the Mercedes Junior Team.
FormulaRapida.net can reveal that he has already completed testing in a Formula 4 car, a crucial step before formalising his agreement with McLaren.
With his arrival, the McLaren academy now has eight promising talents: Ugo Ugochukwu, Pato O’Ward, Alex Dunne, Martinius Stenshorne, Ella Lloyd, Brando Badoer, Dries Van Langendonck and now Christian Costoya. It is worth noting that Van Langendonck made his debut last week in British Formula 4 with an impressive victory, just one day after turning 15.
