Neil Verhagen
| Neil Verhagen | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | |
| Born | February 18, 2001 Ridgefield, Connecticut, United States |
| GTWC Europe Endurance Cup career | |
| Debut season | 2022 |
| Current team | BMW Junior Team - ROWE Racing |
| Categorisation | |
| Car number | 26 |
| Starts | 5 (5 entries) |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Poles | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| Best finish | 11th in 2022 |
| Previous series | |
| 2020-2021 2019 2017-18 2015-2016 2015 | Nürburgring Endurance Series BRDC British F3 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 F1600 Championship Series F2000 Championship Series |
| Championship titles | |
| 2016 2026 | F1600 Championship Series IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Pro |
| Awards | |
| 2016 | Team USA Scholarship |
Neil Verhagen (born February 18, 2001) is an American racing driver. He has been part of the BMW factory driver roster since 2023.[1] His biggest career accolade is winning the 2026 24 Hours of Daytona as well as that year's IMSA Sportscar Championship in the GTD Pro class.[2][3]
Verhagen is the youngest driver to win the SCCA National Championship Runoffs, having accomplished this in the Formula F category.
Early career
[edit]Karting
[edit]Neil started indoor karting along with his brother Alex. The duo trained and raced at the Grand Prix New York facilities in Mount Kisco, New York, under the instruction of racing driver Stevan McAleer. McAleer raced many classes and won the 2015 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge in the ST class.[4] After racing at the Oakland Valley Race Park club scene, Verhagen joined the WKA and various Rotax Max racing series.[5] In 2012, he finished second in the Florida Winter Tour Minimax series. Verhagen beat many hopefuls such as Logan Sargeant, Patricio O'Ward and Trenton Estep.[6]
To increase their sons chances at a successful racing career, the Verhagen family moved form Ridgefield, Connecticut, to Mooresville, North Carolina, in 2014.[citation needed] The family exchanged the WKA scene for the United States Pro Kart Series.[citation needed]
Lower formulae
[edit]
Verhagen made his auto racing debut at Road Atlanta in the Skip Barber Winter Series. The young driver won the first three races of the championship at Road Atlanta and Sebring International Raceway. Verhagen, racing a Mazda powered Reynard chassis, finished second in the championship.[7] Later in 2015, Verhagen debuted in the F1600 Championship Series. At the Pittsburgh International Race Complex Verhagen competed in a Spectrum.[8] At the F2000 Championship Series finale at Pittsburgh, Verhagen finished tenth in a RFR F2000.[citation needed]
For 2016, Verhagen joined K-Hill Motorsports in the F1600 Championship Series.[9] He won the championship beating teammate Peter Portante both racing Mygale SJ11 chassis.[10] Verhagen also competed in the SCCA club racing scene. Winning the SCCA Majors Tour Northeast Conference, Verhagen qualified for the SCCA National Championship Runoffs.[11] Verhagen went on to become the youngest driver to win the Runoffs at 15 years and 242 days.[12] Winning the Runoffs, Verhagen qualified for the 2016 Mazda Road to Indy Shootout.[citation needed]
Formula Renault
[edit]In 2017, Verhagen was inducted into the Red Bull Junior Team and moved up to the Formula Renault Eurocup with MP Motorsport, alongside fellow Red Bull Junior Richard Verschoor.[13] He had one podium at Hungaroring and finished the season eleventh, behind his Dutch teammate.[14]
The following year, Verhagen returned to the Eurocup with Tech 1 Racing, where he finished the championship eleventh.[15]
BRDC British F3
[edit]In 2019, Verhagen lost his backing from Red Bull and moved to the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship with Double R Racing.[16] He ended the season fifth overall, having taken seven podiums throughout the campaign.[17]
Sportscar career
[edit]2020: Victorious GT debut
[edit]Verhagen moved to sportscar racing in 2020, driving for Walkenhorst Motorsport as part of the BMW Junior Team in two rounds of the Nürburgring Endurance Series. This included the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, which the American won in the SP8T category driving a BMW M4 GT4.[18]
2021: Nürburgring Endurance success
[edit]For the 2021 season, Verhagen stepped up to the SP9 Pro class to partner Daniel Harper and Max Hesse in a full-time campaign of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie, where the trio would compete in a BMW M6 GT3 car.[19] Verhagen ended up second in the standings, having taken two victories.[20]
2022-2024: GT World Challenge
[edit]The GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup would be Verhagen's destination in 2022, racing for the BMW Junior Team with ROWE Racing, once more alongside Harper and Hesse.[21] After taking their first points in Imola with a fourth-placed finish, the trio ended up fifth in the 24 Hours of Spa, beating their teammates in the sister car.[22] A further points finish at the Hockenheimring left the American eleventh in the championship, one place ahead of the more experienced line-up of the other Rowe Racing entry.[23]
As a result of their accomplishments, Verhagen, Hesse and Harper were introduced as fully-fledged BMW works drivers before the 2023 season.[24]
Following the retirement of John Edwards after the opening round of the 2023 GT World Challenge America Season,[25] Neil would join Canadian team ST Racing for the remainder of the season. He would also continue racing with his Junior teammates in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup with ROWE, as well as compete in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring also with his Junior teammates. He would end the year with a win with ST Racing in race 2 at Road America, a win in NLS 3, and a podium at Monza in GTWC Europe.
Neil would continue full time with ST Racing in the 2024 GT World Challenge America season, this time taking 3 Wins 1 pole, and 10 podiums on a run that would land them 2nd in the championship by only a handful of points after a mechanical issue forced an early retirement from the final 8 hour round at Indianapolis.[26] He would also race for Paul Miller Racing for the first time, joining the #1 Car for the 2024 IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup events, where he would be successful in winning the MEC championship.[27]
2025: Full-Time IMSA SportsCar Championship Debut
[edit]Following Bryan Sellers' step away from the driving side of racing, Neil would take on a full season programme with Paul Miller in the 2025 IMSA SportsCar Championship.[28] The pair, however, would struggle and eventually finish behind fellow Junior team graduates, Dan Harper and Max Hesse, in the sister car. Having shown pace at times despite inconsistency, the pair would take a victory at the Road America event, and a further podium at the 12 Hours of Sebring.
2026: IMSA Champions and Two 24H Class Wins
[edit]
2026 would prove to be Neil's best year to date. Continuing his full time programme in IMSA with a new full season partner in Connor De Phillippi, they would start off strong with a win at the 2026 24 Hours of Daytona alongside Dan Harper and Max Hesse.[29] While they would not win again for the rest of the season, a strong consistent run with 3 additional podiums and 3 further top 5 finishes in a highly competitive GTD Pro season was enough to earn both drivers their first IMSA SportsCar Championship, as well as wrapping up the MEC.[30]
2026 would also see Neil drive the fan-favourite BMW M3 Touring 24H in the Nürburgring, taking 4th Overall and 1st in the SP-X Class.[31]
Racing record
[edit]Racing career summary
[edit]This section needs to be updated. (June 2026) |
SCCA National Championship Runoffs
[edit]| Year | Track | Car | Engine | Class | Finish | Start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Mid-Ohio | Mygale SJ11 | Honda Fit | Formula F | 1 | 1 | Running |
American Open-wheel racing results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest race lap)
F1600 Championship Series
[edit]| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | K-Hill Motorsports | ATL 4 |
ATL 1 |
ATL 5 |
WGL 3 |
WGL 2 |
WGL 2 |
VIR 1 |
VIR 4 |
VIR 7 |
MOH 2 |
MOH 14 |
MOH 1 |
PIT 1 |
PIT 1 |
PIT 4 |
NJMP 3 |
NJMP 1 |
NJMP 1 |
VIR 1 |
VIR 2 |
VIR 1 |
1st | 832 |
Complete Formula Renault NEC results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | MP Motorsport | MNZ 1 |
MNZ 2 |
ASS 1 1 |
ASS 2 4 |
NÜR 1 |
NÜR 2 |
SPA 1 8 |
SPA 2 8 |
SPA 3 5 |
HOC 1 |
HOC 2 |
14th | 47 | |
| 2018 | Tech 1 Racing | PAU 1 6 |
PAU 2 5 |
MNZ 1 |
MNZ 2 |
SPA 1 25 |
SPA 2 22 |
HUN 1 14 |
HUN 2 14 |
NÜR 1 13 |
NÜR 2 12 |
HOC 1 7 |
HOC 2 6 |
13th | 31 |
Complete Formula Renault Eurocup results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | Pos | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | MP Motorsport | MNZ 1 17 |
MNZ 2 4 |
SIL 1 Ret |
SIL 2 16 |
PAU 1 DNS |
PAU 2 9 |
MON 1 12 |
MON 2 12 |
HUN 1 3 |
HUN 2 11 |
HUN 3 24 |
NÜR 1 18 |
NÜR 2 Ret |
RBR 1 18 |
RBR 2 25 |
LEC 1 7 |
LEC 2 12 |
SPA 1 8 |
SPA 2 8 |
SPA 3 5 |
CAT 1 7 |
CAT 2 Ret |
CAT 3 17 |
11th | 59 |
| 2018 | Tech 1 Racing | LEC 1 7 |
LEC 2 9 |
MNZ 1 11 |
MNZ 2 Ret |
SIL 1 10 |
SIL 2 12 |
MON 1 6 |
MON 2 7 |
RBR 1 4 |
RBR 2 8 |
SPA 1 25 |
SPA 2 22 |
HUN 1 14 |
HUN 2 14 |
NÜR 1 13 |
NÜR 2 12 |
HOC 1 7 |
HOC 2 6 |
CAT 1 7 |
CAT 2 7 |
11th | 59 |
Complete BRDC British Formula 3 Championship results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | Pos | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Double R Racing | OUL 1 12 |
OUL 2 2 |
OUL 3 5 |
SNE 1 6 |
SNE 2 38 |
SNE 3 Ret |
SIL1 1 2 |
SIL1 2 151 |
SIL1 3 5 |
DON1 1 6 |
DON1 2 81 |
DON1 3 7 |
SPA 1 18 |
SPA 2 3 |
SPA 3 5 |
BRH 1 8 |
BRH 2 45 |
BRH 3 7 |
SIL2 1 10 |
SIL2 2 15 |
SIL2 3 3 |
DON2 1 7 |
DON2 2 36 |
DON2 3 3 |
5th | 357 |
Complete Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie results
[edit]| Year | Team | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Pos. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | FK Performance Motorsport | BMW M240i Racing | SP8T | NÜR 1 Ret |
NÜR 2 |
NÜR 3 |
4th | 11.25 | ||||||
| Walkenhorst Motorsport | BMW M4 GT4 | NÜR 4 2 |
NÜR 5 4 |
|||||||||||
| BMW M240i Racing | Cup 5 | NÜR 1 |
NÜR 2 5 |
NÜR 3 1 |
NÜR 4 |
NÜR 5 |
20th | 15.83 | ||||||
| 2021 | BMW Team RMG | BMW M6 GT3 | SP9 | NÜR 1 8 |
NÜR 2 Ret |
NÜR 3 1 |
NÜR 4 1 |
NÜR 5 DNS |
NÜR 6 2 |
NÜR 7 3 |
NÜR 8 Ret |
2nd | 39.22 | |
| 2022 | BMW Junior Team | BMW M4 GT3 | SP9 | NÜR 1 9 |
NÜR 2 |
NÜR 3 2 |
NÜR 4 |
NÜR 5 |
NÜR 6 |
NÜR 7 |
NÜR 8 |
NÜR 9 |
NC† | 0 |
| BMW M Motorsport | BMW M4 GT4 Concept | SP85 | NÜR 1 |
NÜR 2 |
NÜR 3 |
NÜR 4 Ret |
NÜR 5 |
NÜR 6 |
NÜR 7 |
NÜR 8 |
NÜR 9 |
NC | 0 | |
| 2023 | BMW Junior Team | BMW M4 GT3 | SP9 | NÜR 1 5 |
NÜR 2 3 |
NÜR 3 1 |
NÜR 4 |
NÜR 5 |
NÜR 6 |
NÜR 7 |
NÜR 8 |
NÜR 9 |
NC† | 0 |
†As Verhagen was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points.
Complete 24 Hours of Nürburgring results
[edit]| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Ovr. Pos. |
Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | BMW M4 GT4 | SP8T | 78 | 19th | 1st | ||
| 2021 | BMW M4 GT3 | SP9 | 54 | DNF | DNF | ||
| 2022 | BMW M4 GT3 | SP9 | 86 | DNF | DNF | ||
| 2023 | BMW M4 GT3 | SP9 | 96 | DNF | DNF | ||
| 2026 | BMW M3 Touring 24H | SP-X | 156 | 4th | 1st |
Complete GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup results
[edit]| Year | Team | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Pos. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | ROWE Racing | BMW M4 GT3 | Pro | IMO 15 |
LEC 4 |
SPA 6H 11 |
SPA 12H 2 |
SPA 24H 5 |
HOC 9 |
CAT 13 |
11th | 36 |
| 2023 | ROWE Racing | BMW M4 GT3 | Pro | MNZ 2 |
LEC 6 |
SPA 6H 4 |
SPA 12H 53 |
SPA 24H Ret |
NÜR 11 |
CAT 12 |
10th | 33 |
| 2025 | AlManar Racing by WRT | BMW M4 GT3 Evo | Gold | LEC | MNZ | SPA 6H 17 |
SPA 12H 21 |
SPA 24H 20 |
NÜR | CAT | 13th | 21 |
| 2026 | Team WRT | BMW M4 GT3 Evo | Pro | LEC | MNZ | SPA 6H |
SPA 12H |
SPA 24H |
NÜR | ALG 49 |
NC | 0 |
*Season still in progress.
Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Class | Make | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Pos. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Paul Miller Racing | GTD Pro | BMW M4 GT3 | BMW P58 3.0 L Turbo I6 | DAY 3 |
SEB 4 |
LGA | DET | WGL 8 |
MOS | ELK | VIR | IMS 8 |
PET 7 |
15th | 1400 |
| 2025 | Paul Miller Racing | GTD Pro | BMW M4 GT3 Evo | BMW P58 3.0 L Turbo I6 | DAY 4 |
SEB 3 |
LGA 10 |
DET 11 |
WGL 7 |
MOS 6 |
ELK 1 |
VIR 6 |
IMS 8 |
PET 9 |
7th | 2794 |
| 2026 | Paul Miller Racing | GTD Pro | BMW M4 GT3 Evo | BMW P58 3.0 L Turbo I6 | DAY 1 |
SEB 5 |
LGA 8 |
DET 4 |
WGL 2 |
MOS 3 |
ELK 11 |
VIR 5 |
IMS 6 |
PET 3 |
1st | 3012 |
References
[edit]- ↑ "After three years as the BMW Junior Team, Dan Harper, Max Hesse and Neil Verhagen are BMW M works drivers". www.press.bmwgroup.com. Retrieved 2026-04-24.
- ↑ "Alumni Connor De Phillippi & Neil Verhagen Win Rolex 24 at Daytona". Skip Barber. 2026-01-26. Retrieved 2026-04-24.
- ↑ "Huge cheers in Daytona! BMW M Team WRT takes first IMSA podium with the BMW M Hybrid V8 – Paul Miller Racing triumphs in the BMW M4 GT3 EVO". www.press.bmwgroup.com. Retrieved 2026-04-24.
- ↑ "Stevan McAleer". DriverDB.com. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Neil Verhagen". DriverDB.com. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Florida Winter Tour - Rotax Mini Max 2012 standings". DriverDB.com. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
- ↑ "A day at the races: Skip Barber Summer Series hits soggy VIR". Fox Sports. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
- ↑ "2015 Pittsburgh - Race 1". F1600 Championship Series. Archived from the original on October 12, 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Neil Verhagen Announced as Second K-Hill F1600 Driver". F1600 Championship Series. Archived from the original on October 12, 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Victory for Title-Winner Verhagen at VIR". F1600 Championship Series. Archived from the original on October 12, 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
- ↑ "2016 SCCA Majors Championship Point Standings Northeast Conference". SCCA. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Verhagen Becomes the Youngest SCCA National Champion With Formula F Win". SCCA. 25 September 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Red Bull adds Ticktum, Verhagen to Junior Team for 2017". January 18, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
- ↑ Allen, Peter (July 1, 2017). "Dan Ticktum clinches first Formula Renault win in Hungaroring opener". formulascout.com. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
- ↑ Hensby, Paul (January 15, 2018). "VERHAGEN SWITCHES TO TECH 1 RACING, KEEPS RED BULL BACKING". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
- ↑ Wood, Elliot (March 4, 2019). "Former Red Bull junior Neil Verhagen joins Double R for BRDC British F3". FormulaScout. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
- ↑ "2019 BRDC British F3 Championship | Motorsport Database". Motorsport Database - Motor Sport Magazine. Retrieved 2026-04-24.
- ↑ "BMW Junior Team 2020: Ein außergewöhnliches Jahr mit außergewöhnlichen Leistungen". bmw-motorsport.com. 22 December 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
- ↑ "GT News Notebook: ADAC GT Masters, N24 & NLS". Dailysportscar. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ↑ "Race Results - 61. ADAC Reinoldus-Langstreckenrennen" (PDF). www.vln.de. 10 July 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ↑ Lloyd, Daniel (16 February 2022). "BMW Junior Team Enters Endurance Cup With ROWE – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
- ↑ "ROWE Racing so close to podium after strong Spa debut for the BMW M4 GT3". www.press.bmwgroup.com. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
- ↑ "ROWE Racing rounds off GTWC season with ninth and 13th places at Barcelona". www.press.bmwgroup.com. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
- ↑ Plümer, Jonas (2023-01-11). "Nach drei Jahren als BMW Junior Team: Dan Harper, Max Hesse und Neil Verhagen sind BMW M Werksfahrer". gt-place.com (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2023-01-30.
- ↑ Haueter, David (2023-12-03). "John Edwards Steps Back From Racing". BimmerLife. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ "Team WRT Clinches Indy 8 Hour Overall Win, Wright Motorsports and Turner Motorsport Crowned North American Champions". GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS. 2024-10-05. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ mrobinson (2024-10-31). "Speed and Strategy Deliver Michelin Endurance Cup Titles in 2024". IMSA. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ "Sellers departs Paul Miller Racing for DXDT program manager position". RACER. 2024-09-30. Archived from the original on 2024-10-02. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ Staff, RN365 (2026-01-25). "2026 Daytona 24 Hours - results". RacingNews365. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ tdizinno (2026-10-05). "IMSA Honors All Its Best at 2026 WeatherTech Night of Champions". IMSA. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
- ↑ Staff, RN365 (2026-06-12). "Adjusted Nurburgring 24 Hours with Max Verstappen results after disqualification". RacingNews365. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
External links
[edit]- Neil Verhagen career summary at DriverDB.com
- 2001 births
- Living people
- American people of Dutch descent
- Racing drivers from Connecticut
- World Karting Association drivers
- Formula Ford drivers
- SCCA National Championship Runoffs winners
- Formula Renault Eurocup drivers
- MRF Challenge Formula 2000 Championship drivers
- Formula Renault 2.0 NEC drivers
- BRDC British Formula 3 Championship drivers
- MP Motorsport drivers
- 24H Series drivers
- Nürburgring 24 Hours drivers
- Tech 1 Racing drivers
- Double R Racing drivers
- BMW M drivers
- Rowe Racing drivers
- Michelin Pilot Challenge drivers
- Sportspeople from Ridgefield, Connecticut
- GT World Challenge America drivers
- 24 Hours of Spa drivers
- ADAC GT Masters drivers
- GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup drivers
- 21st-century American sportsmen
- WeatherTech SportsCar Championship drivers
- W Racing Team drivers
- Paul Miller Racing drivers
- 24 Hours of Daytona drivers
- 12 Hours of Sebring drivers
- Petit Le Mans drivers
- GT World Challenge Asia drivers
- Schubert Motorsport drivers
- Suzuka 1000 km drivers
- F2000 Championship Series drivers
- F1600 Championship Series drivers