Niels Koolen hasn’t enjoyed much success in Europe this year, with a failed stint in Formula 2 and a mixed bag of results in Indy NXT.
His best result in the North American series came during his third race at Indianapolis, but he failed to crack the top 10 once after that.
He ended up 20th in the drivers’ standings – albeit he did miss five races after moving back to Europe to focus on other categories.
Now he has landed back in Indy NXT, and has signed a deal to race with the established Chip Ganassi Racing outfit for 2025 – so can he start to churn out some good results?
Tom Coronel backs ‘very good’ Niels Koolen for success
Koolen even dabbled in Formula 3 after his Formula 2 gig with AIX Racing but was still way off the pace at a post-season test in Jerez.
At the age of 23, he has plenty of racing left ahead of him, but he needs to find a way to extract more pace from the machinery that he is operating.
Speaking on the RacingNews365 podcast, experienced racing driver Tom Coronel insisted that he has some positive moments, and believes in his future.
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“I have also driven with Niels myself, there are moments when I really think OK, it’s very good and there are also moments when I think why does it happen? It doesn’t work out.
“America is an OK path that you can walk because there in a way, you can develop a little more in the shelter.”
Who is Koolen competing against in Indy NXT?
Comparing the grid to last season, it looks as if the 2025 Indy NXT grid may be a little bit tougher and slightly more competitive.
Formula 2 star and ex-Red Bull-backed driver Dennis Hauger is coming across from Europe to compete with Andretti.
Another ex-Formula 2 racer Josh Mason returns for another season at Abel Motorsports, whom he raced for twice in 2024.
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The last of the notable newcomers is Formula 3’s Sophia Florsch, who has proven that she has plenty of speed through the years, driving for HMD Motorsports.
That’s without mentioning the previously Formula 1-bound Caio Collet and a whole host of other drivers – so Koolen will have plenty on his plate to watch out for in 2025.