He made history by bringing the Ferrari #50 to the finish line of the 24h of Le Mans: let’s look at Nicklas Nielsen’s career, from the beginnings to today’s victory.
Nicklas Nielsen, a young Danish talent, has written an unforgettable chapter in the history of motorsport by winning the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans with Ferrari. His career, marked by rapid ascent and extraordinary performances, has seen him emerge as one of the leading drivers of the Ferrari Hypercar, alongside Antonio Fuoco and Miguel Molina since 2023.
Nicklas Nielsen’s career: the beginnings
Born on February 6, 1997, in Hørning, Denmark, Nicklas Nielsen showed a natural talent for racing from a very young age, in a country renowned in motorsport for the Magnussen family. His career began in the world of karting, where he achieved numerous successes at national and international levels. His aggressive yet precise driving style, combined with remarkable adaptability, allowed him to quickly move up through the ranks, enabling him from a young age to dream of a future in the world of motorsport.
The Rise in Lower Categories
After dominating in karting, Nielsen transitioned to single-seaters, competing in various Formula 4 and Formula 3 championships. Here, he further honed his skills, demonstrating not only speed but also exceptional consistency. Here, he further honed his skills, demonstrating not only speed but also exceptional consistency.
The victory at the 24 Hours of Spa
In 2018, due to budget constraints preventing further participation in single-seater racing, Nicklas Nielsen decided to compete in the Ferrari Challenge Europe. Here, he achieved 14 podium finishes, including 10 victories, in as many races, winning the championship in his first year. This success caught the attention of Luzich Racing, who offered him a spot to compete in the LMGTE class of the 2019 European Le Mans Series.
On board the Ferrari 488 GTE Evo, Nielsen, alongside Fabien Lavergne and Alessandro Pier Guidi, managed to win in their category. In 2021, with the Iron Lynx team’s Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 and alongside Alessandro Pier Guidi and Côme Ledogar, Nielsen conquered the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup and the prestigious 24 Hours of Spa.
The Adventure in the Ferrari Hypercar
In 2023, Nicklas Nielsen made a significant leap into the premier class of endurance racing, becoming an official driver for the Ferrari Hypercar. Together with teammates Antonio Fuoco and Miguel Molina, Nielsen tackled the challenge of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) with great determination. With the magnificent Ferrari 499P (HERE is the MODEL of the winning car), he achieved four podium finishes in the season, including a splendid second place at the 6 Hours of Monza 2023.
The victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2024
The pinnacle of Nicklas Nielsen’s career arrived today when he clinched victory at the legendary and grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans. Penalties upon penalties, misfortunes, unsafe releases, a broken door, investigations, rain, sunshine, then rain again repeatedly, and finally running out of fuel, counting every drop left.
This triumph was not just a personal success but also a historic achievement for Ferrari, marking their return to victory in the prestigious French race, just as they did last year, 58 years after their last win. Nielsen, along with Fuoco and Molina, demonstrated perfect synergy (despite the door issue), maintaining a consistent pace and managing the challenging race conditions flawlessly.
The victory was the result of impeccable teamwork, well-planned race strategies, and perfect management of the car despite the numerous issues encountered. Nielsen played a clearly fundamental role in this success, thanks to his ability to stay calm under pressure and push to the maximum when needed, while also managing with great difficulty the low fuel left in the final stint of the race, which he considered “the most challenging thing to do in these 24 hours”.
A victory that catapults him into the realm of legends: just like Alessandro Pier Guidi last year, it is Nicklas Nielsen who brought the Ferrari #50 to the finish line as the winner.
Photo: Ferrari Hypercar, Wikipedia, FIA WEC
