Poland’s Tymek Kucharczyk will be the first driver from his country to take part in Indy NXT in the upcoming 2026 season. It follows him missing out on getting a drive in F2.
In an interview with the highly respected Polish website Parcfer.me at Macau late last year, the 19-year-old said the focus was on F2, although alternative options were under consideration.
In December on social media he confirmed he would not be able to drive in Formula 2 in 2026. As is the case for many drivers, a lack of budget was the reason.
Tymek Kucharczyk explains how missing out on F2 led to a drive in Indy NXT for 2026
“Well, there are a couple of aspects of that [the move to America],” he told Pit Debrief and other media outlets during Indy NXT content days.
“I think the most important thing was, I was trying to get an F2 seat and we were pretty close to it. And the budget killed us.
“So we have to find a good alternative that I would still be able to develop as a driver, to jump into quicker machinery and stay in Formula racing, because that’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to be in single-seaters.”
Testing an Indy NXT car and committing to the series
Kucharczyk took part in the Chris Griffis Memorial Test at IMS last October with HMD Motorsports, getting his first taste of the Indy NXT car and the Firestone tyres.
He was quick immediately. A top 10 on his debut was impressive. The series had won him over.
In January, it was confirmed he was joining HMD Motorsports.
“And the only real option that I was thinking about was Indy NXT. I had some experience in American racing with karting.
“Obviously, it’s so much different, but I really, really enjoyed that moment. I have great memories with that.
“So we scheduled a test at IMS last year, and I just fell in love with how things turned around here.”
Looking to find sponsorship and trying to get fans in Europe to watch racing in the US
Kucharczyk also hopes it will open doors for him regarding sponsorships from Polish businesses or wealthy people in the United States as he looks to continue his racing career, whether in the US or elsewhere beyond this season.
He would also like to lead the way regarding getting Polish and European racing fans to watch Indy NXT and IndyCar this year. Europe very much remains in the ‘untapped potential’ category for the North American series on the viewership side.
“It’s also a great, I think, market for sponsorship because there is a massive Polish comminity here in America. So hopefully we can open new roads.
“And I say it a lot of times that I’m fully dependent on sponsorship. My family doesn’t have money to afford racing.
“So yeah, I hope we can find some great solutions here in America and make also Poland, Europe, see how great American racing is.
“I feel in that way that, I’ll be the first Polish driver. I’ll be kind of a Europe ambassador of American racing.
“I’m really glad to showcase how big the potential here is.”
Would Tymek Kucharczyk consider F2 in the future if the opportunity arises?
In his two seasons in GB3, the Polish youngster finished 7th and 3rd in the 2023 and 2024 championships.
He raced against the likes of Alex Dunne, John Bennett (both now in F2), Louis Sharp, Michael Shin (both now in F3) and other former F3 drivers who made the step up to that grid in 2024 and 2025. Kucharczyk beat them all at times in 2023 and 2024, although he fell just short of the championship in his second season.
Last year in Euroformula, he won the title in a breathtaking finish at Monza, beating 2026 F3 driver Yevan David to the crown.
Asked by Pit Debrief if he was frustrated to miss out on F2 and if it could be a option in the future considering his impressive pedigree in the lower European categories, Tymek Kucharczyk says he likes to look ahead and not dwell on the past.
“I mean, let’s see.
“I’m a type of a person that doesn’t regret anything in life, so I’m just really looking forward to the experience I will have here in America.
“Obviously we were aiming for F2 for most of the last year. But at some point you have to realise that this is a very, very big long shot of a move.”
Impressed by the simple path on the ‘Road to Indy’
In recent years, an influx of drivers from or based in Europe have made the move Stateside. While some go straight into IndyCar, others have started in Indy NXT and made the step up.
The path is very clear should you have the speed and talent to make it. Christian Rasmussen has demonstrated that, starting out in F4 in the US, before winning the USF 2000 National Championship, Indy Pro 2000 Championship (now USF Pro 2000 Championship) and Indy Lights (now Indy NXT) titles.
In Europe, there is multiple F4 championships across the continent. The path is a lot harder — and a lot more expensive.
“And I think the America is a new market, it’s a new place that I can really showcase my potential, my talent, because that’s the main thing.
“If you’re a type of a driver that lacks a budget, I do really hope that America is the place where you can showcase your skill and someone can see you and pick you up and give you some, I don’t know, type of sponsorship, scholarship.
“And it’s just, I feel like the road to IndyCar is so much better, like the idea of it is so much better than the road to F1.
“When you’re starting in F4, if you show potential, you win a championship, you have a scholarship to do another level and then so on, so it’s just much more natural.
“It really shows that here in America, the people care about fast drivers. I have nothing left than trying to be the quickest one of them.
“So let’s see how the future goes.”
Tymek Kucharczyk not completely ruling out F2 or F1 but very much enjoying the US and Indy NXT
Robert Kubica made history for Poland in single-seater racing and Formula 1. He was the first and still only Polish driver to win, take a pole and drive in F1. If it was not for his terrible injury in 2011, he could have been a future World Champion.
Nonetheless, he has achieved even more success. Last year he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Yifei Ye and Phil Hanson. Once again, he was the first and only driver from Poland to date to win the overall race.
For now, Tymek Kucharczyk still harbours ambitions regarding Formula 1 and making history there. However, that could change if he completely falls in love with racing in the US and bids farewell to single-seaters on the other side of the Atlantic.
“We haven’t seen a driver going from IndyCar to F1 for a couple of years [Palou did a practice session for McLaren at COTA in 2022; O’Ward multiple times in recent seasons], but it’s not like it’s impossible. So let’s see.
“I’ve been saying that America is great, the racing here is old school and I really enjoy it. So maybe I fall in love so much that I never want to go back to Europe. Who knows?
“But F2 and F1 is still inside. Let’s see how it goes.”
Excitement is building for Tymek Kucharczyk ahead of 2026 Indy NXT campaign
Kucharczyk is excited to get going and find out where he sits in the pecking order at the 2026 Indy NXT season-opener at St. Pete next month. It will also give him a strong indication of how his year might develop.
Having one-time F2 race winner Enzo Fittipaldi alongside him in one of the HMD Motorsports cars will be a big benchmark for the Pole.
The Brazilian is also embarking on his maiden Indy NXT season. He was fastest on day 2 of the Sebring test.
“I’m really looking forward to the first one, St. Pete, because then everything will kick off. You’ll know your real pace, you’ll know the pace of other guys, of other teams.
“I think the first race weekend will really show if there is a potential to do something big this year.
“I kind of really look forward to ovals, because that will be a completely new thing for me; I haven’t done a single lap on an oval yet, so it will be a big thing.
“But I think it will be really exciting.”
