NXT Gen Cup Champion Lukas Stiefelhagen handed BMW M Racing Academy shootout wildcard
BMW M Motorsport has awarded a coveted wildcard to 2025 NXT Gen Cup Champion Lukas Stiefelhagen, granting the 18-year-old Dutch driver a direct invitation to the official BMW M Racing Academy shootout this October.
Stiefelhagen claimed the all-electric junior touring car title after a standout season in the MINI Cooper SE-based LRT NXT1, taking seven wins across 14 races and securing the championship during the final round together with DTM at Sachsenring.
The wildcard secures Lukas a spot in the BMW M Racing Academy shootout in Munich on October 27–28 – and showcases the reputation NXT Gen Cup has built as a launchpad for young drivers with professional ambitions.
“BMW M Motorsport has followed Lukas’ season and seen his development first-hand,” said Fredrik Lestrup, founder and manager of NXT Gen Cup. “We’ve had a great and open dialogue with BMW M Motorsport since the very beginning of this project, and we’re proud that they recognise the level of talent in our championship.”
The BMW M Racing Academy is the German manufacturer’s official development programme for customer racing drivers, aimed at offering them exclusive access to BMW M Motorsport support and giving them the opportunity to significantly improve as GT racers. The academy focuses on all aspects of modern racing – from physical training and mental coaching to race analysis, media handling and on-track performance.
By awarding the wildcard, BMW M Motorsport highlights the potential of all-electric racing as a platform for developing racecraft and driver skills – and underlines how NXT Gen Cup is becoming a scouting ground for top-tier motorsport programmes.
“This is a milestone for us,” Lestrup continues. “It proves that our philosophy works – combining sustainability with top-level racing and education. To see a major global manufacturer hand-pick one of our drivers for their academy shootout speaks volumes about the path we’re building.”
“I’m extremely thankful for this opportunity. It’s going to be an amazing experience, and I’m really looking forward to showing BMW my full potential in Munich,” said Lukas Stiefelhagen, and continues:
“I’ve had a very successful season where I’ve made big steps as a driver, and I’m proud that BMW has recognised that progress. I also feel a strong connection to the brand, having raced in NXT Gen Cup for two years and in the BMW Racing Cup this season. That makes this invitation feel even more special.”
While the wildcard secures Lukas a place in the BMW M Racing Academy shootout, it does not guarantee him a spot in the academy itself. It is now up to Lukas to prove himself during the competitive selection process in Munich.
The entire NXT Gen Cup organisation is proudly supporting him and keeping its fingers crossed for a successful outcome.
About NXT Gen Cup
The NXT Gen Cup is the world’s first 100% electric junior touring car cup where young female and male drivers race the LRT NXT1, a fully electric race car based on the MINI Cooper SE road car – engineered and built by Lestrup Racing Team. The series races together with DTM and is organized through an “arrive and drive” concept, enabling the junior drivers to focus on driving and creating the foundation for a professional racing career.