Christina Nielsen

Christina Nielsen is a Danish professional race car driver who made history as the first woman to win a major full-season professional sports car championship in North America, claiming back-to-back IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD titles in 2016 and 2017.

EARLY YEARS

Born January 10, 1992, in Denmark, Christina Nielsen grew up with racing in her blood—her father, Lars Erik Nielsen, was a former professional race driver whose career planted the seeds for her own competitive ambitions[5]. But unlike many racers who started karting as kids, Nielsen didn’t feel the pull toward motorsports until her teenage years. When that urge finally hit, she dove in headfirst, starting with go-karts to fine-tune her skills before working her way up through the ranks[5].

What sets Nielsen apart isn’t just her talent behind the wheel—it’s her sharp understanding of the business side of racing. While competing full-time as a professional driver, she earned a degree in Marketing and Management Communications, recognizing early on that success in motorsports requires more than just speed[5]. That dual focus on driving performance and business acumen would become a defining characteristic of her career, allowing her to represent her partners effectively both on and off the track[4].

OTHER INTERESTS

After 15 years of racing globally across multiple continents and series, Nielsen channeled her experience and education into something bigger than herself[3]. In 2019, she co-founded Accelerating Change, an organization dedicated to introducing women to the automotive world and creating meaningful events and experiences for women in the industry[3][4][5]. The venture combines her racing credentials with her marketing background, leveraging both to make a tangible impact in a male-dominated field.

Nielsen also offers driving experiences at major USA racetracks including Daytona, Sebring, and Homestead, giving others a taste of what it’s like to push limits on legendary circuits[3][7]. It’s a natural extension of her belief that nothing—including gender—should stop anyone from pursuing their dreams.

EARLY SUCCESS

Nielsen cut her teeth in various Porsche Carrera Cup series across Germany, the Middle East, and the USA before moving into GT racing with programs in IMSA, Pirelli World Challenge, and ADAC GT Masters[4]. Her breakout year came in 2015 when she scored a personal-best five podium finishes with TRG in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD class[1]. That season ended in heartbreak—she came within two points of winning the GTD drivers’ championship, losing out to Scuderia Corsa[1][2].

The near-miss clearly left an impression because Nielsen’s response was swift and strategic: she joined the very team that had beaten her. Partnering with Alessandro Balzan in Scuderia Corsa’s Ferrari 488 GT3 for the 2016 season, Nielsen finally broke through to the top step of the podium[2]. Her first WeatherTech Championship victory came at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in March 2016, followed by a second win at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen that July[1][2].

The momentum built throughout the 2016 season, culminating at Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta in October. Nielsen drove a three-hour, eight-minute stint that helped secure the GTD championship with a 32-point lead, making history as the first woman to win a major full-season professional sports car championship in North America[1][2][3][4][6]. She also clinched the IMSA Endurance Championship that year[3]. For good measure, she made history on another front as the first Danish female to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, earning the Colding Cup from the Danish Automobile Sports Union just a week before that championship-clinching Petit Le Mans performance[1].

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2014: 6th place finish in IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama Platinum Cup[1].
• 2015: Runner-up in IMSA GTD drivers’ championship with TRG, finishing just 2 points behind Scuderia Corsa; recorded personal-best five podium finishes[1][2].
• 2016: First WeatherTech Championship victory at Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring (March)[1][2].
• 2016: Second WeatherTech Championship victory at Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen (July)[1][2].
• 2016: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD Champion with co-driver Alessandro Balzan in Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 488 GT3, becoming the first woman to win a major full-season professional sports car championship in North America; clinched at Petit Le Mans, Road Atlanta (October)[1][2][3][4][6].
• 2016: IMSA Endurance Championship Champion[3].
• 2016: First Danish female to compete at 24 Hours of Le Mans; received Colding Cup from Danish Automobile Sports Union[1].
• 2017: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD Champion with Alessandro Balzan and Scuderia Corsa, successfully defending her title[3][4].

INSPIRATIONS

Nielsen’s father, Lars Erik Nielsen, provided the direct link to professional racing that eventually sparked her own competitive fire[5]. Beyond that familial influence, she developed a special affinity for Ferrari through her championship-winning campaigns with Scuderia Corsa’s Ferrari 488 GT3[3]. She also maintains a personal connection to Porsche, owning one of the brand’s road cars—fitting for someone who spent significant time competing in various Porsche Carrera Cup series[3].

REPUTATION

Nielsen has carved out a reputation as a history-maker and barrier-breaker, but she’d probably roll her eyes at being defined primarily by her gender. “I’m not a female who’s a sports car driver, I’m a sports car driver who’s a female,” she stated plainly[3]. Her philosophy is equally straightforward: “At the end of the day, I am proud to be a female competing on such a high level, but most importantly, I am proud to be a driver who competes at that level. My personal statement is about the fact that nothing, including your gender, should stop you from pursuing your dreams and doing what you want”[4].

In 2016, Nielsen was one of only two full-time women competing in IMSA, making her impossible to miss on track—not just because she was often the only woman in the field, but because she was consistently fast[1][4]. Her relationship with Scuderia Corsa and co-driver Alessandro Balzan was built on mutual respect and genuine friendship. “Jeff Segal and Alessandro Balzan are just not only good behind the wheel but also good people with good hearts. And so is our team owner, Giacomo Mattioli,” she said after her 2016 championship[2]. She later emphasized the depth of that partnership: “Alessandro and I had a really good work relationship as well as a great personal relationship”[5].

Nielsen is quick to credit both machine and people for her success. “Ferrari did build an amazing race car, but I also want to give props to my team because every manufacturer tries to build the best race car out there, but it’s so much more than the final product,” she noted[3]. That team-first mentality, combined with her proven ability to deliver championships, has solidified her standing as a respected competitor who happens to be making history rather than someone defined solely by that history-making.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Nielsen’s ambitions are crystal clear: “I think, as with most drivers, the dream, the goal, would be to get a factory contract one day. I’m aiming for something like [IMSA] GT Le Mans”[2]. Her focus remains on becoming “one of the top drivers in the world of motorsports,” while continuing to develop the business acumen that sets her apart[4]. After her 2016 championship, she expressed her desire to return to IMSA, stating simply, “I would like to be back in IMSA. I really like racing over here”[2]. With Accelerating Change now established and her championship pedigree proven, Nielsen appears positioned to pursue that factory dream while simultaneously opening doors for the next generation of women in motorsports.

References:

Sportscar365 – Petit Le Mans Report
ESPN espnW Interview
Pelorus Travel Interview
Christina Nielsen Racing Official Site
dorevmi.com Profile
Wikipedia
Winding Road