Shawn Rashid has been announced as a second driver for Nielsen Racing in the 2025 Euroformula Open. The American spent last season racing in the GB3 Championship and then – over the winter – Formula Regional Oceania in New Zealand, reaching the rostrum in both. With his star in the ascendancy, the American decided the time was ripe for a fresh challenge this year – and Euroformula Open presented itself as the perfect opportunity.
Indeed, Euroformula Open has established itself as a key stepping-stone on the international single-seater ladder, providing an ideal platform for rising stars to showcase their skills in a competitive environment. It has also developed a strong track record of helping to catapult drivers towards the pinnacle of the sport.
“We had a number of options on the table for 2025 in various different series,” reflects the Atlanta, Georgia native. “I knew I wanted to move on from GB3 and continue advancing my career, and while the Euroformula opportunity came up quite late, it immediately piqued my interest. I spoke to a few drivers in New Zealand who have raced in the championship, and they all described it as the best single-seater around – very close to F1 in terms of aero-to-weight balance – and said they learned more from competing in Euroformula than any other series.”
“Nielsen Racing is a really well-managed, professionally-run outfit that has achieved a lot of success in prototype racing, and I’ve received plenty of positive feedback about the team. That made the choice pretty straightforward in the end. The calendar is also really exciting, and I’ve either raced or tested at all of the tracks except Hockenheim, so there should be no big learning curve in that respect. I already have a good relationship with my new team-mate, Ed Pearson, having raced against him in GB3, and I’m looking forward to working together. There are several drivers with extensive experience coming back, so the competition will be of a very high standard but ultimately, my goal is simple – I want to finish inside the overall top three.”
