Race winner in the NTT Indycar Series
With Max Verstappen in Formula 1, Dutch motorsport is on a roll. Yet Verstappen is not Holland’s only international success, since Dutch talent Rinus VeeKay has become the youngest Dutchman in history to enter the NTT IndyCar Series. Finishing his debut season as Rookie of the Year and scoring pole position and a podium at the Harvest GP at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Rinus became the youngest race winner at Indianapolis in history.
Starting on the first row at the Indy 500 for two years in a row makes Rinus a star in the United States.
The KNAC National Autosport Federation (KNAF) recognised Van Kalmthout’s potential at young age in karting and selected him for its KNAF Talent First programme. This NOC*NSF approved programme supports young talented racers on their way to the top echelons in motorsport. The NOC*NSF elite status is issued for motorsport talent by an Olympic network, and only on recommendation of the KNAF
Unique talent
Rinus van Kalmthout, son of successful entrepreneur and BOSS GP driver Marijn van Kalmthout, began in karting in 2009 at the age of 8. Soon after Rinus’ first laps in a kart, coach Pierre Redeker spotted a unique talent in the young Van Kalmthout. Thanks to good guidance that talent quickly blossomed.
2017
Rinus van Kalmthout started in the Cooper Tires USF2000 series and it seemed like the type of track on which he had to race didn’t matter at all for the Dutch race driver. Be it a traditional road course, an oval, or a street circuit like Toronto, as the Pabst Racing driver has showed he is very likely to race to the podium. A runner-up position in the championship was a great result for the autosport rookie.
2018
For 2018 Van Kalmthout decided on a wise approach. Moving up from USF2000, but one step at a time. Driving for top-line Juncos Racing, VeeKay has proven his abilities in the Indy Pro 2000 by winning the championship.
2019
Moving up a step on the Road to Indy program each year brought VeeKay to the Indy Lights. And again he proved himself to be an outstanding race driver, scoring 7 pole positions, 6 victories and 14 podiums. VeeKay became vice-champion Indy Lights and drove most laps in the lead (250 out of 600).
2020
VeeKay's first year of NTT IndyCar Series competition has been full of milestones. In only his second race, the IndyCar Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, he earned his first top-five finish. By starting fourth in the Indianapolis 500, he recorded the best qualifying result by a teenager in Indianapolis 500 history. The only Chevrolet-powered driver in the Fast Nine Shootout was also the fastest rookie in the field. The following week, he recorded his highest oval finish of the year at WWT Raceway with a fourth place.
When VeeKay returned to the IMS road course for the Indycar Harvest GP, he won his first NTT IndyCar Series pole position, led the first laps of his Indy car career and earned his first podium finish. The title Rookie of the year made his debut the succes he aimed for in his first year.
2021
In his second year in of NTT IndyCar Series competition VeeKay continued to impress. In May he became the youngest Indianapolis Grand Prix winner in history. Days later he set another record being the youngest-ever front-row starter (3rd) of the Indy 500.
2nd at Detroit Grand Prix was another highlight in 2021.
2022
VeeKay's second IndyCar pole position at Barber Motorsports Park resulted in a 3rd of the race. And again he qualified front-row (3rd) at the 106th running of the Indy 500.
2023
Fourth in 2020, third in 2021 and 2022. VeeKay has a habit of being fast in qualifying for the Indianapolis 500. In the 107th running he scored a phenomenal second starting position, only 0.004 of a second from pole position.
Career highlights
2009-2010 Dutch Winter champion Cadet class
2010 Runner-up in Dutch Cadet championship
2011 Dutch and Benelux World Formula champion
2012 Dutch Rotax Max Minimax champion
2013 Dutch Rotax Max Junior rookie champion
2013 Dutch Rotax Max Junior overall champion
2014 3rd in CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy
2014 KNAF Talent First selection, supported by NOC*NSF
2015 3rd in BNL Karting Series Senior
2015 Runner-up in European Rotax Max Euro Challenge Senior championship
2015 Runner-up in Rotax US Open Senior championship
2015 Winner of single-seater test in Mazda Road to Indy (USA)
2016 3rd in IAME X30 Euro Series
2016 4th in European Rotax Max Euro Challenge Senior championship
2016 3rd in BNL Karting Series Senior
2016 4 podium finishes out of 6 races in VDV Racing Series Formule Renault with MP Motorsport
2017
- Runner-up in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda in his rookie season, after a hard title battle with Oliver Askew
- Claimed three victories, three new track records and a total of 12 podium finishes out of 14 races
- The only USF2000 driver in history that never finished a race lower than he qualified!
- Runner-up in the BOSS GP FIA International Racing Series Open Class. 5 podium finishes out of 6 races and a victory in the final BOSS GP Super Prix at Imola (Italy).
2018
- 3rd in MRF Challenge with 3 victories and 11 podiums
- Indy Pro 2000 Champion with a marge of 67 points to the runner-up and 109 to number 3
- 6 pole positions, 7 wins and 4 track records
2019
- Champion Formula 3 Asian Winter Series
4 victories out of 9 races, only missed podium once
- Indy Lights Championship with Juncos Racing
7 pole positions, 6 Victories and 14 podiums
- Vice-champion Indy Lights Presented By Cooper Tires
Most laps in the lead (250 out of 600)
2020
- Making Full-season debut in the NTT IndyCar Series as the youngest Dutchman in history with Ed Carpenter Racing.
- Winner of the Diary Ass’n Indiana Fastest Rookie Award and became the fastest teenager in Indianapolis 500 history.
- Pole Position and podium finish at Harvest GP Indianapolis.
- Winner of the 2020 NTT IndyCar Series Rookie Championship.
2021
- Youngest race winner of the GMR Indy GrandPrix in history
- Qualifying 3rd at the 105th Indy 500
- 2nd at Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, race 1
2022
- 3rd at the Indy GP of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park
- Qualifying 3rd at the 106th Indy 500
- Finished 12th in championship
2023
- Qualifying 2nd at the 107th Indy 500
- Finished 10th at the 107th Indy 500
