Jack Doohan confirms first race since F1 exit

Jack Doohan will race in the 2026 European Le Mans Series with Nielsen Racing, marking his return to competition after losing his Formula 1 reserve driver role. The Australian, long considered a top F1 prospect, will drive an LMP2 Oreca 07 alongside Roy Nissany and Ed Pearson, pivoting to endurance racing after a planned move to Japan's Super Formula fell through.

Why it matters:

Doohan's move highlights the challenging career crossroads faced by drivers on the F1 periphery. Once a leading contender for a full-time seat, his shift to sportscars represents a significant detour from the single-seater ladder, underscoring how difficult it is to secure and maintain a position in Formula 1 without a guaranteed race seat.

The details:

• Doohan will join the LMP2 category with Nielsen Racing, partnering with ex-Formula 2 driver Roy Nissany and Ed Pearson in the #24 Oreca 07.
• His participation was hinted at after a test with the team at Paul Ricard earlier this year.
• The deal follows the collapse of a expected move to Japan’s premier single-seater series, Super Formula, with Kondo Racing.
• Toyota's global motorsport director, Masaya Kaji, clarified that three crashes during Super Formula pre-season testing were not the reason the deal fell apart.
  • Kaji stated the team was prepared to support Doohan despite the incidents at the Degner corners.
• Instead, Kaji suggested Doohan’s ultimate priority remained F1, and budgets alongside other factors led to the mutual decision not to proceed.
• Doohan expressed enthusiasm for the new challenge, citing the "fantastic car" and the strong mix of experience within his driver lineup.

What's next:

Doohan's primary focus is now on the European Le Mans Series, which begins with the 4 Hours of Barcelona on April 12. While his immediate path has shifted, the door isn't completely closed on a future in top-level single-seaters; Kaji noted a potential for future collaboration with Toyota. For now, Doohan aims to get up to speed quickly in the LMP2 car and fight for results in a highly competitive endurance racing championship.