Manuel Maldonado

Last updated

Manuel Maldonado
Manuel Maldonado in 2023.jpg
Manuel Maldonado in 2023
Nationality Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuelan
Born (1999-10-05) 5 October 1999 (age 24)
Maracay, Venezuela
Related to Pastor Maldonado (cousin)
European Le Mans Series career
Debut season 2021
Current team Panis Racing
Racing licence FIA Silver Driver.png FIA Silver
Car number65
EngineGibson GK-428 4.2 litre V8 naturally aspirated
Former teams United Autosports
Starts12
Wins0
Podiums5
Poles0
Fastest laps0
Previous series
2016
2016-18
2017-19 		Italian F4 Championship
MRF Challenge
BRDC British F3 Championship
Championship titles
2021 Asian Le Mans Series - LMP3
Maldonado in the paddock at the Brands Hatch round in 2019. Manuel Maldonado at Brands Hatch.png
Maldonado in the paddock at the Brands Hatch round in 2019.

Manuel Maldonado Vargas (born 5 October 1999) is a Venezuelan racing driver currently racing in the European Le Mans Series for Panis Racing. He is the cousin of former Formula One driver Pastor Maldonado.

Contents

Career

Italian F4

Maldonado's first experience in single seaters was in Italian F4 in 2016. [1] He drove alongside Leonard Hoogenboom for the Cram Motorsport team, a lackluster first year in Italian F4 saw Maldonado fail to score any points and record his best result of 12th only 7 races into a 23 race season.

MRF Challenge

Maldonado's first points of his career came at the 1st round of the 2016–17 MRF Challenge Formula 2000 Championship where he finished 9th. [2] Another poor season took Maldonado to 14th in the table with his best 2 finishes of 8th coming at the Buddh International Circuit. Maldonado returned for the following campaign finishing in the points 7 times with his best finish of 5th coming on two occasions. Maldonado originally finished 3rd at the second race after a poor start from pole-sitter Julien Falchero allowed Maldonado to jump into 2nd place, Indonesian driver Presley Martono kept the pressure on Maldonado all race before pipping him to the line after a photo finish. Maldonado was later disqualified. The next race another penalty forced Maldonado out of the points after a drive-through penalty for jumping the start, dropped him to 15th. [3]

British F3

Maldonado joined the Fortec Motorsport team for the 2017 BRDC British F3 Championship, he enjoyed an uneventful season with his best result coming at Silverstone Circuit where he finished 6th. He ended up 20 points ahead of closest rival Guilherme Samaia and 11 points behind Omar Ismail. The 2018 season was where Maldonado took his first career victory at a wet Oulton Park, still with Fortec, Maldonado started in 5th place however after the first corner he was leading the race. Despite a safety car and a red flag due to incidents behind them, the top 3 drove a close yet uneventful race which Maldonado came out on top. Maldonado shared the podium with teammate Tristan Charpentier and Douglas Motorsport driver Jamie Chadwick. [4] Maldonado won one more race that season taking him to 7th in the standings, behind Billy Monger. A third season in the series with Fortec saw him partner American Kris Wright and Brit Johnathan Hoggard. Maldonado took 5 podiums that year as well as a singular win at Silverstone, a dominating race which saw him finish 4 seconds ahead of 2nd place Nicolás Varrone.[ citation needed ]

Euroformula Open

Maldonado joined the German based team Motopark for the 2020 Euroformula open championship, this has been up to date Manuel's best season in single seaters, having had 4 podiums and finishing the season in 4th place overall in the driver's standings. Manuel showed strong pace throughout the year having 2 front row starts, one coming in at Red Bull Ring, Austria and the second one at the season finale in Barcelona at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Manuel Maldonado in Barcelona 2020 Maldonado in Barcelona 2020.jpg
Manuel Maldonado in Barcelona 2020
Maldonado front row start in Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya 2020 Maldonado front row start in Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya 2020 with Team Motopark.jpg
Maldonado front row start in Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya 2020
Maldonado in EFO 2020 Maldonado in Red Bull Ring during the 2020 Euroformula Season.jpg
Maldonado in EFO 2020

Asian Le Mans Series

Maldonado in Yas Marina circuit for the ALMS in 2021 LMP3 ABU DHABI CHAMPION.png
Maldonado in Yas Marina circuit for the ALMS in 2021

Maldonado Joined the UK based team United Autosports for the 2021 Asian Le Mans Series, to make his endurance racing debut in car 23 an LMP3 Ligier with teammates Wayne Boy and Rory Penttinen, to make an extremely successful campaign by taking the championship. winning both races in Dubai and the last race in Abu Dhabi, the only race the squad didn't win was when they DNF from an alternator failure in race 1 in Abu Dhabi.

GT World Challenge

Manuel made his GT debut in 2022 with team Garage 59, in the McLaren 720s GT3 machinery, he competed in the Silver class with teammates Nicolai Kjærgaard and Dean MacDonald, they scored 3 podiums that season with best result of 2nd in their class during the 3 hours of Barcelona.

Manuel Maldonado and Teammates with Garage 59 in Barcelona 2022 Manuel Maldonado and Teammates with Garage 59.jpg
Manuel Maldonado and Teammates with Garage 59 in Barcelona 2022
Maldonado in 2022 with team Garage 59 Maldonado in 2022 with team garage 59.jpg
Maldonado in 2022 with team Garage 59

European Le Mans Series

Job Van Uitert, Manuel Maldonado & Tijmen Van Der Helm at the 2023 ELMS awards ceremony Elms 2023 awards ceremony.jpg
Job Van Uitert, Manuel Maldonado & Tijmen Van Der Helm at the 2023 ELMS awards ceremony

Manuel made his European Le Mans Series debut in 2021 with the United Autosports team, he paired with Nico Jamin and Job Van Uitert, they had a best result of 3rd place in the 4 Hours of Le Castellet and concluded the year in 12th place overall. Manuel later went on to race in the GT world championship for a year before making a return to the series, this time around with the well known Panis Racing, which turned to be a successful campaign, alongside Job Van Uitert and Tijmen Van Der Helm as teammates, they went on to score 4 podiums across the season and finished 3rd overall in the final standings.

Maldonado in Le Mans Car 65 Manuel Maldonado in Le Mans 2023.jpg
Maldonado in Le Mans
Manuel with Team Boss Olivier Panis and teammate Job Van Uitert. Manuel Maldonado, Olivier Panis and Job Van. Uitert.jpg
Manuel with Team Boss Olivier Panis and teammate Job Van Uitert.

Racing record

Career summary

SeasonSeriesTeamRacesWinsPolesFLapsPodiumsPointsPosition
2016 Italian F4 Championship Cram Motorsport 200000036th
2016–17 MRF Challenge Formula 2000 MRF Racing 1600002014th
2017 BDRC British Formula 3 Championship Fortec Motorsports 23000020512th
2017–18 MRF Challenge Formula 2000 MRF Racing 1500003911th
2018 BRDC British Formula 3 Championship Fortec Motorsports 2320022927th
2019 BRDC British Formula 3 Championship Fortec Motorsports 2410153486th
Euroformula Open Championship 20000024th
2020 Euroformula Open Championship Team Motopark 1800041534th
2021 European Le Mans Series - LMP2 United Autosports 5000128.512th
Asian Le Mans Series - LMP3 43113781st
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 10000N/ADNF
2022 GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup Garage 591000004.521st
GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup - Silver Cup 0101547th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup 500000NC
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup - Silver 0102406th
Asian Le Mans Series - GT 40000215th
2023 European Le Mans Series - LMP2 Panis Racing 60004863rd
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 10000N/A14th
Nürburgring Endurance Series - VT2-FWD Walkenhorst Motorsport410020NC†
2024 European Le Mans Series - LMP2 Panis Racing by TDS 10000105th*

† As Maldonado was a guest driver, he was ineligible for championship points. * Season still in progress.

Complete Italian F4 Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeam1234567891011121314151617181920212223PosPoints
2016 Cram Motorsport MIS
1 		MIS
2
21		 MIS
3
20		 MIS
4
DNQ		 ADR
1
18		 ADR
2 		ADR
3
12		 ADR
4
21		 IMO1
1
23		 IMO1
2
28		 IMO1
3
24		 MUG
1
27		 MUG
2
19		 MUG
3
24		 VLL
1
Ret		 VLL
2
Ret		 VLL
3
23		 IMO2
1
13		 IMO2
2
16		 IMO2
3
18		 MNZ
1
16		 MNZ
2
21		 MNZ
3
17		36th0

Complete BRDC British Formula 3 Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeam123456789101112131415161718192021222324DCPoints
2017 Fortec Motorsports OUL
1
15		 OUL
2
7		 OUL
3
15		 ROC
1
13		 ROC
2
10		 ROC
3
EX		 SNE1
1
12		 SNE1
2
Ret		 SNE1
3
11		 SIL
1
8		 SIL
2
6		 SIL
3
13		 SPA
1
15		 SPA
2
14		 SPA
3
15		 BRH
1
10		 BRH
2
8		 BRH
3
13		 SNE2
1
14		 SNE2
2
11		 SNE2
3
Ret		 DON
1
10		 DON
2
7		 DON
3
9		12th205
2018 Fortec Motorsports OUL
1
11		 OUL
2
15		 OUL
3
10		 ROC
1
5		 ROC
2
61		 ROC
3
4		 SNE
1
17		 SNE
2
1		 SNE
3
14		 SIL1
1
12		 SIL1
2
16		 SIL1
3
7		 SPA
1
4		 SPA
2
113		 SPA
3
4		 BHI
1
8		 BHI
2
71		 BHI
3
7		 DON
1
7		 DON
2
Ret		 DON
3
8		 SIL2
1
4		 SIL2
2
13		 SIL2
3
C		7th292
2019 Fortec Motorsports OUL
1
8		 OUL
2
33		 OUL
3
8		 SNE
1
8		 SNE
2
9		 SNE
3
5		 SIL1
1
5		 SIL1
2
104		 SIL1
3
8		 DON1
1
7		 DON1
2
35		 DON1
3
9		 SPA
1
3		 SPA
2
115		 SPA
3
6		 BRH
1
6		 BRH
2
74		 BRH
3
Ret		 SIL2
1
16		 SIL2
2
1		 SIL2
3
11		 DON2
1
3		 DON2
2
76		 DON2
3
4		6th348

Complete Euroformula Open Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeam123456789101112131415161718PosPoints
2019 Fortec Motorsports LEC
1 		LEC
2 		PAU
1 		PAU
2 		HOC
1 		HOC
2 		SPA
1 		SPA
2 		HUN
1 		HUN
2 		RBR
1 		RBR
2 		SIL
1
12		 SIL
2
11		 CAT
1
WD		 CAT
2
WD		 MNZ
1 		MNZ
2 		24th0
2020 Team Motopark HUN
1
5		 HUN
2
6		 LEC
1
7		 LEC
2
14		 RBR
1
2		 RBR
2
2		 MNZ
1
4		 MNZ
2
Ret		 MNZ
3
10		 MUG
1
11		 MUG
2
6		 SPA
1
6		 SPA
2
12		 SPA
3
2		 CAT
1
5		 CAT
2
4		 CAT
3
7		 CAT
4
2		4th153

Complete European Le Mans Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearEntrantClassChassisEngine123456RankPoints
2021 United Autosports LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 CAT
9		 RBR
16		 LEC
3		 MNZ
WD		 SPA
5		 ALG
10		12th28.5
2023 Panis Racing LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 CAT
2		 LEC
6		 ARA
4		 SPA
2		 POR
3		 ALG
3		3rd86
2024 Panis VDS Racing LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 CAT
5		 LEC IMO SPA MUG ALG 5th*10*

* Season still in progress.

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

YearTeamCo-DriversCarClassLapsPos.Class
Pos.
2021 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Autosports Flag of France.svg Nico Jamin
Flag of South Africa.svg Jonathan Aberdein 		Oreca 07-Gibson LMP275DNFDNF
2023 Flag of France.svg Panis Racing Flag of the Netherlands.svg Tijmen van der Helm
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Job van Uitert 		Oreca 07-Gibson LMP231625th14th

Complete GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup results

(Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamCarClass1234567Pos.Points
2022 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 Silver IMO
20		 LEC
Ret		 SPA
6H
43		 SPA
12H
Ret		 SPA
24H
Ret		 HOC
18		 CAT
12		6th40

*Season still in progress.

Complete GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamCarClass12345678910Pos.Points
2022 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 Silver BRH
1
15		 BRH
2
13		 MAG
1
16		 MAG
2
14		 ZAN
1
13		 ZAN
2
22		 MIS
1
19		 MIS
2
20		 VAL
1
14		 VAL
2
6		7th54

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References

  1. ↑ "Manuel Maldonado enters Italian F4 with Cram - Formula Scout". 6 February 2016.
  2. ↑ "Schumacher, Newey headline MRF Challenge entry list". www.motorsport.com. 15 November 2016.
  3. ↑ Wood, Elliot (18 November 2017). "Rinus VeeKay victorious in third MRF Challenge race in Bahrain".
  4. ↑ Suttill, Josh (2 April 2018). "Manuel Maldonado takes maiden BRDC British F3 win in crazy wet reverse-grid race".
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