Son of rally raid driver and Dutch businessman Kees Koolen, Niels Koolen began karting later than most, at age 14, but has gained a multitude of experience racing in Formula Regional European and Middle Eastern championships, as well as some races in Spanish and Italian Formula 4 Championships.
Making his U.S. open-wheel racing debut with HMD Motorsports, Koolen joins a back-to-back championship winning team with plans of working his way into the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
Koolen is managed by A-14 Management, a driver development academy founded by Fernando Alonso, a two-time Formula One World Champion, two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and winner of the Rolex 24 At Daytona.