Rinus VeeKay Bio
Rinus van Kalmthout, known professionally as Rinus VeeKay, is a Dutch racing driver born on 11 September 2000 in Hoofddorp, Netherlands. He competes in the IndyCar Series and is set to drive for Juncos Hollinger Racing in the 2026 season. Across his career in North American open-wheel racing, VeeKay has built a reputation as a fast, aggressive competitor with a strong résumé in junior formulae and a memorable first IndyCar victory at the GMR Grand Prix in 2021.
He has driven in the NTT IndyCar Series since 2020, spending the bulk of his career with Ed Carpenter Racing, a single stint with Dale Coyne Racing in 2025, and a confirmed move to Juncos Hollinger Racing for 2026. A 2020 IndyCar Rookie of the Year, VeeKay remains one of the most prominent Dutch talents in single-seater racing.
Early Life and Background
Rinus van Kalmthout was born on 11 September 2000 in Hoofddorp, a city in the Haarlemmermeer municipality of the Netherlands. Growing up in a country with a deep tradition of motorsport, he was introduced to karting at a young age, an entry point that has launched many European single-seater careers. The Dutch karting scene provided him with his first taste of wheel-to-wheel competition and a structured environment to develop race craft.
From those early days, van Kalmthout showed a clear natural aptitude for racing. By the time he was eight years old, he was already winning regional karting events, and his family supported his progression through the junior categories. His success in Dutch and Benelux karting championships during his early teens laid the foundation for a transition into car racing and, eventually, a move across the Atlantic to pursue the North American open-wheel ladder.
Path to NASCAR
VeeKay’s career path has been rooted in open-wheel racing rather than stock car competition, and he has not raced in NASCAR national series. His professional route followed the traditional European karting to American single-seater pipeline, moving from karts into formula cars and then up the Road to Indy ladder. As a result, his development path diverged from the NASCAR late-model and truck series route that many North American drivers follow.
Although he has not competed in NASCAR, his career arc is similar in structure to many American drivers who climb through junior formulae before reaching top-tier competition. VeeKay’s pathway through USF2000, Pro Mazda, and Indy Lights mirrors the developmental stages that lead young talents toward premier open-wheel championships.
Rinus VeeKay Career
Early Career (2009–2016)
VeeKay began karting in 2009, winning races in the 4-stroke cadet championship with a DR chassis and finishing second in the standings. During the 2009–2010 winter season, he won the 4-stroke cadet series, and the following year he graduated into the Briggs & Stratton World Formula 4-stroke class, capturing both the Dutch and Benelux championships. He also won the Dutch championship in the Rotax Max class in 2012 and the Junior championship in 2013.
Throughout 2014 and 2015, van Kalmthout competed in various Rotax Max racing series, finishing second in the Rotax Max Euro Challenge Senior class behind Australian driver Pierce Lehane. In 2014, his talent was recognized with the KNAF Talent First award from the Royal Dutch Automobile Club, a strong endorsement of his potential. He then transitioned to car racing, signing with Pabst Racing to race in the American-based USF2000 championship.
IndyCar Series Breakthrough (2020–2024)
VeeKay joined the IndyCar Series with Ed Carpenter Racing in 2020, replacing Spencer Pigot after impressing the team during a Portland test. His debut weekend at Texas Motor Speedway was difficult, with a practice crash that forced him to miss qualifying and an in-race incident that ended his day early. Despite the early challenges, he secured the 2020 IndyCar Rookie of the Year award, signaling his potential at the top level of American open-wheel racing.
In 2021, VeeKay broke through with his first IndyCar victory, winning the GMR Grand Prix on the Indianapolis road course by five seconds over Romain Grosjean. He followed that win with strong runs, including a second-place finish in Detroit, and climbed as high as fourth in the championship standings before a cycling accident fractured his clavicle and forced him to miss the race at Road America. He re-signed with Ed Carpenter Racing after the season, but his later years with the team were less consistent, and in 2024 he finished thirteenth in the championship with a best result of fifth before the team parted ways with him.
Dale Coyne Racing Era (2025)
On 14 February 2025, it was announced that VeeKay would join Dale Coyne Racing as a full-time driver in the No. 18 entry. The move marked a fresh start for the Dutch driver after his departure from Ed Carpenter Racing. His 2025 campaign produced one of the highlights of his season when he scored his first podium finish with Dale Coyne Racing, taking second place at the Grand Prix of Toronto on 20 July 2025.
Juncos Hollinger Racing Era (2026–Present)
Shortly after the 2025 season finale, it was reported that VeeKay had cut ties with Dale Coyne Racing, opening the door to another team change. On 14 October 2025, he was announced as a full-time driver for Juncos Hollinger Racing for the 2026 IndyCar Series season. The signing places VeeKay with a team that has been steadily building its competitiveness in the series and offers him a new platform to chase race wins and a championship challenge.
Driving Style and Strengths
VeeKay is known for his aggressive, committed driving style, particularly on road and street courses where his karting background and car control shine. He has shown a strong ability to qualify well, putting the No. 21 and later cars near the front of the field, and he pairs that raw speed with growing race-craft maturity. His willingness to attack in dirty air and his capacity to capitalize on restart opportunities have made him a regular threat for podium finishes on any given weekend.
Notable Races and Milestones
His maiden IndyCar victory at the 2021 GMR Grand Prix stands as the defining result of his career to date, a dominant five-second margin that announced his arrival in the series. The second-place finish at the 2025 Grand Prix of Toronto with Dale Coyne Racing marked his first podium in several seasons and underlined his continued competitiveness. A best championship result inside the top ten during the 2021 season remains another benchmark of his potential.
Rinus VeeKay Career Wins
Rinus VeeKay has scored at least one verified victory in the NTT IndyCar Series, the GMR Grand Prix in 2021. Across his karting and junior formula career, he accumulated many race wins and championships, but the only IndyCar victory clearly supported by the available record is the 2021 Indianapolis road course win.
IndyCar Series Highlights
VeeKay’s first and most notable IndyCar win came at the GMR Grand Prix in 2021, where he led the field home with a five-second advantage over Romain Grosjean. He returned to the podium with Dale Coyne Racing in 2025, finishing second at the Grand Prix of Toronto. Earlier in his career, he had also recorded his first top-five finish and his first podium at the Harvest GP while running with Ed Carpenter Racing.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond IndyCar, VeeKay built a strong junior open-wheel résumé in North America, winning six races in the 2017 U.S. F2000 Championship and finishing as runner-up to Oliver Askew. He followed that by winning the 2018 Pro Mazda Championship with Juncos Racing, and then finished second in the 2019 Indy Lights championship, again behind Askew.
Rinus VeeKay Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
VeeKay, whose legal name is Rinus van Kalmthout, adopted his professional surname early in his career, a common practice in motorsport that helps fans and sponsors remember a driver’s brand. His Dutch upbringing in Hoofddorp placed him at the heart of a country with a strong karting culture that has produced many top-level racers.
Personal Life
VeeKay continues to be active on social media, where fans can follow his career through verified accounts on X and Instagram. Public details about his personal life, including relationships and family, remain limited, and he tends to keep his focus on his racing commitments.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a transitional year for Rinus VeeKay as he moved to Dale Coyne Racing and piloted the No. 18 entry full-time. The change of scenery brought renewed energy, and the season’s standout moment came on 20 July 2025, when he finished second at the Grand Prix of Toronto, his first podium result with the team. The result validated the move and reminded the paddock of his race-winning potential.
Despite that high point, the partnership with Dale Coyne Racing did not extend beyond the 2025 campaign, as reports emerged that VeeKay had cut ties with the team shortly after the season finale. The split set the stage for his next chapter, with Juncos Hollinger Racing confirmed as his destination for 2026 and a renewed push toward consistent front-running results. Looking ahead, VeeKay enters 2026 motivated, experienced, and determined to add more trophies to his résumé.
