| Nationality | Dutch |
|---|---|
| Birth date | 25 May 2001 (age 25) |
| Birth place | Vorden, Gelderland, Netherlands |
| Racing licence | FIA Silver |
| Current series | Indy NXT |
| First year | 2024 |
| Current team | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| Car number | 10 |
| Former teams | HMD Motorsports |
| Starts | 23 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Poles | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Best finish | 8th |
| Year | 2025 |
| Prev series | European Le Mans Series Formula 2 Championship Formula Regional European Championship Formula Regional Middle East Championship Eurocup-3 Italian F4 Championship F4 Spanish Championship |
| Prev series years | 2024 2024 2023 2023 2023 2022 2022 |
| Updated | 10 May 2025 |
Niels Koolen (nils ˈkoːlə(n); born 25 May 2001) is a Dutch racing driver. He currently competes in the Indy NXT series, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing.[1] Koolen most recently 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
Formula 4
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
Formula Regional Middle East Championship
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
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
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
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
2024
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
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
Koolen will continue with Chip Ganassi Racing for the 2026 season.[17]
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:[18] | |||
Racing career summary
| 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
(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
(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
(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
(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
(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
(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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
(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
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)
| 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 | ROA | ROA | MOH | MOH | NSS | POR | MIL | LAG | LAG | 20th* | 95* |
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.
- ^ "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 2024-09-30.
- ^ Wood, Ida (30 October 2024). "Ganassi signs Browne and Koolen for its 2025 Indy Nxt return". Formula Scout. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Niels Koolen | Racing career profile | Driver Database". DriverDB. Retrieved 7 January 2023.