Haas F1 reserve driver Jack Doohan is beginning a new chapter in his career, this time marked by endurance, resilience, and a renewed goal: while waiting for something better?
After a difficult period marked by the loss of his seat at Alpine F1 Team in early 2025, the Australian is making his return to full-time competition by joining the European Le Mans Series in 2026.
A turn that does not mark an end, but rather a new beginning.
First experience in LMP2
Doohan will be fielded by Nielsen Racing in the LMP2 category, driving the #24. He will share the car with Roy Nissany, a former Williams F1 test driver, and Ed Pearson. The trio will launch their season at the Circuit de Catalunya for the 4 Hours of Barcelona on April 12.
For Doohan, this opportunity goes beyond a simple return to the track: it is a chance to restart his momentum instead of staying sidelined in the Grand Prix paddock.
“I am really delighted to return to competition in 2026 and to join Nielsen Racing for my first season in LMP2,” said the 23-year-old driver. “It’s a new challenge with a lot to learn, but I am confident that we will quickly be up to speed with such a strong team around me.”
His words reflect clear optimism, and the awareness that progressing sometimes involves stepping out of one’s comfort zone.
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The strength of the collective
Endurance relies as much on teamwork as on pure performance, an aspect that Doohan welcomes with enthusiasm.
“With Roy Nissany and Ed Pearson, we have an excellent mix of experience and motivation, and I look forward to building good chemistry and aiming for results,” he added.
Behind the wheel of the Oreca 07, Doohan will have to adapt to a world very different from that of single-seaters – a challenge he seems ready to take on: “The Oreca 07 is a fantastic car and a very different challenge, and I can’t wait to start in the European Le Mans Series.”
Still in the hunt for F1
Despite this commitment to endurance, his Formula 1 ambitions remain intact. At Haas F1 Team, he retains a key role as a reserve driver alongside Ryo Hirakawa, ready to seize any opportunity. This is what makes this transition particularly interesting: it is not a detour, but a solid foundation for the future.
For Doohan, 2026 is not about looking back, but about moving forward, exploring a new discipline and demonstrating that the path to success in motorsport is rarely linear, but always rich in lessons.
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