Devlin DeFrancesco
A young Canadian driver who proved his mettle by winning one of endurance racing's toughest events, the 24 Hours of Daytona.
Born 2000 (age 26)·Canadian racing driver·Birthday: January 17·Generation Z
Biography
Born in Toronto in 2000, Devlin DeFrancesco's path to motorsport's upper echelons was paved early, moving to Europe for his karting and junior formula career. His steady climb through the ranks was marked by a disciplined focus, culminating in a breakthrough performance at the 2022 Rolex 24 at Daytona. There, sharing an LMP2 car, he and his co-drivers secured a class victory, a monumental achievement that announced his capability on a major stage. This win served as a springboard to the IndyCar Series, where he competed for the storied Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team. DeFrancesco represents a new wave of international racing talent, combining a cool, calculated approach with the raw speed needed to succeed at the highest levels of open-wheel and endurance competition.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Devlin was born in 2000, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Devlin Was Born
The biggest hits of 2000
#1 Movie
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Best Picture
Gladiator
#1 TV Show
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
Devlin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2000Born
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2005Started school
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2013Became a teenager
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2016Could drive
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2018Could vote
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2021Turned 21
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 26 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the LMP2 class at the 2022 24 Hours of Daytona, one of the world's premier endurance races.
- Competed as a full-time driver in the NTT IndyCar Series for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
- Progressed through competitive European junior formulae including Formula 3 and Formula 2 before moving to North American racing.
Did You Know?
He holds both Canadian and Italian citizenship.
He began karting at the age of seven.
His godfather is former Formula One team owner Giancarlo Minardi.
“The only lap that matters is the one you're in.”
