Rinus VeeKay
Dutch racing driver (born 2000)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rinus van Kalmthout (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈrinʏs fɑŋ ˈkɑl(ə)mtɦʌut]; born 11 September 2000), known professionally as Rinus VeeKay, is a Dutch racing driver who is set to drive in the IndyCar Series for Juncos Hollinger Racing. He previously drove for Ed Carpenter Racing from 2020 to 2024, and Dale Coyne Racing in 2025.
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Dutch11 September 2000
FIA Gold| Rinus VeeKay | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VeeKay at the 2021 Indianapolis 500 | |||||||
| Nationality | Dutch | ||||||
| Born | Rinus van Kalmthout 11 September 2000 Hoofddorp, Netherlands | ||||||
| Racing licence | FIA Gold | ||||||
| IndyCar Series career | |||||||
| 80 races run over 6 years | |||||||
| Team | No. 76 (Juncos Hollinger Racing) | ||||||
| Best finish | 12th (2021, 2022) | ||||||
| First race | 2020 Genesys 300 (Texas) | ||||||
| Last race | 2026 Java House Grand Prix of Arlington (Arlington) | ||||||
| First win | 2021 GMR Grand Prix (Indianapolis) | ||||||
| |||||||
| Previous series | |||||||
| 2019 2019 2018 2017 2016–2017 2016 2009–2016 | Indy Lights F3 Asian Winter Series Pro Mazda Championship USF2000 MRF Challenge Formula 2000 V de V Challenge Monoplace Karting | ||||||
| Championship titles | |||||||
| 2019 2018 | F3 Asian Winter Series Pro Mazda Championship | ||||||
| Awards | |||||||
| 2014 2020 | KNAF Talent First IndyCar Rookie of the Year | ||||||
Career
Karting
Van Kalmthout started karting in 2009. The eight-year-old won races in the 4-stroke cadet championship with a DR chassis. He finished second in the championship.[1] During the 2009–2010 winter season, van Kalmthout won the 4-stroke cadet series. The following season, he graduated into the Briggs & Stratton World Formula 4-stroke class, winning the Dutch and Benelux championships.[2][3] He also focused on the Rotax Max Minimax class, winning the Dutch championship in 2012 and Junior championship in 2013.[4][5] Throughout 2014 and 2015, van Kalmthout raced in various Rotax Max racing series. He finished second in the Rotax Max Euro Challenge Senior class, behind Australian driver Pierce Lehane.[6]
Junior open-wheel formulae
Introduced as Rinus VeeKay, van Kalmthout signed with Pabst Racing to race in the American-based USF2000. VeeKay tested the Tatuus USF-17 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He ran constant top-ten times for the new driver, new team entry.[7] To further prepare for the 2017 season, VeeKay raced in the final two rounds of the French V de V Challenge Monoplace. In an MP Motorsport entered 2013 Tatuus Formula Renault 2.0 car VeeKay scored five podium finishes in six races.[8] He also competed in the Indian and Middle East based MRF Challenge for the 2016–17 and 2017–18 Championships. In the 2017 U.S. F2000 Championship, VeeKay won six races and finished second in the championship to Oliver Askew.
After winning the 2018 Pro Mazda Championship with Juncos Racing, VeeKay stepped up to the Indy Lights championship for 2019 again with Juncos Racing.[9] He finished second in the championship, again behind Askew.
IndyCar Series
Ed Carpenter Racing (2019–2024)
In July 2019, it was announced that VeeKay would join the IndyCar test at Portland with Ed Carpenter Racing.[10] On 20 November the team officially signed him as the replacement for Spencer Pigot.[11]
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In his first IndyCar race in the Genesys 300 at Texas Motor Speedway, VeeKay crashed in practice. He missed qualifying as the team couldn't fix the car in time. In the race, he crashed out on lap 38 and collected Alex Palou. At Iowa Speedway, confusion over a postponed restart led Colton Herta to launch over VeeKay's car from the rear; both drivers were unharmed due to a new laminate aeroscreen introduced for 2020.[12] VeeKay achieved his first top-five finish in IndyCar at the IndyGP[citation needed] and his first podium in the Harvest GP. He was confirmed for a return to ECR in 2021 on 25 October 2020.[13] He won the Indy GP, scoring his first win, five seconds ahead of second-placed Romain Grosjean. VeeKay ran as high as fourth place in the championship after back to back top-ten finishes including a second-place finish in Detroit before he fractured his clavicle during a cycling accident, forcing him to miss the following race at Road America.[14] After the season VeeKay and ECR announced he had re-signed with the team for another season.
Shortly after the 2024 season, in which VeeKay placed thirteenth in the championship with a best race finish of fifth, it was reported by Racer that Ed Carpenter Racing had cut ties with VeeKay. The decision came as a "surprise" to VeeKay, who was actively negotiating a contract extension with the team.[15]
Dale Coyne Racing (2025)
On 14 February 2025, it was announced that VeeKay would be joining Dale Coyne Racing as a full-time entrant in the 2025 season, driving the No. 18 entry.[16] VeeKay was the final driver announced on the 2025 IndyCar grid and signed a late-breaking deal with Dale Coyne Racing after not securing a ride immediately following his departure from Ed Carpenter Racing.[17]
In the 2025 Indianapolis 500 qualifying, VeeKay secured his spot in the race through Last Chance Qualifying, where he edged out his Dale Coyne Racing teammate Jacob Abel to secure a place in the field.[17]
On 20 July 2025, VeeKay scored his first IndyCar podium finish with Dale Coyne Racing, and his first IndyCar podium in nearly three years with a second place finish at the Grand Prix of Toronto.[17]
Shortly after the season finale, it was reported by Racer that VeeKay had cut ties with Dale Coyne Racing.[18]
Juncos Hollinger Racing (2026)
On 14 October 2025, it was announced that VeeKay would be joining Juncos Hollinger Racing as a full-time entrant in the 2026 season.
Karting record
Karting career summary
| Season | Series | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Dutch 4-Stroke Sprint Championship — Cadet 160 | 4th | |
| Dutch Championship — Mini | 14th | ||
| Chrono Dutch Rotax Max Challenge — Micro Max | 13th | ||
| 2010 | Chrono Rotax Max Winter Cup — Micro Max | 6th | |
| Dutch 4-Stroke Winter Championship — Rookie | 1st | ||
| Dutch 4-Stroke Sprint Championship — Cadet 160 | Redeker Racing Team | 2nd | |
| Chrono Dutch Rotax Max Challenge — Micro Max | 15th | ||
| 2011 | Euro Wintercup — Rotax Mini Max | Team TKP | 3rd |
| Dutch 4-Stroke Sprint Championship — World Formula | Speedsupport | 1st | |
| Benelux 4-Stroke Sprint Championship — World Formula | 1st | ||
| BNL Karting Series — Rotax Mini Max | Team TKP | 18th | |
| Chrono Dutch Rotax Max Challenge — Mini Max | 19th | ||
| 2012 | Chrono Rotax Max Winter Cup — Mini Max | Team TKP | 13th |
| Chrono Dutch Rotax Max Challenge — Mini Max | 1st | ||
| 2013 | Chrono Winter Series — Rotax Junior | Team TKP | 11th |
| Dutch Championship — Rotax Junior | 1st | ||
| BNL Karting Series — Rotax Junior | 6th | ||
| Rotax International Open — Junior | 8th | ||
| Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals — Junior | Marijn van Kalmthout | 18th | |
| SKUSA SuperNationals — Rotax Junior | PSL Karting | 12th | |
| 2014 | WSK Champions Cup — KFJ | 26th | |
| South Garda Winter Cup — KFJ | 20th | ||
| CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy | 3rd | ||
| German Karting Championship — KFJ | Keijser Racing | 20th | |
| CIK-FIA European Championship— KFJ | 48th | ||
| Rotax Max Euro Trophy — Junior | 21st | ||
| Rotax International Open — Junior | 22nd | ||
| 2015 | Rotax Max Winter Cup — Senior | Team TKP | 8th |
| BNL Karting Series — Rotax Senior | Daems Racing | 3rd | |
| Rotax Max Euro Trophy — Senior | 2nd | ||
| Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals — Senior | 65th | ||
| 2016 | Rotax Max Winter Cup — Senior | Daems Racing | 7th |
| BNL Karting Series — Rotax Senior | 10th |
Racing record
Racing career summary
† As van Kalmthout was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points.
‡ Points only counted towards the Michelin Endurance Cup, and not the overall LMP2 Championship.
* Season still in progress.
Complete F3 Asian Winter Series results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
American open-wheel racing results
U.S. F2000 National Championship
Pro Mazda Championship
Indy Lights
IndyCar Series
(key)
| Year | Team | No. | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Rank | Points | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Ed Carpenter Racing | 21 | Dallara DW12 | Chevrolet | TXS 22 |
IMS 5 |
ROA 13 |
ROA 14 |
IOW 20 |
IOW 17 |
INDY 20 |
GTW 6 |
GTW 4 |
MOH 8 |
MOH 11 |
IMS 3 |
IMS 17 |
STP 15 |
14th | 289 | [19] | ||||
| 2021 | ALA 6 |
STP 9 |
TXS 20 |
TXS 9 |
IMS 1 |
INDY 8 |
DET 2 |
DET 18 |
ROA | MOH 16 |
NSH 24 |
IMS 24 |
GTW 21 |
POR 17 |
LAG 18 |
LBH 25 |
12th | 308 | [20] | ||||||
| 2022 | STP 6 |
TXS 10 |
LBH 13 |
ALA 3* |
IMS 23 |
INDY 33 |
DET 16 |
ROA 17 |
MOH 4 |
TOR 13 |
IOW 4 |
IOW 19 |
IMS 6 |
NSH 12 |
GTW 26 |
POR 20 |
LAG 14 |
12th | 331 | [21] | |||||
| 2023 | STP 21 |
TXS 11 |
LBH 26 |
ALA 16 |
IMS 13 |
INDY 10 |
DET 18 |
ROA 12 |
MOH 15 |
TOR 13 |
IOW 17 |
IOW 18 |
NSH 14 |
IMS 11 |
GTW 11 |
POR 6 |
LAG 18 |
14th | 277 | [22] | |||||
| 2024 | STP 8 |
THE DNQ |
LBH 14 |
ALA 17 |
IMS 26 |
INDY 9 |
DET 14 |
ROA 24 |
LAG 26 |
MOH 19 |
IOW 5 |
IOW 9 |
TOR 8 |
GTW 10 |
POR 11 |
MIL 14 |
MIL 7 |
NSH 12 |
13th | 300 | [23] | ||||
| 2025 | Dale Coyne Racing | 18 | Honda | STP 9 |
THE 17 |
LBH 19 |
ALA 4 |
IMS 9 |
INDY 27 |
DET 27 |
GTW 7 |
ROA 10 |
MOH 9 |
IOW 16 |
IOW 12 |
TOR 2 |
LAG 23 |
POR 17 |
MIL 15 |
NSH 13 |
14th | 305 | [24] | ||
| 2026 | Juncos Hollinger Racing | 76 | Chevrolet | STP 9 |
PHX 22 |
ARL 14 |
ALA |
LBH |
IMS |
INDY |
DET |
GTW |
ROA |
MOH |
NSH |
POR |
MRK |
WSH |
MIL |
MIL |
LAG |
15th* | 46* | [25] | |
Indianapolis 500
Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Make | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | DragonSpeed USA | LMP2 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | DAY 10† |
SEB | WGL | WGL | ELK | LGA | PET | NC† | 0† |
| 2022 | Racing Team Nederland | LMP2 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 V8 | DAY 2† |
SEB | LGA | MOH | WGL | ELK | PET | NC† | 0† |
| 2023 | TDS Racing | LMP2 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | DAY 10† |
SEB | LGA | WGL | ELK | IMS | PET | NC† | 0† |
† Points only counted towards the Michelin Endurance Cup, and not the overall LMP2 Championship. * Season still in progress.