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Nicklas Nielsen (born 6 February 1997) is a Danish racing driver who competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship for Ferrari AF Corse, driving a Ferrari 499P in the Hypercar class. He won the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans together with Antonio Fuoco and Miguel Molina, becoming the third Dane to win the contest.[1][2]

Early career

Karting

Nielsen began karting when he was 4 years old back in 2001. He competed in many international events and championships, winning ten major titles.[3]

Lower formula

In 2016, Nielsen made his single-seater debut in the ADAC Formula 4 Championship in Germany, finishing 8th and winning the Rookie's championship while racing for the Austrian Neuhauser Racing team, scoring 3 podiums and 2 fastest laps.

In 2017, Nielsen returned to the ADAC championship, this time with the US Racing team. Although he did win a race[4] and scored 3 podiums, a team disqualification at the Lausitzring event and a major accident induced by a competitor which caused irreparable damage to his car for the rest of the event at the Nürburgring deprived him of a proper chance to fight for the title.[according to whom?]

Sportscar career

GT

Nielsen at the 2019 4 Hours of Silverstone

In 2018, not having the budget to continue single-seater racing, Nielsen participated in the Ferrari Challenge in Europe where he took ten wins in 14 races, winning the title with Formula Racing.

In 2019, Nielsen stepped into the LMGTE category, driving for Luzich Racing in the European Le Mans Series and partaking in the 2019–20 FIA World Endurance Championship campaign at AF Corse.[5][6] In the former championship, the Dane would help Ferrari factory driver Alessandro Pier Guidi and amateur Fabien Lavergne to win four races, which allowed the trio to clinch the title with a race to spare. He was awarded the accolade of ELMS Rookie of the Year as a result.[7] During the WEC campaign, one that Nielsen contested alongside François Perrodo and Emmanuel Collard, he finished third in class at the Le Mans 24 Hours, on his way to win the title with two victories and five podiums to their name.[8]

Having been promoted to FIA Gold ranking ahead of 2021, Nielsen returned to the WEC's LMGTE Am class with AF Corse, partnering youngster Alessio Rovera and gentleman driver Perrodo.[9] The trio dominated, winning early at Spa and then Monza, with Nielsen setting the fastest lap in both races.[10][11] They subsequently performed well at Le Mans, winning the race in their class and putting themselves into a controlling championship lead.[12][13] With another win at Bahrain, Nielsen and his teammates became champions, with the Dane and Perrodo defending their title.[14] The same season also saw Nielsen triumph at the 24 Hours of Spa, in a performance which helped him, Alessandro Pier Guidi, and Côme Ledogar to take home the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup championship.[15][16]

Prototypes

For the 2022 season, Nielsen moved into prototype racing, competing in the LMP2 category of the WEC and ELMS respectively, remaining with AF Corse, Rovera, and Perrodo in the series's Pro-Am subclasses.[17] Their campaign in the WEC proved to be successful, as four subclass wins, as well as a pole at Sebring scored by Nielsen, earned them the Pro-Am title.[18][19][20] In the ELMS meanwhile, the Dane and his teammates lost out on the title to Racing Team Turkey, winning just one race in their class at Barcelona.[21][22]

Nielsen was one of the six drivers chosen to debut for Ferrari in the burgeoning Hypercar category in 2023, driving its 499P #50 entry alongside Antonio Fuoco and Miguel Molina in the WEC.[23] Though the team showed bursts of pace, as proven by Fuoco's two poles, they ended up third in the championship behind both Toyota entries, having scored podiums in four events. Nielsen, Fuoco, and Molina managed to beat their sister car in the standings, despite the latter winning the Centenary Le Mans, a race in which the #50's hopes of victory were dashed due to a radiator leak during the night.[24] At the end of the season, Nielsen committed to Ferrari by signing a contract extension.[25]

In 2024, Nielsen remained with Ferrari in the WEC.[26] The season began with points finishes in Qatar and Imola, though the team missed out on the win in the latter due to a strategic error in changing weather conditions.[27] The podium came at Spa, where the #50 crew completed a comeback from being disqualified in qualifying to finish third in a red flag-interrupted event.[28] Nielsen's highlight performance came at Le Mans: having already taken the lead once during the opening lap, Nielsen re-entered the car for the final stints on Sunday.[29][30] A pit stop to fix the right-front door, which would not close, put the #50 entry onto an alternate strategy relative to its competitors, with Nielsen being tasked to save fuel to remain in the lead once his rivals had pitted. Having managed his car's so-called virtual energy tank during the final thirty minutes, Nielsen crossed the line in first place, earning him, Fuoco, and Molina their first ever overall victories at the Sarthe, as well as defending Ferrari's Le Mans crown from the previous year.[31][32]

Racing record

Career summary

Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2016 ADAC Formula 4 Championship Neuhauser Racing 24 0 0 2 3 106 8th
Audi Sport TT Cup — 14 1 1 1 7 238 3rd
2017 ADAC Formula 4 Championship US Racing 19 1 1 1 4 128 6th
Ferrari Challenge Europe – Trofeo Pirelli (Pro) Formula Racing 2 2 2 1 2 34 8th
2018 Ferrari Challenge Europe – Trofeo Pirelli (Pro) Formula Racing 14 10 8 10 14 282 1st
FIA GT Nations Cup Team Denmark 3 0 0 0 1 N/A 3rd
International GT Open Luzich Racing 2 0 0 0 0 6 31st
2019 European Le Mans Series - LMGTE Luzich Racing 6 4 0 2 5 127 1st
2019–20 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Am AF Corse 8 2 0 0 5 167 1st
2020 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Am AF Corse 1 0 0 0 1 N/A 3rd
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup 3 0 0 0 0 46 6th
Intercontinental GT Challenge 1 0 0 0 0 12 15th
European Le Mans Series - LMGTE Iron Lynx 1 0 0 0 0 10 16th
Le Mans Cup - GT3 1 0 0 1 1 15 12th
2021 Asian Le Mans Series - GT Formula Racing 4 0 0 0 1 23.5 9th
FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Am AF Corse 6 4 0 3 4 150 1st
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Am 1 1 0 0 1 N/A 1st
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD 2 0 1 0 0 246 55th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Iron Lynx 5 1 0 0 1 83 1st
Intercontinental GT Challenge Iron Lynx Motorsport Lab 1 1 0 0 1 37 6th
AF Corse - Francorchamps Motors 2 0 1 1 0
2022 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP2 AF Corse 6 0 1 0 0 12 18th
European Le Mans Series - LMP2 6 0 1 0 0 25 12th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD 1 0 0 0 0 294 53rd
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 19th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Iron Lynx 5 0 0 0 1 37 10th
Intercontinental GT Challenge Iron Lynx 1 0 0 0 0 26 10th
AF Corse - Francorchamps 1 0 0 0 1
2023 Asian Le Mans Series - GT Formula Racing 3 0 0 0 0 4 17th
European Le Mans Series - GTE 5 0 0 0 1 24 12th
FIA World Endurance Championship - Hypercar Ferrari AF Corse 7 0 0 0 4 120 3rd
24 Hours of Le Mans - Hypercar 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 5th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup AF Corse 5 1 1 0 1 36 8th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - LMP2 2 0 0 0 1 250 29th
2024 FIA World Endurance Championship - Hypercar Ferrari AF Corse 4 1 0 0 2 90* 3rd*
24 Hours of Le Mans - Hypercar 1 1 0 0 1 N/A 1st
IMSA SportsCar Championship - LMP2 Richard Mille AF Corse 2 0 0 0 0 414* 13th*
European Le Mans Series - LMGT3 Formula Racing 2 1 0 0 1 27* 4th*

Complete ADAC Formula 4 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 23 24 Pos Points
2016 Neuhauser Racing OSC1
1
10 		OSC1
2
9 		OSC1
3
8 		SAC
1
7 		SAC
2
5 		SAC
3
3 		LAU
1
Ret 		LAU
2
15 		LAU
3
17 		OSC2
1
Ret 		OSC2
2
15 		OSC2
3
25 		RBR
1
5 		RBR
2
3 		RBR
3
4 		NÜR
1
4 		NÜR
2
3 		NÜR
3
17 		ZAN
1
16 		ZAN
2
11 		ZAN
3
15 		HOC
1
16 		HOC
2
27 		HOC
3
8 		8th 106
2017 US Racing OSC1
1
2 		OSC1
2
1 		OSC1
3
9 		LAU
1
DSQ 		LAU
2
DSQ 		LAU
3
DSQ 		RBR
1
3 		RBR
2
8 		RBR
3
2 		OSC2
1
15 		OSC2
2
5 		OSC2
3
12 		NÜR
1
Ret 		NÜR
2
DNS 		NÜR
3
DNS 		SAC
1
4 		SAC
2
4 		SAC
3
9 		HOC
1
5 		HOC
2
Ret 		HOC
3
Ret 		6th 128

Complete Ferrari Challenge results

Complete Ferrari Challenge Europe results

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

Year Team Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Rank Points
2018 Formula Racing Pro MUG
1
1 		MUG
2
1 		SIL
1
2 		SIL
2
1 		SPA
1
3 		SPA
2
1 		MIS
1
1 		MIS
2
2 		BRN
1
1 		BRN
2
1 		BAR
1
1 		BAR
2
1 		MNZ
1
1 		MNZ
2
2 		1st 282

Ferrari Challenge Finali Mondiali results

Year Class Team Car Circuit Pos.
2018 Trofeo Pirelli Pro Denmark Formula Racing Ferrari 488 Challenge Italy Autodromo Nazionale di Monza 1st

Complete European Le Mans Series results

(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
2019 Luzich Racing LMGTE Ferrari 488 GTE Ferrari F154CB LEC
1 		MNZ
3 		1st 127
Ferrari 488 GTE Evo CAT
1 		SIL
4 		SPA
1 		ALG
1
2020 Iron Lynx LMGTE Ferrari 488 GTE Evo Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 LEC SPA LEC
5 		MNZ ALG 16th 10
2022 AF Corse LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 LEC
8 		IMO
14 		MNZ
12 		CAT
5 		SPA
7 		ALG
8 		12th 25
Pro-Am Cup 2 5 4 1 2 2 3rd 101
2023 Formula Racing LMGTE Ferrari 488 GTE Evo Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 CAT LEC
8 		ARA
Ret 		SPA
2 		PRT
12 		ALG
9 		12th 24
2024 Formula Racing LMGT3 Ferrari 296 GT3 Ferrari F163 3.0 L Turbo V6 CAT
1 		LEC
9 		IMO SPA MUG ALG 4th* 27*
Source:[33]

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

Year Entrant Class Car Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Rank Points
2019-20 AF Corse LMGTE Am Ferrari 488 GTE Evo Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 SIL
1 		FUJ
2 		SHA
4 		BHR
4 		COA
4 		SPA
1 		LMS
3 		BHR
2 		1st 167
2021 AF Corse LMGTE Am Ferrari 488 GTE Evo Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 SPA
1 		POR
11 		MON
1 		LMS
1 		BHR
5 		BHR
1 		1st 150
2022 AF Corse LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 SEB
9 		SPA
9 		LMS
11 		MNZ
9 		FUJ
10 		BHR
10 		18th 12
Pro-Am Cup 1 1 2 3 1 1 1st 177
2023 Ferrari AF Corse Hypercar Ferrari 499P Ferrari 3.0 L Turbo V6 SEB
3 		ALG
2 		SPA
Ret 		LMS
4 		MNZ
2 		FUJ
4 		BHR
3 		3rd 120
2024 Ferrari AF Corse Hypercar Ferrari 499P Ferrari 3.0 L Turbo V6 QAT
6 		IMO
4 		SPA
3 		LMS
1 		SÃO
 COA
 FUJ
 BHR
 4th* 90*
Sources:[33][34]

* Season still in progress.

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2020 Italy AF Corse France François Perrodo
France Emmanuel Collard 		Ferrari 488 GTE Evo GTE
Am 		339 26th 3rd
2021 Italy AF Corse France François Perrodo
Italy Alessio Rovera 		Ferrari 488 GTE Evo GTE
Am 		340 25th 1st
2022 Italy AF Corse France François Perrodo
Italy Alessio Rovera 		Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 361 24th 19th
2023 Italy Ferrari AF Corse Italy Antonio Fuoco
Spain Miguel Molina 		Ferrari 499P Hypercar 337 5th 5th
2024 Italy Ferrari AF Corse Italy Antonio Fuoco
Spain Miguel Molina 		Ferrari 499P Hypercar 311 1st 1st
Sources:[33][35]

Complete GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup results

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

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pos. Points
2020 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3 Pro IMO
7 		NÜR
Ret 		SPA
6H
4 		SPA
12H
1 		SPA
24H
5 		LEC 6th 46
2021 Iron Lynx Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 Pro MNZ
5 		LEC
5 		SPA
6H
1 		SPA
12H
1 		SPA
24H
1 		NÜR
7 		CAT
7 		1st 83
2022 Iron Lynx Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 Pro IMO
7 		LEC
2 		SPA
6H
5 		SPA
12H
11 		SPA
24H
9 		HOC
43† 		CAT
20 		10th 37
2023 AF Corse - Francorchamps Motors Ferrari 296 GT3 Pro MNZ
8 		LEC
7 		SPA
6H
29 		SPA
12H
25 		SPA
24H
44† 		NÜR
22 		CAT
1 		8th 36

Complete WeatherTech SportsCar Championship results

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

Year Team Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos. Points Ref
2021 AF Corse GTD Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 DAY
8 		SEB MDO DET WGL WGL LIM
 ELK LGA LBH VIR PET 55th 246 [36]
2022 AF Corse GTD Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 Ferrari F154CB 3.9 L Turbo V8 DAY
4 		SEB
 LBH
 LGA
 MDO
 DET
 WGL
 MOS
 LIM
 ELK
 VIR
 PET
 53rd 294 [37]
2023 AF Corse LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 DAY
3 		SEB
 MON
 WGL
6 		ELK
 IMS PET
 29th 250 [38]
2024 Richard Mille AF Corse LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 DAY
12 		SEB
13 		WGL MOS ELK IMS ATL 13th* 414* [39]
Source:[33]

References

  1. ^ "Ferrari overcomes late drama to hang on for second consecutive 24 Hours of Le Mans victory". AP News. 2024-06-16. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  2. ^ "Ferrari Celebrates "Unbelievable" Le Mans Victory". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  3. ^ "Nielsen takes second straight Winter Cup title". motorsport.com. 21 February 2016. Archived from the original on 3 July 2008. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  4. ^ "Nicklas Nielsen celebrates maiden victory". adac-motorsport.de. 29 April 2017. Archived from the original on 3 July 2008. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  5. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (29 March 2019). "Ferrari Squad Luzich Racing Names Drivers for GTE Debut". sportscar365. John Dagys Mediadate. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  6. ^ Goodwin, Graham (4 July 2019). "AF Corse Confirms 2019/20 GTE AM WEC Lineups". dailysportscar.com. Dailysportscar. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  7. ^ "A New Great Dane! Introducing… Nicklas Nielsen". www.fiawec.com. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  8. ^ "Bahrain WEC: Conway, Kobayashi and Lopez win to clinch final LMP1 title". autosport.com. 14 November 2020. Archived from the original on 3 July 2008. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  9. ^ "2021 FIA WEC Am Entry Set To Welcome Five Ferrari Entries". Dailysportscar. 19 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  10. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (2021-05-01). "Buemi, Hartley, Nakajima Win First Race of Hypercar Era at Spa – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  11. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (2021-07-18). "No. 7 Toyota Crew Takes First Win of Season at Monza – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  12. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (22 August 2021). "No. 51 Ferrari Wins Pro; AF Corse Claims Both GTE Classes". SportsCar365. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  13. ^ "GTE Wrap-Up: AF Corse Pulls Off The Double". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  14. ^ Dagys, John (2021-11-06). "No. 8 Toyota Wins 8H Bahrain; Sister Car Takes World Title – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  15. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (2021-08-01). "Pier Guidi Captures Dramatic 24H Spa Victory for Iron Lynx – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  16. ^ "Iron Lynx Ferrari Squad Clinch Endurance Cup Drivers Title". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  17. ^ Dagys, John (2021-10-30). "Nielsen, Rovera Confirmed in AF Corse LMP2 Effort – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  18. ^ Klein, Jamie (18 March 2022). "WEC SEBRING 1000 MILES: ALPINE BEATS GLICKENHAUS TO POLE". motorsport.com. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  19. ^ Dagys, John (2022-11-13). "Bahrain Post-Race Notebook – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  20. ^ "#7 Toyota Wins 8H Bahrain As Titles Decided". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  21. ^ "Prema Dominate At Barcelona". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
  22. ^ "Prema, Cool Racing & Racing Team Turkey Win Race & Championship Doubles, Iron Dames Crush The Field In GTE". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
  23. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (10 January 2023). "Giovinazzi Included in Ferrari Hypercar Driver Lineup". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  24. ^ Smith, Fred (10 June 2023). "100th Anniversary 24 Hours of Le Mans Live Blog". Road & Track. Archived from the original on 19 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  25. ^ "DSC's Daily Notebook (13/11/2023) | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  26. ^ Euwema, Davey (10 January 2024). "Ferrari Sets Unchanged Hypercar Lineup for Second Season". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  27. ^ Klein, Jamie (2024-04-21). "Toyota Beats Porsche in Thrilling Finish at Imola – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  28. ^ "#12 JOTA Porsche Claims Historic Victory At Spa". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  29. ^ Klein, Jamie (2024-06-15). "Nielsen Leads Opening Hour for Ferrari – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  30. ^ Dagys, John (2024-06-16). "Ferrari Wins Highly Competitive, Rain-Soaked 24H Le Mans – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  31. ^ "2024 Le Mans 24 Hours - Full Results". racingnews365.com. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  32. ^ "Ferrari Celebrates "Unbelievable" Le Mans Victory". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  33. ^ a b c d "Nicklas Nielsen Results". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  34. ^ "Nicklas Nielsen". FIA World Endurance Championship. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  35. ^ "Nicklas Nielsen". Automobile Club de l'Ouest. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  36. ^ "Nicklas Nielsen - 2021 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  37. ^ "Nicklas Nielsen - 2022 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  38. ^ "Nicklas Nielsen - 2023 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  39. ^ "Nicklas Nielsen - 2024 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 13 March 2024.

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Preceded by FIA Endurance Trophy for LMGTE Am Drivers
2019-20
With: Emmanuel Collard & François Perrodo 		Succeeded by
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