Doohan to Make Sports Car Debut With Nielsen

Former Formula 1 driver Jack Doohan will make his sports car racing debut this season after signing with Nielsen Racing to contest the European Le Mans Series.

The 23-year-old Australian began the 2025 F1 campaign with Alpine but was dropped after just six rounds following a spate of incidents.

The 2021 FIA F3 runner-up has subsequently been named as the Haas squad’s reserve driver for this year, but will also combine that role with a first foray into endurance competition.

He had also been linked with a move to the Japanese Super Formula category for this year, however that fell through after a tricky rookie test outing.

Doohan will instead pilot Nielsen’s No. 24 ORECA 07 Gibson LMP2 machine alongside the already-announced Roy Nissany – who has also previously held test driver roles with F1 outfits and made his own ELMS debut last season with the Duqueine team – and fellow single-seater convert Edward Pearson as part of an all-new lineup for Nielsen in the ELMS.

“I’m very excited to be back racing – it’s almost going to be 12 months since my last race,” said Doohan. “Amazing to do it with Nielsen Racing and to make this transition into sports cars.

“There’s a lot to learn and it’s extremely important to get some seat time, but we will get acclimatized quickly having a great team around me to do so and I can’t wait to get started.”

Doohan admitted he has completed very little mileage in the ORECA so far, but said the initial “feeling has been strong” despite the many differences to the single-seaters he is used to.

“Obviously the first thing was a roof over my head and some obstructions in view but nevertheless it’s a nice variation in the driving style, obviously multiple stints meaning more than one driver and a bigger picture taken to play for,” he added.

“All in all it will help and be a massive experience gain for wherever my career goes past here.”

Doohan’s confirmation means there are just a handful of LMP2 seats yet to be formally filled before the ELMS season is due to begin in Barcelona on April 12.