Nicklas Nielsen | |
---|---|
![]() Nielsen in 2023 | |
Nationality | ![]() |
Born | Hørning, Midtjylland, Denmark | 6 February 1997
FIA World Endurance Championship career | |
Debut season | 2019–20 |
Current team | Ferrari AF Corse |
Racing licence | ![]() |
Car number | 50 |
Wins | 7 |
Podiums | 15 |
Poles | 1 |
Fastest laps | 3 |
Best finish | 1st (LMGTE Am) in 2021 |
Championship titles | |
2021 2021 2019 2018 | GTWC Europe Endurance Cup FIA WEC - LMGTE Am ELMS - LMGTE Ferrari Challenge Europe |
Nicklas Ganshorn Nielsen[1] (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.[2][3]
Early career
[edit]Karting
[edit]Nielsen began karting when he was four years old, back in 2001. He competed in many international events and championships, winning ten major titles.[4]
Lower formula
[edit]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 three podiums and two fastest laps.
In 2017, Nielsen returned to the ADAC championship, this time with the US Racing team. Although he did win a race[5] and scored three 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
[edit]GT
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/2019_4_Hours_of_Silverstone_83_%2848664665611%29.jpg/220px-2019_4_Hours_of_Silverstone_83_%2848664665611%29.jpg)
At the end of 2017, not having the budget to continue in single-seater competitions, Nielsen was given a chance to race in the final round of the Ferrari Challenge Europe by gentleman driver and Formula Racing team owner Johnny Laursen, whose son Conrad Nielsen had coached in karting.[6] Nielsen took the opportunity and won both races at Mugello, leading to him contesting the Ferrari Challenge season in 2018. There, the Dane dominated, winning the title with Formula Racing after taking ten victories from 14 races, never finishing off the podium.[7] He also ended up taking home the Finali Mondiali trophy at Monza to conclude his season.[8]
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.[9][10] 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.[11] 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.[12]
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.[13] The trio dominated, winning early at Spa and then Monza, with Nielsen setting the fastest lap in both races.[14][15] They subsequently performed well at Le Mans, winning the race in their class and putting themselves into a controlling championship lead.[16][17] With another win at Bahrain, Nielsen and his teammates became champions, with the Dane and Perrodo defending their title.[18] 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.[19][20]
Prototypes
[edit]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.[21] 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.[22][23][24] 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.[25][26]
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.[27] 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.[28] At the end of the season, Nielsen committed to Ferrari by signing a contract extension.[29]
In 2024, Nielsen remained with Ferrari in the WEC.[30] 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.[31] 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.[32] 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.[33][34] 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.[35][36]
Racing record
[edit]Career summary
[edit]Complete ADAC Formula 4 Championship results
[edit](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
[edit]Complete Ferrari Challenge Europe results
[edit](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
[edit]Year | Class | Team | Car | Circuit | Pos. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Trofeo Pirelli Pro | ![]() |
Ferrari 488 Challenge | ![]() |
1st |
Complete European Le Mans Series results
[edit](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 9 |
SPA |
MUG |
ALG |
6th* | 29* |
Source:[37] |
Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results
[edit]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:[37][38] |
* Season still in progress.
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
[edit]Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Ferrari 488 GTE Evo | GTE Am |
339 | 26th | 3rd |
2021 | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Ferrari 488 GTE Evo | GTE Am |
340 | 25th | 1st |
2022 | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Oreca 07-Gibson | LMP2 | 361 | 24th | 19th |
2023 | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Ferrari 499P | Hypercar | 337 | 5th | 5th |
2024 | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Ferrari 499P | Hypercar | 311 | 1st | 1st |
Sources:[37][39] |
Complete GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup results
[edit](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
[edit](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 | [40] |
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 | [41] |
2023 | AF Corse | LMP2 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | DAY 3 |
SEB |
MON |
WGL 6 |
ELK |
IMS | PET |
29th | 250 | [42] | |||||
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* | [43] | |||||
Source:[37] |
References
[edit]- ^ "Nicklas Ganshorn Nielsen" (in Danish). Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Ferrari Celebrates "Unbelievable" Le Mans Victory". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ "Nielsen takes second straight Winter Cup title". motorsport.com. 21 February 2016. Archived from the original on 3 July 2008. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
- ^ "Nicklas Nielsen celebrates maiden victory". adac-motorsport.de. 29 April 2017. Archived from the original on 3 July 2008. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
- ^ "Nicklas Nielsen - Johnny Laursen, the beautiful story". Endurance Info. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ "Nielsen: "Victory in the Ferrari Challenge was key for my career"". www.ferrari.com. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ "Ferrari Challenge - Nicklas Nielsen and Fabienne Wohlwend 2018 Trofeo Pirelli champions". www.ferrari.com. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ Lloyd, Daniel (29 March 2019). "Ferrari Squad Luzich Racing Names Drivers for GTE Debut". sportscar365. John Dagys Mediadate. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
- ^ Goodwin, Graham (4 July 2019). "AF Corse Confirms 2019/20 GTE AM WEC Lineups". dailysportscar.com. Dailysportscar. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
- ^ "A New Great Dane! Introducing… Nicklas Nielsen". www.fiawec.com. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "2021 FIA WEC Am Entry Set To Welcome Five Ferrari Entries". Dailysportscar. 19 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ Lloyd, Daniel (2021-05-01). "Buemi, Hartley, Nakajima Win First Race of Hypercar Era at Spa – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
- ^ Lloyd, Daniel (2021-07-18). "No. 7 Toyota Crew Takes First Win of Season at Monza – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "GTE Wrap-Up: AF Corse Pulls Off The Double". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
- ^ Dagys, John (2021-11-06). "No. 8 Toyota Wins 8H Bahrain; Sister Car Takes World Title – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
- ^ Lloyd, Daniel (2021-08-01). "Pier Guidi Captures Dramatic 24H Spa Victory for Iron Lynx – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ "Iron Lynx Ferrari Squad Clinch Endurance Cup Drivers Title". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ Dagys, John (2021-10-30). "Nielsen, Rovera Confirmed in AF Corse LMP2 Effort – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
- ^ Klein, Jamie (18 March 2022). "WEC SEBRING 1000 MILES: ALPINE BEATS GLICKENHAUS TO POLE". motorsport.com. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ^ Dagys, John (2022-11-13). "Bahrain Post-Race Notebook – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
- ^ "#7 Toyota Wins 8H Bahrain As Titles Decided". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
- ^ "Prema Dominate At Barcelona". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
- ^ "Prema, Cool Racing & Racing Team Turkey Win Race & Championship Doubles, Iron Dames Crush The Field In GTE". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
- ^ Lloyd, Daniel (10 January 2023). "Giovinazzi Included in Ferrari Hypercar Driver Lineup". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "DSC's Daily Notebook (13/11/2023) | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Klein, Jamie (2024-04-21). "Toyota Beats Porsche in Thrilling Finish at Imola – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ "#12 JOTA Porsche Claims Historic Victory At Spa". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ Klein, Jamie (2024-06-15). "Nielsen Leads Opening Hour for Ferrari – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ Dagys, John (2024-06-16). "Ferrari Wins Highly Competitive, Rain-Soaked 24H Le Mans – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ "2024 Le Mans 24 Hours - Full Results". racingnews365.com. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
- ^ "Ferrari Celebrates "Unbelievable" Le Mans Victory". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ a b c d "Nicklas Nielsen Results". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ "Nicklas Nielsen". FIA World Endurance Championship. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ "Nicklas Nielsen". Automobile Club de l'Ouest. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ "Nicklas Nielsen - 2021 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ "Nicklas Nielsen - 2022 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ "Nicklas Nielsen - 2023 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ "Nicklas Nielsen - 2024 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
External links
[edit]- Nicklas Nielsen career summary at DriverDB.com