Rotax
Grand
Finals

Back Nico. Back the dream. Back the future of New Zealand Motorsport.

NICO THOMASEN

Countdown to Portimão

2026 Rotax Max Challenge Micro Max Champion

Driver Profile

About Nico

For 11-year-old Nico Thomasen, driving isn’t something he does. It’s part of who he is.

If he’s not in a kart, he’s on the sim, in his paddock car or on a motorbike. If it has wheels, Nico wants to drive it. There’s a natural feel and adaptability there that’s difficult to teach, and a competitive fire that’s even harder to switch off.

That passion started with his dad. Motorsport has always been part of Dad’s world, and somewhere along the way, what they shared became a dream our whole family got behind. The long drives, late nights, weekends at racetracks, big wins and tough days. We’re all in.

And Nico is giving us every reason to believe.

He’s the current New Zealand Sprint Champion, back-to-back North Island Champion, Top Half Series Champion and back-to-back NZ Grand Prix Champion. Others in motorsport have likened his raw ability and personality to Ryan Wood and Shane van Gisbergen, but Nico is carving out a name of his own.

Now that journey is taking him to Portugal to represent New Zealand at the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals.

The dream is big: Supercars.

Portugal is the next step, and we’re looking for people who want to get behind a young Kiwi with a genuine love for racing, an incredible drive to succeed and a family willing to give this dream everything we’ve got.

This is just the beginning. Come be part of the story.

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Funding Goal

$0 / $23,500

Fueling the journey to Portugal. These funds cover travel, accommodation, testing, and consumables for the 2026 world finals.

Any money left over from the trip will be contributed to Nico's racing here in New Zealand and in Australia.

Donated? Log it here

Where the Funds Go

01 // Travel

Flights

$12,000

02 // Accommodation

Team Stay

$6,000

03 // Testing

Track Time & Prep

$1,000

04 // Consumables

Tires, Fuel & Parts

$1,000

05 // Race Gear

FIA Approved Kit

$3,500

Win Big // The Raffle

Signed
Warriors Jumper.

Signed New Zealand Warriors NRL jersey, the raffle prize

$30 per ticket, 150 numbers (1 to 150) available. Pick your number and you're in the draw. Every ticket helps get Nico to Portugal.

Enter the raffle

Backed By

Businesses Behind Nico

A huge thank you to the businesses already backing Nico's journey to Portugal. Their support is helping turn this dream into reality.

New Zealand Crane Hire

Hunt Diesel American Style Homes Equipment Capital

Donate Directly

Every contribution goes straight to Nico's 2026 Rotax Grand Finals campaign. Please use the account below and include "Nico Portugal" as the reference.

Account Name

Shannon THOMASEN

Account Number

12 3086 0229490 01

Reference

Nico Portugal

Why Portugal?

The Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals is the Olympics of karting. Only the top drivers from each nation qualify. Nico is currently ranked #1 in New Zealand in Rotax Micro Max, and now he needs support to get to Portimão, Portugal, from New Zealand champion to the world stage.