In the first part of an exclusive interview with Pit Debrief, Polish rookie Tymek Kucharczyk opened up on his move to Indy NXT with HMD Motorsports and the good working relationship with his teammates.
The 20-year-old was at a crossroads looking ahead to 2026. Having not had significant financial backing throughout his career despite competing and beating some drivers in F2 and F3 this year, Kucharczyk had to look for an alternative option.
The HMD Motorsports driver revealed he sent an email to the team’s president Mike Maurini that ultimately led to an opportunity to run at the Indy NXT Chris Griffis Memorial Test.
Kucharczyk on taking the US route to stay in high level open-wheel racing and running with HMD
“Yeah, it was actually quite a funny story because it wasn’t very normal, let’s say.
“I actually sent an email to Mike Maurini, my team boss from HMD, asking if there are like any possibilities to test with you guys to see how things go.
“Obviously, our goal was still F2 at that moment. But I was also kind of realising that F2 is such a long shot. And I don’t know if it will happen. The budgets are so high.
“So I also wanted to find myself some form of an alternative to keep going. And I obviously wanted to stay in Formula Racing just because the level here is the highest.
“So I contacted Mike. I sent him an email. I think it was just like only two weeks before the test itself.
“So it was just, to be honest, perfectly timed. I didn’t know about that test. So it was a bit of a lucky timing.
“And then right after, he texted me back saying, ‘yeah, sure, we have one car. We would love to have you’.
“I think initially I wasn’t on his list. So it was just a bit like ‘oh, you know, Tymek came up. He’s pretty good. Maybe we give him a chance’.”
Medical checks during the final round of the Euroformula Open Championship
With the test at IMS taking place eight days after the conclusion of the 2025 Euroformula Open Championship that the Pole won in the most dramatic of circumstances, Kucharczyk revealed he needed to do medical tests on the Friday of that weekend before heading Stateside.
“So right after Monza, I flew to America.
“I even had to take like some medical checks in Italy on my final round so I can test in America. Like I had to do some blood tests, EKG, heartbeat test as well.
“So I did it on the Friday before my final race day at Monza. So that was a bit funny and intense as well. I went to like hospital with my racing suit in Monza.”
Kucharczyk fastest of the HMD Motorsports runners in the Chris Griffis Memorial Test, goes on to join them
Alongside Tymek Kucharczyk at HMD Motorsports in the test that took place on October 27th were current teammates Enzo Fittipaldi and Jack Beeton. 2022 Formula 3 champion Victor Martins also tried out Indy NXT machinery with the team that day.
The Łodygowice youngster was the fastest of the four, clocking a 1:15.1956 to finish up P9; he felt even more was on the table once he had got comfortable with the new machinery. Kucharczyk was two, three and seven spots ahead of Fittipaldi, Martins and Beeton respectively.
HMD Motorsports were impressed by the Polish driver and they offered him a contract for 2026 following his day in their car. After four races of the current Indy NXT campaign, he is the only driver to have finished top 5 in all of them.
“And then the testing went pretty well. The team was really happy with how I’ve done. I think test also didn’t really show my full potential because I believe I finished like ninth that test. But in reality, I should have been in top three.
“I just had a bit of traffic on my best laps. So that was a bit of a shame because I feel like maybe even my position would be a bit stronger in the team. But it was still a pretty decent test.
“And first time driving machines so powerful with so much downforce and the brakes being so powerful, like first couple of laps, ‘I was just like, where am I going? It’s really quick’.
“But yeah, I really got comfortable within couple of sessions and I really enjoyed that car/track combination. Yeah, I had a lot of fun driving that thing.
“So after that test, Mike [Maurini] wanted to sign for full season and so we did.”
Having experienced and fast drivers as a reference inside the team
Alongside his three HMD teammates, the team have also got alliances with Cusick Morgan Motorsports and AJ Foyt Racing.
All three teams are stacked with talent, ranging from F2 winner Enzo Fittipaldi, multi-time F2 podium finisher Juan Manuel Correa, oval winner Salvador de Alba, and the very talented youngster Alessandro de Tullio who has come up through the American system.
Kucharczyk explained the importance of having those strong references to get better and learn some valuable tips and tricks for the future.
“Yeah, it’s good for me, for my learning. I have a couple of really experienced drivers.
“A lot of drivers that also raced in America before, so they know the circuits. So there’s always something I can learn from them, from the racing lines and so on.
“Enzo, he’s just such an experienced driver now. I think three seasons in F2. Salvador, who also has done three seasons in Indy NXT. We have de Tullio, who has done a lot of junior racing here in America. So he knows the tracks perfectly.
“So yeah, it is pretty cool, because when you have strong teammates, you can always push yourself forward. You can do more stuff. We have more ability to check the data from different sources.
“All of us have strong points and weak points, so we can learn from each other and then use it as our advantage.
“We also get on with each other pretty well. So that’s an important factor, because if the atmosphere inside the team is good, it’s obviously a bit easier to work and to reach higher levels.”
Working as a team
“But at the same time, we have eight cars, and we have to realise that if we want to win races, we have to work as a team. We have to develop and improve as a team, not as separate individuals.
“So yeah, I’ve been racing in F4, in MP, where we also had eight cars, so it’s not my first time driving in team this big. But I think it’s first time for me driving in team this competitive with drivers this good.”
Tymek Kucharczyk determined to start beating HMD Motorsports teammate Enzo Fittipaldi as Indy NXT heads for IMS next month
Sitting a strong P3 in the standings following the opening four rounds and as the leader of the HMD Motorsports drivers, the multi-time GB3 winner has started very nicely in the United States.
After a difficult weekend for Enzo Fittipaldi at St. Pete, the Brazilian has shown why he was competitive in F2 and F3 over the last three races. He finished one place ahead of his Polish teammate at Arlington (P2 and P3), Barber Race 1 (P2 and P3), and Barber Race 2 (P4 and P5). Although Kucharczyk looked faster in Arlington, he got switchbacked after trying to make a move on his HMD stablemate.
While acknowledging he cannot be the lead car across the HMD ones and the teams they have alliances with every single round, the 20-year-old is hopeful to get one over Fittipaldi at IMS in the doubleheader next month.
“So yeah, I mean, it’s good. I’m happy that after round four, I’m still highest placed out of my team, because that’s really important as well. At the end of the day, you always want to beat your teammates first.
“And to be fair, I kind of have enough of driving behind Enzo, I have enough of looking at Fittipaldi on the rear wing. I think the last three races, every lap I’ve done was behind Enzo.
“So yeah, I got to change that. So that’s a bit of a curse right now.
“But no, it’s good. It’s obviously good. We’re pushing each other.”
Highs and lows
“And yeah, I think we still have a long way to go. For sure, some of us will make mistakes on the way. Some of us will have stronger weeekends, like de Tullio at Barber, Enzo at Arlington, me at St. Pete.
“So everyone will have their own time, and everyone will feel a bit more comfortable with certain conditions and so on.
“It’s all about developing at the end of the day. And yeah, let’s see how it goes.”
