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Niels Koolen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Niels Koolen
Koolen at the Circuit Paul Ricard in 2024
NationalityNetherlands Dutch
Born (2001-05-25) 25 May 2001 (age 25)
Vorden, Gelderland,
Netherlands
RelativesKees Koolen (father)
Indy NXT career
Debut season2024
Current teamChip Ganassi Racing
Categorisation FIA Silver
Car number10
Former teamsHMD Motorsports
Starts23
Wins0
Podiums0
Poles0
Fastest laps0
Best finish8th in 2025
Previous series
2024
2024
2023

2023

2023
2022
2022		European Le Mans Series
Formula 2 Championship
Formula Regional European Championship
Formula Regional Middle East Championship
Eurocup-3
Italian F4 Championship
F4 Spanish Championship
Statistics up to date as of 10 May 2025.

Niels Koolen (Dutch pronunciation: [nils ˈkoːlə(n)]; born 25 May 2001) is a Dutch racing driver who is currently competing in the Indy NXT for Chip Ganassi Racing.[1] Koolen has previously competed in the European Le Mans Series driving for the Duqueine Team.[2] He is the son of rally raid driver and businessman Kees Koolen.

Junior career

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Formula 4

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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] He contested the final two rounds of the 2022 Italian F4 Championship, also with Monlau Motorsport, competing under a Belgian license.[5]

Formula Regional

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Formula Regional Middle East Championship

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On 5 January 2023, it was announced that Koolen would drive for VAR-Pinnacle Motorsport in the 2023 Formula Regional Middle East Championship.[6] He finished 31st in the final standings with no points finishes.

Formula Regional European Championship

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Following the 2022 season, Koolen partook in several Formula Regional European Championship tests, driving for Van Amersfoort Racing.[7] He would ultimately sign with the Dutch-based team to participate in the 2023 championship alongside Joshua Dufek and Kas Haverkort.[8] He struggled and was considerably behind his teammate throughout the whole campaign, and finished the standings 37th, with a best finish of nineteenth.[9]

Eurocup-3

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Koolen would participate in two rounds of Eurocup-3 in 2023 at Jerez and Estoril, failing to score points in either round.[10]

FIA Formula 2 Championship

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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] He got nineteenth in both the Monza sprint and feature race.[12] After the next weekend in Baku, AIX Racing confirmed that Koolen would not return for the final two weekends of the season.[13]

Indy NXT

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2024

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In 2024, Koolen switched to Indy NXT with HMD Motorsports.[14] In the first race of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he finished tenth.[15] This was his best result of the season.

2025

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In 2025, Chip Ganassi Racing signed Koolen to run the full season, marking his second season in the category.[16] He finished eighth in the points standings with a best finish of fifth at Iowa Speedway.

2026

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Koolen will continue with Chip Ganassi Racing for the 2026 season.[17]

Sports car racing career

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European Le Mans Series

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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

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Karting career summary

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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:[18]

Racing career summary

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Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2022 F4 Spanish Championship Monlau Motorsport 3 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
Italian F4 Championship 5 0 0 0 0 0 43rd
2023 Formula Regional Middle East Championship Pinnacle VAR 15 0 0 0 0 0 31st
Formula Regional European Championship Van Amersfoort Racing 18 0 0 0 0 0 37th
Eurocup-3 GRS Team 2 0 0 0 0 0 25th
2024 Indy NXT HMD Motorsports 9 0 0 0 0 140 20th
European Le Mans Series - LMP2 Duqueine Team 5 0 0 0 0 20 17th
Ultimate Cup Series - Proto P3 Inter Europol Competition 1 0 0 0 1 15 25th
FIA Formula 2 Championship AIX Racing 4 0 0 0 0 0 32nd
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Comtoyou Racing 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2025 Indy NXT Chip Ganassi Racing 14 0 0 0 0 288 8th
2025–26 Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East Team GP Elite 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
2026 Indy NXT Chip Ganassi Racing 0 0 0 0 0 0 TBD

† As Koolen was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points. * Season still in progress.

Complete F4 Spanish Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Pos Points
2022 Monlau Motorsport ALG
1		 ALG
2		 ALG
3		 JER
1		 JER
2		 JER
3		 CRT
1		 CRT
2		 CRT
3		 SPA
1		 SPA
2		 SPA
3		 ARA
1		 ARA
2		 ARA
3		 NAV
1
26		 NAV
2
21		 NAV
3
20		 CAT
1		 CAT
2		 CAT
3		 NC† 0

Complete Italian F4 Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 DC Points
2022 Monlau Motorsport IMO
1		 IMO
2		 IMO
3		 MIS
1		 MIS
2		 MIS
3		 SPA
1		 SPA
2		 SPA
3		 VLL
1		 VLL
2		 VLL
3		 RBR
1		 RBR
2		 RBR
3		 RBR
3		 MNZ
1
17		 MNZ
2
30		 MNZ
3
C		 MUG
1
Ret		 MUG
2
Ret		 MUG
3
28		 43rd 0

Complete Formula Regional Middle East Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 DC Points
2023 Pinnacle VAR DUB1
1
22		 DUB1
2
22		 DUB1
3
21		 KUW1
1
12		 KUW1
2
21		 KUW1
3
21		 KUW2
1
20		 KUW2
2
21		 KUW2
3
22		 DUB2
1
22		 DUB2
2
Ret		 DUB2
3
18		 ABU
1
20		 ABU
2
21		 ABU
3
14		 31st 0

Complete Formula Regional European Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 DC Points
2023 Van Amersfoort Racing IMO
1
29		 IMO
2
19		 CAT
1
26		 CAT
2
29		 HUN
1
28		 HUN
2
Ret		 SPA
1
29		 SPA
2
30		 MUG
1
24		 MUG
2
Ret		 LEC
1
Ret		 LEC
2
26		 RBR
1
27		 RBR
2
25		 MNZ
1
19		 MNZ
2
24		 ZAN
1
25		 ZAN
2
23		 HOC
1
 HOC
2		 37th 0

Complete Eurocup-3 results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 DC Points
2023 GRS Team SPA
1
 SPA
2
 ARA
1
 ARA
2
 MNZ
1
 MNZ
2
 ZAN
1
 ZAN
2
 JER
1
12		 JER
2
Ret		 EST
1
WD		 EST
2
WD		 CRT
1		 CRT
2		 CAT
1		 CAT
2		 25th 0

Complete FIA Formula 2 Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 DC Points
2024 AIX Racing BHR
SPR		 BHR
FEA		 JED
SPR		 JED
FEA		 MEL
SPR		 MEL
FEA		 IMO
SPR		 IMO
FEA		 MON
SPR		 MON
FEA		 CAT
SPR		 CAT
FEA		 RBR
SPR		 RBR
FEA		 SIL
SPR		 SIL
FEA		 HUN
SPR		 HUN
FEA		 SPA
SPR		 SPA
FEA		 MNZ
SPR
19		 MNZ
FEA
19		 BAK
SPR
20		 BAK
FEA
Ret		 LSL
SPR		 LSL
FEA		 YMC
SPR		 YMC
FEA		 32nd 0

Complete European Le Mans Series results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rank Points
2024 Duqueine Team LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 CAT
11		 LEC
6		 IMO
9		 SPA MUG
8		 ALG
7		 17th 20

American open–wheel racing results

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Indy NXT

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(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)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rank Points
2024 HMD Motorsports STP
21		 BAR
15		 IMS
10		 IMS
14		 DET
13		 RDA
13		 LAG
19		 LAG
12		 MOH IOW
13		 GMP POR MIL NSH 20th 140
2025 Chip Ganassi Racing STP
21		 BAR
13		 IMS
18		 IMS
6		 DET
9		 GMP
10		 RDA
15		 MOH
14		 IOW
5		 LAG
11		 LAG
6		 POR
6		 MIL
12		 NSH
7		 8th 288
2026 Chip Ganassi Racing STP
22		 ARL
13		 BAR
17		 BAR
20		 IMS
8		 IMS
14		 DET
23		 GAT
4		 ROA
11		 ROA
9		 MOH
13		 MOH
13		 NSS
21		 POR
17		 MIL LAG LAG 16th* 224*

References

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  1. ↑ Barnes, Joey (30 October 2024). "Chip Ganassi Racing finalizes its 2025 lineups for IndyCar and Indy NXT programs". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  2. 1 2 "ELMS Field Almost Complete With Barcelona Prologue Approaching". dailysportscar.com. 29 March 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  3. ↑ "Dutchman Niels Koolen Joins VAR / Monlau Alliance". Van Amersfoort Racing. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  4. ↑ Wood, Ida (30 September 2022). "MSV wins tender to buy Navarra as Tsolov tops Spanish F4 test there". Formula Scout. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  5. ↑ "Monza, the Italian F.4 Season Record is Topped Again". Italian F4. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  6. ↑ Wood, Ida (5 January 2023). "VAR and Pinnacle Motorsport reveal line-ups for FRMEC and F4 tie-up". Formula Scout. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  7. ↑ Wolff, Perceval (26 December 2022). "FRECA: Who's going where in 2023? (updated)". Feeder Series. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  8. ↑ Wood, Ida (15 March 2023). "Niels Koolen, Tom Lebbon and Enzo Scionti join FRegional Europe grid". Formula Scout. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  9. ↑ "Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine 2023". DriverDB. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ "AIX Racing confirm Niels Koolen for Monza and Baku Rounds". FIA_F2® - The Official F2® Website. 29 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  12. ↑ "Motrosport.com".
  13. ↑ "Formula 2 adventure for 'slow' Koolen is over: AIX already say goodbye". gpblog.com. 15 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  14. ↑ Wood, Ida (21 December 2023). "HMD Motorsports adds Niels Koolen to 2024 Indy Nxt line-up". Formula Scout. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  15. ↑ "NTT INDYCAR SERIES Race Results | Official Site of INDYCAR". IndyCar.com. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  16. ↑ Wood, Ida (30 October 2024). "Ganassi signs Browne and Koolen for its 2025 Indy Nxt return". Formula Scout. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  17. ↑ "Chip Ganassi Racing Signs James Roe, Carson Etter to Join Bryce Aron, Niels Koolen in INDY NXT". Chip Ganassi Racing. 17 December 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  18. ↑ "Niels Koolen | Racing career profile | Driver Database". DriverDB. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
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Niels Koolen career summary at DriverDB.com

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