Niels Koolen
{{Short description|Dutch racing driver (born 2001)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox racing driver
| name = Niels Koolen
| image = 2024 4 Hours of Le Castellet 20.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Koolen at the Circuit Paul Ricard in 2024
| nationality = {{flagicon|NED}} Dutch
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2001|05|25|df=y}}
| birth_place = Vorden, Gelderland,
Netherlands
| current series = Indy NXT
| first year = 2024
| current team = Chip Ganassi Racing
| car number = 10
| former teams =HMD Motorsports
| starts = 18
| wins = 0
| poles = 0
| fastest laps = 0
| podiums = 0
| best finish = 20th
| year = 2024
| last finish =
| 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
| titles =
| title years =
|racing licence=|updated=10 May 2025}}
Niels Koolen ({{IPA|nl|nils ˈkoːlə(n)}}; born 25 May 2001) is a Dutch racing driver. He currently competes in the 2025 Indy NXT series, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing.{{Cite web |last=Barnes |first=Joey |date=30 October 2024 |title=Chip Ganassi Racing finalizes its 2025 lineups for IndyCar and Indy NXT programs |url=https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/chip-ganassi-racing-2025-driver-lineup/10668454/ |access-date=30 October 2024 |website=Motorsport.com}} Koolen most recently competed in the European Le Mans Series driving for the Duqueine Team.{{Cite web |date=29 March 2024 |title=ELMS Field Almost Complete With Barcelona Prologue Approaching |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2024/03/29/elms-field-almost-complete-with-barcelona-prologue-approaching.html |access-date=29 August 2024 |website=dailysportscar.com |language=en}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.vanamersfoortracing.nl/news/2022/dutchman-niels-koolen-joins-var-monlau-alliance/|title=Dutchman Niels Koolen Joins VAR / Monlau Alliance|website=Van Amersfoort Racing|date=30 September 2022|access-date=7 January 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://formulascout.com/msv-wins-tender-to-buy-navarra-as-tsolov-tops-spanish-f4-test-there/99240|title=MSV wins tender to buy Navarra as Tsolov tops Spanish F4 test there|website=Formula Scout|last=Wood|first=Ida|date=30 September 2022|access-date=7 January 2023}} He contested the final two rounds of the 2022 Italian F4 Championship, also with Monlau Motorsport, competing under a Belgian license.{{cite web|url=http://www.f4championship.com/news/661/Monza,%20the%20Italian%20F.4%20season%20record%20is%20topped%20again|title=Monza, the Italian F.4 Season Record is Topped Again|website=Italian F4|date=6 October 2022|access-date=7 January 2023}}
= Formula Regional =
== Formula Regional Middle East Championship ==
On 5 January 2023, it was announced that Koolen would be driving for VAR-Pinnacle Motorsport in the 2023 Formula Regional Middle East Championship.{{cite web|url=https://formulascout.com/var-and-pinnacle-motorsport-reveal-line-ups-for-frmec-and-f4-tie-up/102562|title=VAR and Pinnacle Motorsport reveal line-ups for FRMEC and F4 tie-up|website=Formula Scout|last=Wood|first=Ida|date=5 January 2023|access-date=7 January 2023}}
== Formula Regional European Championship ==
Following the 2022 season, Koolen partook in several Formula Regional European Championship tests, driving for Van Amersfoort Racing.{{cite web|url=https://feederseries.net/2022/12/26/freca-whos-going-where-in-2023-updated/|title=FRECA: Who's going where in 2023? (updated)|website=Feeder Series|last=Wolff|first=Perceval|date=26 December 2022|access-date=7 January 2023}} He would ultimately sign with the Dutch-based team to participate in the 2023 championship alongside Joshua Dufek and Kas Haverkort.{{Cite web|last=Wood|first=Ida|date=15 March 2023|title=Niels Koolen, Tom Lebbon and Enzo Scionti join FRegional Europe grid|url=https://formulascout.com/niels-koolen-tom-lebbon-and-enzo-scionti-join-fregional-europe-grid/104725|access-date=29 August 2024|website=Formula Scout|language=en-GB}} He struggled and was considerably behind his teammate throughout the whole campaign, and finished the standings 37th, with a best finish of 19th.{{Cite web|title=Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine 2023|url=https://www.driverdb.com/championships/formula-regional-european-championship/2023|access-date=29 August 2024|website=DriverDB|language=en}}
= Eurocup-3 =
Koolen would participate in two rounds of Eurocup-3 in 2023 at Jerez and Estoril, failing to score points in either round.{{Cite web|last=Wood|first=Ida|date=21 September 2023|title=GRS to run all-new Eurocup-3 line-up and Spanish F4 debutants at Jerez|url=https://formulascout.com/grs-to-run-all-new-eurocup-3-line-up-and-spanish-f4-debutants-at-jerez/111500|access-date=29 August 2024|website=Formula Scout|language=en-GB}}
= 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.{{Cite web|title=AIX Racing confirm Niels Koolen for Monza and Baku Rounds|date=29 August 2024|url=https://www.fiaformula2.com/Latest/DMCL5r0XVIlJzhcVyxv2Y/aix-racing-confirm-niels-koolen-for-monza-and-baku-rounds|access-date=29 August 2024|website=FIA_F2® - The Official F2® Website|language=en}} He got 19th in both the Monza sprint and feature race.{{Cite web |title=Motrosport.com |url=https://fr.motorsport.com/fia-f2/results/2024/monza-644196/?st=RACE1}} After the next weekend in Baku, AIX Racing confirmed that Koolen would not return for the final two weekends of the season.{{Cite web|title=Formula 2 adventure for 'slow' Koolen is over: AIX already say goodbye|date=15 September 2024|url=https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/301523/f2-niels-koolen-out-of-formula-2-aix-racing-say-goodbye.html|access-date=20 September 2024|website=gpblog.com|language=en}}
= Indy NXT =
== 2024 ==
In 2024, Koolen switched to Indy NXT with HMD Motorsports.{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |date=21 December 2023 |title=HMD Motorsports adds Niels Koolen to 2024 Indy Nxt line-up |url=https://formulascout.com/hmd-motorsports-adds-niels-koolen-to-2024-indy-nxt-line-up/114251 |access-date=29 August 2024 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-GB}} In the first race of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he finished 10th.{{Cite web |title=NTT INDYCAR SERIES Race Results {{!}} Official Site of INDYCAR |url=https://www.indycar.com/results/indy-nxt/2024/indianapolis-grand-prix-race-1 |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=IndyCar.com}} This was his best result of the season.
== 2025 ==
Chip Ganassi Racing signed Koolen for the 2025 Indy NXT season, marking his second season in the category.{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |date=30 October 2024 |title=Ganassi signs Browne and Koolen for its 2025 Indy Nxt return |url=https://formulascout.com/ganassi-signs-browne-and-koolen-for-its-2025-indy-nxt-return/125240 |access-date=31 October 2024 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-GB}}
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.
Racing record
=Karting career summary=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%; text-align:center"
!Season !Series !Team !Position |
| 2016
| align="left" | SKUSA SuperNationals XX — X30 Junior | align="left" | 2Wild Karting | 54th |
|---|
| 2017
| align="left" | SKUSA SuperNationals XXI — X30 Senior | align="left" | 2Wild Karting | 54th |
| 2018
| align="left" | IAME Euro Series — X30 Senior | align="left" | Evolution/Super B Batteries | 17th |
| rowspan="4" | 2019
| align="left" | IAME Series Benelux — X30 Senior | align="left" | | 33rd |
| align="left" | FIA Karting European Championship — OK
| rowspan="3" align="left" | Team Evolution | |
| align="left" | IAME Euro Series — X30 Senior
| 19th |
| align="left" | IAME Winter Cup — X30 Senior
| 16th |
| colspan="4" |Sources:{{Cite web |title=Niels Koolen {{!}} Racing career profile {{!}} Driver Database |url=https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/niels-koolen/ |access-date=7 January 2023|website=DriverDB}} |
=Racing career summary=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align:center"
!scope="col"| Season !scope="col"| Series !scope="col"| Team !scope="col"| Races !scope="col"| Wins !scope="col"| Poles !scope="col"| F/Laps !scope="col"| Podiums !scope="col"| Points !scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2022
|style="text-align:left;"| F4 Spanish Championship |style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| Monlau Motorsport | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC† |
|---|
| style="text-align:left;"| Italian F4 Championship
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43rd |
| scope="row" rowspan="3"| 2023
|style="text-align:left;"| Formula Regional Middle East Championship |style="text-align:left;"| Pinnacle VAR | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31st |
| style="text-align:left;"| Formula Regional European Championship
|style="text-align:left;"| Van Amersfoort Racing | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37th |
| style="text-align:left;"| Eurocup-3
|style="text-align:left;"| GRS Team | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25th |
| scope="row" rowspan="5"| 2024
|style="text-align:left;"| Indy NXT |style="text-align:left;"| HMD Motorsports | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 140 | 20th |
| style="text-align:left;"| European Le Mans Series - LMP2
|style="text-align:left;"| Duqueine Team | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 17th |
| style="text-align:left;"| Ultimate Cup Series - Proto P3
|style="text-align:left;"| Inter Europol Competition | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 25th |
| style="text-align:left;"| FIA Formula 2 Championship
|style="text-align:left;"| AIX Racing | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32nd |
| style="text-align:left;"| GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup
|style="text-align:left;"| Comtoyou Racing | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| scope="row"| 2025
|style="text-align:left;"| Indy NXT |style="text-align:left;"| Chip Ganassi Racing |9 |0 |0 |0 |0 |169* |9th* |
† As Koolen was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.
=Complete F4 Spanish Championship results=
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"
! 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
!nowrap| Monlau Motorsport | ALG | ALG | ALG |JER |JER |JER |CRT |CRT |CRT |SPA |SPA |SPA |ARA |ARA |ARA |style="background:#CFCFFF;" |NAV |style="background:#CFCFFF;" |NAV |style="background:#CFCFFF;" |NAV |CAT |CAT |CAT ! NC† ! 0 |
=Complete Italian F4 Championship results=
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"
!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
!nowrap| Monlau Motorsport | IMO | IMO | IMO | MIS | MIS | MIS | SPA | SPA | SPA | VLL | VLL | VLL | RBR | RBR | RBR |RBR |style="background:#CFCFFF"| MNZ |style="background:#CFCFFF"| MNZ |style="background:#FFFFFF"| MNZ |style="background:#EFCFFF"| MUG |style="background:#EFCFFF"| MUG |style="background:#CFCFFF"| MUG ! 43rd ! 0 |
=Complete Formula Regional Middle East Championship results=
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"
! Year ! Entrant ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! 15 ! DC ! Points |
| 2023
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DUB1 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DUB1 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DUB1 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| KUW1 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| KUW1 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| KUW1 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| KUW2 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| KUW2 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| KUW2 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DUB2 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DUB2 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DUB2 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| ABU |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| ABU |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| ABU ! 31st ! 0 |
= Complete Formula Regional European Championship results =
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"
! 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
!nowrap| Van Amersfoort Racing | style="background:#CFCFFF;" | IMO | style="background:#CFCFFF;" | IMO | style="background:#CFCFFF;" | CAT | style="background:#CFCFFF;" | CAT | style="background:#CFCFFF;" | HUN | style="background:#EFCFFF;" | HUN | style="background:#CFCFFF;" | SPA | style="background:#CFCFFF;" | SPA | style="background:#CFCFFF;" | MUG | style="background:#EFCFFF;" | MUG | style="background:#EFCFFF;" | LEC | style="background:#CFCFFF;" | LEC | style="background:#CFCFFF;" | RBR | style="background:#CFCFFF;" | RBR | style="background:#CFCFFF;" | MNZ | style="background:#CFCFFF;" | MNZ | style="background:#CFCFFF;" | ZAN | style="background:#CFCFFF;" | ZAN | HOC |
| HOC
2
! 37th
! 0
|}
= Complete Eurocup-3 results =
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"
!Year !Team !1 !2 !3 !4 !5 !6 !7 !8 !9 !10 !11 !12 !13 !14 !15 !16 !DC !Points |
| 2023
!nowrap|GRS Team |SPA |
|SPA
2
{{small|}}
|ARA
1
{{small|}}
|ARA
2
{{small|}}
|MNZ
1
{{small|}}
|MNZ
2
{{small|}}
|ZAN
1
{{small|}}
|ZAN
2
{{small|}}
|style="background:#CFCFFF"|JER
1
{{small|12}}
|style="background:#EFCFFF"|JER
2
{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#FFFFFF"|EST
1
{{small|WD}}
|style="background:#FFFFFF"|EST
2
{{small|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)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"
!scope="col"| Year !scope="col"| Entrant !scope="col"| 1 !scope="col"| 2 !scope="col"| 3 !scope="col"| 4 !scope="col"| 5 !scope="col"| 6 !scope="col"| 7 !scope="col"| 8 !scope="col"| 9 !scope="col"| 10 !scope="col"| 11 !scope="col"| 12 !scope="col"| 13 !scope="col"| 14 !scope="col"| 15 !scope="col"| 16 !scope="col"| 17 !scope="col"| 18 !scope="col"| 19 !scope="col"| 20 !scope="col"| 21 !scope="col"| 22 !scope="col"| 23 !scope="col"| 24 !scope="col"| 25 !scope="col"| 26 !scope="col"| 27 !scope="col"| 28 !scope="col"| DC !scope="col"| Points |
| scope="row"| {{F2|2024}}
! nowrap| AIX Racing | BHR | BHR | JED | JED | MEL | MEL | IMO | IMO | MON | MON | CAT | CAT | RBR | RBR | SIL | SIL | HUN | HUN | SPA | SPA |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MNZ |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MNZ |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| BAK |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BAK | LSL | LSL | YMC | YMC ! 32nd ! 0 |
= Complete European Le Mans Series results =
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"
!Year !Entrant !Class !Chassis !Engine !1 !2 !3 !4 !5 !6 !Rank !Points |
| 2024
!nowrap| Duqueine Team ! LMP2 !nowrap| Oreca 07 !nowrap| Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| CAT |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LEC |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| IMO | SPA |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MUG |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ALG ! 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)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"
! Year ! Team ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! Rank ! Points |
| 2024
! nowrap| HMD Motorsports | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| STP | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| BAR | style="background:#CFEAFF;"| IMS | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| IMS | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DET | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| RDA | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| LAG | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| LAG | MOH | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| IOW | GMP | POR | MIL | NSH ! style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 20th ! style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 140 |
| 2025
! nowrap| Chip Ganassi Racing | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| STP | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| BAR | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| IMS | style="background:#CFEAFF;"| IMS | style="background:#CFEAFF;"| DET | style="background:#CFEAFF;"| GMP | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| RDA | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MOH | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| IOW | LAG | LAG | POR | MIL | NSH ! style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 9th* ! style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 169* |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{DriverDB driver|niels-koolen}}
{{Indy NXT Series teams}}
{{Chip Ganassi Racing}}
{{AIX Racing}}
{{HMD Motorsports}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Koolen, Niels}}
Category:Chip Ganassi Racing drivers
Category:HMD Motorsports drivers
Category:Racing drivers from Gelderland
Category:Spanish F4 Championship drivers
Category:Italian F4 Championship drivers
Category:Formula Regional European Championship drivers
Category:Formula Regional Middle East Championship drivers
Category:Pinnacle Motorsport drivers
Category:Van Amersfoort Racing drivers
Category:European Le Mans Series drivers
Category:Duqueine Team drivers
Category:FIA Formula 2 Championship drivers
Category:Comtoyou Racing drivers