Sophia Floersch will make her IndyNXT debut in 2025 with HMD Motorsports, bringing her extensive experience in single-seaters and sports cars to the US racing scene after a first test of the Dallara IL-15 car in October.
Sophia Floersch will make her IndyNXT debut in 2025, stepping up from the FIA Formula 3 championship where she competed in 2020, 2023 and 2024.
After a test earlier in October, the German racer in fact will join HMD Motorsports for her first season Stateside, in Indycar's main feeder series.
Floersch has collected experience in a wide variety of race cars both in formulas and sports cars, and will now focus her efforts in IndyNXT, with the aim of continuing her journey at the top of single seaters, in America's second-tier formula.
She has driven the Dallara IL-15 car for the first time at Barber Motorsports Park, completing 92 laps and steadily improving throughout the day on the demanding circuit.
“I’m excited about joining HMD Motorsports and coming to the United States to race in the INDY NXT by Firestone Series,” Floersch said. “My aspiration has always been to race with the best of the best. From the beginning of my career, I’ve worked very hard with my team daily towards that goal. I’ve raced in different categories in most of the racing markets in the world. It was only natural for us to try the US now, as it is the biggest racing market worldwide.”
Floersch, 24, stepped up from karting in 2015, making history by winning two races in the highly-competitive Ginetta Junior Championship. She then raced in Formula 4 competing in both the Italian and German-based series over two seasons and scoring two podiums.
In 2018 she made the step up to Formula 3 machinery, entering the FIA Formula 3 European Championship – then made a historic return to racing in 2019, barely months after her infamous Macau crash, joining the Formula Regional European Championship. Having scored points in every race, Floersch graduated to FIA F3.
She then transitioned to sport car racing, securing her first podium in European Le Mans Series in LMP2 in 2021. She consistently competed for the podium in 2022, while also entering three editions of the iconic 24H of Le Mans, where she clinched a top ten in class on debut. In a double program, Floersch also raced in the 2021 DTM season, scoring points twice.
After her return to single seaters in 2023, again in the FIA Formula 3 Championship, Floersch joined the Alpine Academy Programme and made history by becoming the first female driver to secure points in the current F3 series, with a seventh place finish at Spa Francorchamps.
With her experience in some of the most competitive series in the world, Floersch is now aiming to take on a new challenge, as she will contest her first ever season Stateside, with a new car, a new team and on all-new circuits, targeting a developmental season in IndyNXT – following in the footsteps of Jamie Chadwick, who raced in the category in 2023 and 2024.
“The United States is more open to embracing a female racer, so this makes me very excited and optimistic about the things to come", Sophia added. "The sport, the racing, the cars, and the tracks are real and pure. It’s great to be welcomed so positively and friendly. You can feel the real racer energy inside HMD Motorsports. I can hardly wait and will be very happy when it starts in March in St. Pete.”
HMD Motorsports has also announced Nolan Allaer, Josh Pierson, Tommy Smith, Caio Collet, Bryce Aron and Hailie Deegan for the full 2025 campaign. Floersch is therefore the second female driver to be confirmed on the 2025 grid, and the sixth rookie.
“We are excited to have Sophia confirmed for INDY NXT in 2025,” said HMD Team President Mike Maurini. “She has a great team behind her, and we feel she will be able to make waves in North America. With her ultimate goal to advance to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, we look forward to helping her improve and achieve success in INDY NXT and help try to advance her career to the next level.”
The team was second in the Teams' championship in 2024, with two race wins and 10 podiums.
The 2025 calendar features 14 races, with the season kicking off at the St Petersburg street circuit, Florida, on March 2nd. Barber Motorsports Park and a double-header at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the road course will follow in May. After the Detroit Grand Prix, World Wide Technology Raceway hosts the first oval round of the year – which will mark Floersch's first ever race on an oval.
Road America and Mid Ohio Sports Car Course will follow in June and July, with the second oval race scheduled at Iowa Speedway. California's WeatherTech Laguna Seca hosts two races in July, while Portland will be the final road course race in August. The Milwaukee Mile and Nashville Superspeedway will round out the calendar of the 38th season of the IndyCar's main stepping stone.