Jack Doohan to make European Le Mans Series debut with Nielsen Racing. After a short and disappointing F1 stint, Jack Doohan is set to return to racing with Nielsen Racing.

A new chapter is about to begin in the career of 23-year-old Australian Jack Doohan, son of five-time MotoGP world champion Michael Doohan. The former Alpine F1 driver will return to competitive racing following a brief and disappointing stint in Formula 1, which began at the last event of the 2024 world championship and continued for just six more Grands Prix the following season before he was replaced by Franco Colapinto. After taking on the role of third driver at Haas earlier this year, Doohan has reached an agreement with Nielsen Racing to compete in the 2026 European Le Mans Series in the LMP2 class.

From single-seaters to endurance racing

Doohan’s move marks his first experience in Endurance racing. He will share the #24 ORECA 07 Gibson with Roy Nissany and Edward Pearson, forming a completely renewed line-up that includes two other drivers coming from single-seater backgrounds. The Australian is excited about this fresh start: “I’m really thrilled to be back racing: it’s been almost 12 months since my last race,” Doohan said. “It’s fantastic to be doing this with Nielsen Racing and to transition to sports cars. There’s a lot to learn and gaining experience behind the wheel is fundamental, but we will adapt quickly thanks to the excellent team supporting me, and I can’t wait to get started.”

A fresh start after F1 disappointment

For Jack Doohan, this is a major opportunity following a failed attempt in Super Formula, where he was unable to compete in the Japanese championship due to negative test results. “With Roy Nissany and Ed Pearson, we have a great mix of experience and determination, and I can’t wait to build a strong rapport and aim for significant results,” he added. “The ORECA 07 is a fantastic car and represents a completely different challenge, and I am eager to start racing in the European Le Mans Series.”

Ready for the debut

The season opener is scheduled for April 12 at the 4 Hours of Barcelona, marking Jack Doohan’s first official race in Endurance racing. This new opportunity offers him the chance to gain valuable experience, learn the nuances of multi-class racing, and adapt to the unique challenges of long-distance events, far removed from the sprint-focused world of Formula 1.