German driver Sophia Floersch, the first woman to score points in the FIA Formula 3 Championship, has signed with HMD Motorsports to compete in the 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone championship, the team announced Thursday.
Floersch, 24, tested last month at Barber Motorsports Park, one of the most physically demanding tracks on the series schedule. She turned 92 laps, steadily improving her pace throughout the day, the team said.
“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 U.S. now, as it is the biggest racing market worldwide.”
Advancing through the European racing ladder, Floersch progressed from the ADAC Formula 4 Championship to the FIA Formula 3 European Championship in 2018. Following her recovery from a spinal injury suffered in the 2018 Macau Grand Prix, she continued to develop her career by competing in the Formula Regional European Championship, finishing seventh in the 2019 standings.
Floersch has since competed in FIA Formula 3 over multiple seasons, debuting in 2020 and returning in 2023 and 2024. Alongside her single-seater pursuits, she has also raced in the European Le Mans Series in the LMP2 class, earning two podium finishes. She was quickest in the 2021 WEC Rookie Test in Bahrain, after finishing 2020 in the ninth position in the all-female team of Richard Mille Racing at the Le Mans 24 Hours.
In recent years, INDY NXT by Firestone has welcomed a rising number of female drivers to the series. After over a decade-long gap without female representation, three women have competed in the past two seasons alone. In 2025, Floersch will become the fifth woman to race in the series in recent years, joining fellow rookie and HMD Motorsports teammate Hailie Deegan.
“The United States is more open to embracing a female racer, so this makes me very excited and optimistic about the things to come,” Floersch said. “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.”
The season begins March 2 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Remaining the largest team on the grid, Floersch joins Caio Collet, Josh Pierson, Tommy Smith, Bryce Aron, Nolan Allaer and Deegan as HMD drivers.
“We are excited to have Sophia confirmed for INDY NXT in 2025,” HMD president Mike Maurini said. “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.”