Some people are born to race. Whether it’s a hereditary disposition they're born with, or from witnessing their first race at a young age, something stirs the interest inside them. They become hooked, not just to cars, but in racing as a sport.

When these racers are younger, they learn to put aside doubt, questions or fear. They’re not afraid to get behind the wheel of a car and go as fast as they can. They’re driven by competition and a pure love for racing. That’s when racing as a hobby turns into something more.

It’s no wonder these talented individuals pursue a career in racing at a young age. They’re not only interested in finding out how far they can go on the race track, but how far it can go as a profession. They get started racing early on and press forward without looking back in the rearview mirror.

These young racers deserve recognition. Before they’re even old enough to legally drink, many have already accomplished incredible feats on the race track. They not only have lots of eyes on them from here on out but are also the future of racing.

The current generations of race car drivers have a lot to worry about. These up-and-comers are already changing the world of racing. We’re going to look at some of the best-anticipated racers today who are surprisingly 20-years old or younger. They’re promising examples proving that professional racing is in good hands for more exciting years to come.

20 Driver: Thomas Laurent, 20

via Motul

Already, at the tender age of 20, Thomas Laurent has managed to create an impressive curriculum vitae for himself. Coming out of La Roche-sur-Yon in France, as per Driver Database, he’s already entered in 48 races. Of those, he’s managed to make the podium 22 times.

That notches his podium percentage at an impressive 45.8%. If he’s able to maintain that throughout his career, he could be one of the greatest racers of this generation. From 2012 to 2015, he managed to notch several first place wins, including at the CIK-FIA International Super Cup. This is a racer fans should keep a close eye on in the years to come.

19 Record: Youngest Podium Finisher In WEC

via Twitter user Thomas Laurent

Thomas Laurent is only 20 years old, and yet he’s already proven he has what it takes to go toe to toe with some of the best racers today. According to FIA WEC, when he entered the 6 Hours of Silverstone in 2017, he was just 19 years and 12 days old. He happens to be one of the youngest racers on the WEC today.

In his rookie season alone, he had four starts; three of those races he ended up winning. One of those was at Le Mans where he became the youngest podium finisher in all of WEC.

18 Driver: Hailie Deegan, 17

via ecelebrityfacts.com

Hailie Deegan is only 17-years old, but already she’s making a splash in the racing world. So far, according to Driver Database, she’s managed to enter 19 races, out of which she had 3 podiums. She comes from Temecula, California.

“I put my helmet on the same way everyone else does,” Deegan said, as per NBC Sports. Like many young racers on this list, her dad got her into the sport. “My dad has pretty much taught me, he’s built this thing with me, he trains with me, practices with me, goes to the gym with me, we battle each other at the go-kart track.”

17 Record: First Woman To Win NASCAR K&N Pro Series West

via Lionel Racing

Hailie Deegan may not look or act like most racers in the sport today, but she’s already managed to notch plenty of accomplishments. She’s starting to gain attention and popularity for her racing abilities.

According to NBC Sports, she became the first woman to win a NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race. That took place at the Meridian Speedway in Idaho. It also put her in the history books alongside Shawn Robinson, the only other female NASCAR race winner. At 17, she’s just getting started and may go on to do even more over the course of her professional career.

16 Driver: Dries Vanthoor, 20

via Blancpain GT Series

It’s astounding how many races Dries Vanthoor has already been in. At just 20 years old, he’s managed to enter 100 races total, as per Driver Database. He comes from Belgium.

He comes from a family of racers including his brother, Laurens, and father, Rafael. Over the course of his young career, he managed to notch 11 wins and 25 podiums. In 2019, he already managed to race at 24H Dubai and got in second while driving an Audi R8 LMS. That’s an impressive feat and a good start already in the new year for this exciting up-and-comer.

15 Record: Youngest Class-Winner At Le Mans

via Motorsport

Dries Vanthoor has proven he has what it takes to compete at high levels. FIA WEC reports that he managed to get first at the LMGTE Am in 2017 for the FIA World Endurance Championship. Even more impressive is the fact that he did it when he was only 19 years, 1 month and 29 days old.

The same source notes that he’s only 15 days older than Thomas Laurent, another racer featured earlier on this list. What’s most impressive about his career so far is the number of races he took part in; it will be interesting to see if he can maintain that same output.

14 Driver: Juju Noda, 12

via Forbes

“I like the feeling of speed,” said Juju Noda, in a YouTube clip as per Great Big Story. This girl isn’t afraid to get into a race car and go at breakneck speeds. She hails from Okayama, Japan.

When she’s not busy tending to her house pets, which includes a rabbit and cats, she’s on the race track. Her talents run in the family. According to the same source, her father is Hideki Noda, who’s a professional Formula One driver. “I started racing when I was three,” she said. It’s no wonder she’s drawn to the race track where she feels comfortable.

13 Record: Youngest Racer Signed By A Sponsor

via The Drive

When Juju Noda started racing, she was only 3-years old. A YouTube clip by Great Big Story, her father, Hideki Noda, reveals she got a race car on her third birthday. One of her early accomplishments was being able to compete against adults on race tracks.

One part of her room is full of trophies and medals from all the races she competed in. She broke a record, as per the same source, for signing with a sponsor, making her the youngest to do so. That’s a huge accomplishment that could lead to many more sponsors in the long run.

12 Driver: Philip Hanson, 19

via Karting Magazine

Philip Hanson is a promising racer who hails from Great Britain. At the time of this writing, he already managed to enter 12 races. It’s an impressive feat considering he’s only 19 years old. In his career so far, he’s already gotten a podium finish, as per Driver Database.

That was from the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship. During that race, according to the same source, Hanson drove a Ligier JS P217. Hanson may not have a huge resume yet carved out for himself yet, but his professional career is already off to a great start right out of the gates.

11 Record: Youngest Driver To Enter 6 Hours of Spa

via WEC Race Karting Magazine

Hanson hasn’t been racing very long, but he already has a lot to be proud of. According to FIA WEC, he was only 17 years, 10 months and 2 days old when he entered an endurance race called the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. That made him the youngest driver to do it up to that time. He's already made appearances at several major races too.

Driver Database notes that he competed in the Michelin GT3 Le Mans in 2016 and the European Le Mans Series in 2017. He even managed to get first place in 2015 at the Super 1 National Junior X30 Championship.

10 Driver: Alex Rullo, 18

via 4BC

One of the youngest racers today is Alex Rullo from Perth, Western Australia. Born in June 2000, he’s only 18 years old. Even at a young age, he already managed to get his career off to a major start. According to Motor Sport, near the beginning of his career, he had to balance both car racer and school.

The same source notes that he signed a deal with LD Motorsport about two years ago when he was only 16. When a race car driver starts a career at a young age, they gain experience early on that could translate into a long and storied run.

9 Record: Youngest Racer To Win CAMS National Event

via Supercars

At just 18-years old, Rullo has already entered into many major races. He managed to notch a few records for himself as well. According to the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship site, he managed to win a CAMS National at the tender age of 14. That’s an incredible milestone for Rullo that only foreshadowed things to come.

He would also set a new record at 16 when he entered the Clipsal 500 in 2017. That marked him as the youngest talent at that point. If Rullo keeps up these accomplishments, he can continue to go far and impress as one of the best racers of his generation.

8 Driver: J. J. Haley, 19

via ARCA Racing

Justin Haley hails from Winamac, Indiana. At just 19 years old, as per Driver Database, he already entered a whopping 130 races. He managed to win eight times throughout his career with 29 podiums. Being in so many competitions more than likely sharpens his racing skills.

ARCA Racing reports that his first Late Model win came in 2014 during the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Season Opener. “The 2014 season has been one to remember,” said Haley, as per ARCA Racing. “I have been able to accomplish so many of my goals and achieve things that I never would have guessed could happen.”

7 Record: Youngest Polesitter In ARCA Racing Series

via ARCA Racing

Haley has his share of accomplishments. According to ARCA Racing, he managed to become the youngest polesitter ever in the ARCA Racing Series. That took place at Elko Speedway and made Haley the recipient of the Menards Pole Award. Kyle Benjamin had been the previous holder of the record. Haley was only 15 at the time.

“I just can’t thank everyone enough,” Haley said in June 2014. “Venturini Motorsports gave me a great car and it’s a tremendous opportunity.” Even though he broke a record, Haley still finds a way to give thanks to those around him in helping him reach his goals.

6 Driver: Tom Canning, 16

via YouTube user LEWis REPORTING

If people haven’t heard of Tom Canning, they will soon enough. Coming from Great Britain, this racer is only 16 years old. Driver Database reports he entered in 45 races so far and managed to get two podiums. For a young racer starting out, it’s impressive he managed to enter into as many races as he has so far.

He made appearances in competitions such as the Super 1 National Rotax Mini Max Championship, the BNL International Karting Series and the Super 1 National Honda Cadet Championship, where he got first in 2014. He’s still a year away from being the legal age to get a driver’s license in Great Britain.

5 Record: Youngest To Compete In British GT

via Tom Canning Racing

This racer may only be 16 years old, but he managed to achieve a lot so far. According to a YouTube video as per SWNS TV, he’s the youngest driver ever to enter British GT racing. He just barely made the record though. The same source notes he was just six days younger than the previous record-holder.

His first championship win came in 2012, as per Karting Magazine. “It was very memorable and meant so much to me! It almost meant as much as my strongest results since!” With that kind of enthusiasm for the sport, Canning may go even further.

4 Driver: Dustin Jackson, 18

via uskings.us

Dustin Jackson is a young kid who started racing when he was little. In an interview with SooToday, Dustin Jackson revealed that growing up he would go to the Laird International Raceway. There, he would watch his dad and relatives race.

When asked what two people he’d have dinner with, whether they're living or not, he said he'd go with Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Wayne Gretzky. Although he has tremendous respect and admiration for those two sports heroes, he credits his dad for introducing him to the sport of racing. It’s impressive how Jackson gravitated towards the sport at a young age.

3 Record: Youngest Stock Car Driver In 2011

via Inside Track Motorsport News

Dustin Jackson was only 10-years old when he started racing. According to World Record Academy, he raced at the Laird International Raceway in 2011 where he got a Guinness World Record for being the youngest stock car driver. Many aren’t ready to drive until they're about 15, while Dustin Jackson was already doing it at Laird International Raceway at 10.

The same source notes that the previous record holder Jackson beat was only 12 years old. With stock car racing running in Jackson’s family, it’s only natural he’d become a standout racer. It all started with racing go-carts at a young age and turned into a world record at 10.

2 Driver: Braden DuBois, 16

via World Record Academy

Braden DuBois got into stock car racing at a young age thanks to his father. In a quote provided by World Record Academy, DuBois said, “It started as a hobby. It’s a lot of fun. I have to stay focused and finish in one piece. My car can be fixed. It is about safety and car control right now.”

In spite of his major accomplishments at a young age, DuBois manages to put safety first while on the race track. The same source reports that he hails from Indian River, Michigan. With DuBois’ priorities in the right place, he could race his way to many safe victories to come.

1 Record: Youngest Stock Car Driver In 2012

via World Record Academy

In just a year after Dustin Jackson set the record for youngest stock car racer, Braden DuBois managed to set a new one. According to Petoskey News, DuBois went on to become the youngest stock car racer at the tender age of 9. That’s one year younger than Jackson was when he broke the record.

In a quote from the same source, DuBois said, “When my father told me that I had a chance to set the record, I wanted to go for it.” Many racers have opportunities to break records, but not all of them go for it, let alone at such a young age.

Sources: Driver Database, FIA WEC, SooToday, World Record Academy, Petoskey News, Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, Motor Sport, YouTube, ARCA Racing, NBC Sports, Karting Magazine