Dutch racing driver (born 2001)
Niels Koolen (Dutch pronunciation: [nils ˈkoːlə(n)] 2025 Indy NXT driving for Chip Ganassi Racing .[ 1] European Le Mans Series driving for the Duqueine Team .[ 2] Kees Koolen .
Early career
After competing in karting prior to the COVID-19 pandemic , Koolen, a relatively latecomer to single-seater racing aged 21, made his car racing debut in Round 6 of the 2022 F4 Spanish Championship , driving for Monlau Motorsport .[ 3] [ 4] 2022 Italian F4 Championship , also with Monlau Motorsport, competing under a Belgian license.[ 5]
On 5 January 2023, it was announced that Koolen would be driving for VAR -Pinnacle Motorsport in the 2023 Formula Regional Middle East Championship .[ 6]
Following the 2022 season, Koolen partook in several Formula Regional European Championship tests, driving for Van Amersfoort Racing .[ 7] 2023 championship alongside Joshua Dufek and Kas Haverkort .[ 8] [ 9]
Eurocup-3
Koolen would participate in two rounds of Eurocup-3 in 2023 at Jerez and Estoril , failing to score points in either round.[ 10]
In August 2024, after Taylor Barnard vacated his seat in the Formula 2 Championship , Koolen was drafted by AIX Racing to race for them in the category for the Monza and Baku rounds alongside Joshua Dürksen .[ 11] [ 12] Baku , AIX Racing confirmed that Koolen would not return for the final two weekends of the season.[ 13]
Indy NXT
2024
In 2024, Koolen switched to Indy NXT with HMD Motorsports .[ 14] Indianapolis Motor Speedway , he finished 10th.[ 15]
2025
Chip Ganassi Racing signed Koolen for the 2025 Indy NXT season, marking his second season in the category.[ 16]
Sports car racing career
European Le Mans Series
Alongside his Indy NXT season, Koolen made his endurance racing debut and competed in the 2024 European Le Mans Series with the Duqueine Team .[ 2]
Racing record
Karting career summary
Season
Series
Team
Position
2016
SKUSA SuperNationals XX — X30 Junior
2Wild Karting
54th
2017
SKUSA SuperNationals XXI — X30 Senior
2Wild Karting
54th
2018
IAME Euro Series — X30 Senior
Evolution/Super B Batteries
17th
2019
IAME Series Benelux — X30 Senior
33rd
FIA Karting European Championship — OK
Team Evolution
IAME Euro Series — X30 Senior
19th
IAME Winter Cup — X30 Senior
16th
Sources:[ 17]
Racing career summary
† As Koolen was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.
* Season still in progress.
Complete F4 Spanish Championship results
(key ) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Complete Italian F4 Championship results
(key ) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
(key ) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
(key ) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Complete Eurocup-3 results
(key ) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
(key ) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
* Season still in progress.
Complete European Le Mans Series results
(key ) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
Indy NXT
(key ) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) (Races with L indicate a race lap led) (Races with * indicate most race laps led)
References
^ Barnes, Joey (30 October 2024). "Chip Ganassi Racing finalizes its 2025 lineups for IndyCar and Indy NXT programs" . Motorsport.com . Retrieved 30 October 2024 . ^ a b "ELMS Field Almost Complete With Barcelona Prologue Approaching" . dailysportscar.com . 29 March 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024 .^ "Dutchman Niels Koolen Joins VAR / Monlau Alliance" . Van Amersfoort Racing . 30 September 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2023 .^ Wood, Ida (30 September 2022). "MSV wins tender to buy Navarra as Tsolov tops Spanish F4 test there" . Formula Scout . Retrieved 7 January 2023 . ^ "Monza, the Italian F.4 Season Record is Topped Again" . Italian F4 . 6 October 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2023 .^ Wood, Ida (5 January 2023). "VAR and Pinnacle Motorsport reveal line-ups for FRMEC and F4 tie-up" . Formula Scout . Retrieved 7 January 2023 . ^ Wolff, Perceval (26 December 2022). "FRECA: Who's going where in 2023? (updated)" . Feeder Series . Retrieved 7 January 2023 . ^ Wood, Ida (15 March 2023). "Niels Koolen, Tom Lebbon and Enzo Scionti join FRegional Europe grid" . Formula Scout . Retrieved 29 August 2024 . ^ "Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine 2023" . DriverDB . Retrieved 29 August 2024 .^ Wood, Ida (21 September 2023). "GRS to run all-new Eurocup-3 line-up and Spanish F4 debutants at Jerez" . Formula Scout . Retrieved 29 August 2024 . ^ "AIX Racing confirm Niels Koolen for Monza and Baku Rounds" . FIA_F2® - The Official F2® Website . 29 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024 .^ "Motrosport.com" .^ "Formula 2 adventure for 'slow' Koolen is over: AIX already say goodbye" . gpblog.com . 15 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024 .^ Wood, Ida (21 December 2023). "HMD Motorsports adds Niels Koolen to 2024 Indy Nxt line-up" . Formula Scout . Retrieved 29 August 2024 . ^ "NTT INDYCAR SERIES Race Results | Official Site of INDYCAR" . IndyCar.com . Retrieved 30 September 2024 .^ Wood, Ida (30 October 2024). "Ganassi signs Browne and Koolen for its 2025 Indy Nxt return" . Formula Scout . Retrieved 31 October 2024 . ^ "Niels Koolen | Racing career profile | Driver Database" . DriverDB . Retrieved 7 January 2023 .
External links
Niels Koolen career summary at DriverDB.com
