Nick Catsburg

Nick Catsburg is a Dutch racing driver who simultaneously competes in several different motorsport disciplines. He currently drives BMW in GT competitions and Hyundai in the WTCR - FIA World Touring Car Cup.

In recent years, he was most active in touring car races (WTCC) and sports car races (IMSA, Asian Le Mans Series, Blancpain GT Series, ADAC GT Masters). Earlier in a career, his most notable results were 2010 Megane Eurocup Trophy title and a victory at 24 hours of Spa in 2015.

Nick Catsburg

Formula Ford Benelux champion early in a career

Nick Catsburg was born on February 15, 1988, in Amersfoort, Netherlands. His first race car was Seat Ibiza TDI in the 2004 Unipart Endurance Cup. After that, he switched to Seat Ibiza Cupra to finish second in the 2005 Shell Helix Seat Cupra Cup, together with teammate Menno Kuus.

In 2006, Nick stepped into Formula Ford Championship, becoming the Benelux champion with Geva Racing team. In 2007, he switched to Formula Renault, participating with MP Motorsport in the North European Cup and finishing in the sixth place. He remained one more season in that competition, scoring one podium at Spa to finish 8th in the points.

Nick Catsburh early in a career

Nick was Megane Trophy Eurocup champion in 2010

In 2009, Catsburg left single-seater racing, participating in the Dutch GT4 championship with Ginetta G50 and entering Megane Trophy Eurocup, the one-make series with purpose-built 360-hp cars which was a part of the World Series by Renault. In his first Megane Trophy season, Catsburg scored only one podium to finish 10th in the points. In 2010, he was a dominant driver in the field, winning seven out of thirteen races to become a champion.

In 2010, Catsburg expanded his activities in Dutch GT4 championship to six races, completely focusing on GT racing in 2011, participating full seasons both in the FIA GT1 Championship and FIA GT3 European Championship.

Nick's championship winning car in the 2010 Megane Trophy Eurocup

2011 – double programme in FIA GT1 and GT3 championships

In the FIA GT1 Championship, he started a season with Exim Bank Team China, sharing the #11 Chevrolet Corvette C6.R Z06 with Mike Hezemans. After four events, he joined Sumo Power GT team, to drive #20 Nissan GT-R R35 together with Enrique Bernoldi. At the end of the season, Catsburg was 13th in the FIA GT1 classification.

In the 2011 FIA GT3 Championship, Catsburg was driving the #36 BMW Z4 GT3 for DB Motorsport, alongside Dutch teammate Harrie Kolen. With two podiums, at Silverstone and Navarra, they finished 14th in the points.

Third place in the 2012 Dutch GT Championship

In 2012, Catsburg's main competition was the Dutch GT Championship, where he was driving the BMW M3 GT4 for Racing Team Holland by Ekris Motorsport. Ricardo van der Ende was his co-driver for most of the season. With five wins, Catsburg finished third in the championship.

For the rest of the season, Catsburg participated in selected races of the Blancpain Endurance Series with BMW Z4 GT3, in three races with Race Art team and in one race with Marc VDS Racing Team.

Teams' title in the 2013 Blancpain Endurance Series

Catsburg joined Marc VDS Racing Team in 2013, to participate full season in the Blancpain Endurance Series. He shared the #4 BMW Z4 with Markus Palttala and Henri Moser. Catsburg finished 10th in the points, the team was the best among teams.

Catsburg also participated in two races (Red Bull Ring, Hungaroring) of the European Le Mans Series, driving the Oreca FLM 09 prototype for Algarve Pro Racing Team.

Nick Catsburg

Diverse racing schedule in 2014

In 2014, Catsburg had a diverse racing programme, participating in seven different competitions with five different teams. He raced a full season in the Blancpain Endurance Series with TDS Racing's BMW Z4 GT3, finishing 4th in the points after two wins (Nurburgring, Paul Ricard). His full-time co-driver was Henry Hassid.

Nick's other competitions in 2014 were VLN Endurance Series (Marc VDS, BMW Z4), International GT Open (Selleslagh, Chevrolet Corvette), French GT Championship (DKR Engineering, BMW Z4), GT4 European Series, Blancpain Sprint Series and Belgian Racing Car Championship (NCS Motorsport, Lamborghini Gallardo).

Racing with Gallardo in Europe and America

In 2015, Catsburg's main competition was the Blancpain Sprint Series with Reiter Engineering. He was driving the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 R-EX alongside Albert von Thurn und Taxis. With one victory. Nicky finished 13th in the points.

Catsburg races with Gallardo also in the Pirelli World Challenge in the United States, scoring three podiums in nine races.

2015 Spa 24h winners: Luhr, Catsburg and Palttala

Victory at 2015 Spa 24h

The highlight of the 2015 season was Catsburg's participation at 24 hours of Spa with BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS, together with Markus Palttala and Lucas Luhr in the #46 BMW Z4 GT3. After few retirements in previous Spa 24h attempt, Catsburg finally finished the race and took the victory.

Catsburg was a part of Marc VDS team at 24 hours of Nurburgring, where they finished in the fourth place. Nicky's co-drivers were Dirk Adorf, Augusto Farfus and Jorg Muller.

Catsburg was the WTCC race winner at Moscow Raceway

Racing with Lada in the World Touring Car Championship

The milestone change happened in Nick's career in June 2015, when he joined Lada Sport Rosneft in the World Touring Car Championship. He debuted with #10 Lada Vesta WTCC in the fifth round at Moscow Raceway, taking fourth place in Race 2. Catsburg stayed with the team until the end of the season, repeating the 4th place as the best result one more time, at Shanghai International Circuit.

In the 2016 WTCC season, Catsburg was the full-time driver for Lada Sport Rosneft, together with Gabriele Tarquini and Hugo Valente. After two podiums early in the season, at Slovakia Ring and Hungaroring, he shined out at Moscow Raceway in June, scoring second place in the Opening Race and winning the Main Race. At the end of the season, Catsburg was 7th in the points, the best of three Lada drivers.

Catsburg with Rowe Racing's BMW at 2016 FIA GT World Cup

GT racing with BMW and Porsche in 2016

Parallel to his WTCC commitments, Catsburg continued to participate in GT races during 2016, driving BMW M6 GT3 for Rowe Racing in the Blancpain GT Series and Porsche 911 GT3 R for Black Swan Racing in the IMSA SportsCar Championship. He finished in the 7th place at the season-closing FIA GT World Cup at Macau Guia Circuit.

In January 2017, Catsburg joined BMW Team RLL at 24 hours of Daytona. Unfortunately, he had no chance to drive the #24 BMW M6 GTLM in the race because his teammmate Kuno Wittmer, who was the race-opening driver, retired after just 15 laps.

In 2017, Catsburg was a WTCC race winner at Nurburgring Nordschleife

Season with Volvo in the World Touring Car Championship

In 2017, he spent full season with Volvo factory team in the FIA World Touring Car Championship, driving the #63 Volvo S60 Polestar TC1. He was a race winner once, at Nurburgring Nordschleife, and added three more podiums to finish fifth in the final standings and contributing to Volvo's manufacturer's title.

His other commitments in 2017 are with BMW customer teams in the ADAC GT Masters and other GT competitions, including24-hour endurance races at Spa and Nurburgring. He finished second at Nurburgring 24 Hours with Rowe Racing.

Racing in a new BMW M8 GTLM from 2018

Catsburg gets a new car for the 2018 season. It's the BMW M8 GTLM, prepared for the IMSA SportsCar Championship and FIA World Endurance Championship. In the US, Catsburg participated in two rounds of the IMSA Championship with BMW Team RLL while in the FIA WEC he's a full-time driver of the #81 BMW for Team MTEK.

Besides racing with BMW in the 2018-2019 FIA WEC super season, Catsburg accepted a new touring car challenge in 2019, joining Hyundai in the WTCR - FIA World Touring Car Cup.

BMW left FIA WEC in 2019 but Catsburg continued to drive BMWs in other GT competitions, such is Intercontinental GT Challenge.

Nick Catsburg has been chosen to drive a new BMW M8 GTLM in 2018Photos: nickcatsburg.nl, Clement Marin/DPPI, BMW Motorsport,