Wikipedia

Ryan Cullen

Ryan Cullen (born 26 March 1991) is an Irish[1] racing driver currently competing in the European Le Mans Series for Vector Sport.[2]

Ryan Cullen
Ryan Cullen in 2023
NationalityRepublic of Ireland Irish
Born (1991-03-26) 26 March 1991 (age 33)
Somerset, United Kingdom
FIA World Endurance Championship career
Debut season2019–20
Current teamVector Sport
Racing licence FIA Silver
Car number10
Former teamsJackie Chan DC Racing
Starts14 (14 entries)
Wins0
Podiums1
Poles0
Fastest laps0
Best finish14th (LMP2) in 2022
Previous series
2018–20
2016–17
2015–17
2015
2013–14
2013
2012		European Le Mans Series
Porsche Carrera Cup Germany
Porsche Supercup
Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain
GP3 Series
Toyota Racing Series
British Formula Ford
Championship titles
2016–17Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge ME

Early career

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Cullen first drove in the British Formula Ford in 2012 as a novice driver which means a driver has no race experience as stated in the MSA regulations, placing sixth overall in the standings and obtaining three podium positions. After partaking in the post-season GP3 test, Cullen signed with Marussia Manor Racing to compete in the GP3 Series in 2013.[3] He failed to score points all year, finishing 29th in the standings, having been beaten by both teammates in all qualifying sessions and races where each driver was classified.[4][5] During the winter, Cullen drove in the MRF Challenge Formula 2000 Championship and finished sixth overall.

He stayed with Marussia Manor for the 2014 GP3 season.[6] Following seven scoreless weekends from Cullen, the team withdrew due to financial troubles, meaning that Cullen would miss the round at Sochi.[7] He returned for the season finale with Trident Racing, but was unable to prevent himself from going a second successive season without scoring.[8] Cullen drove for Koiranen GP during the post-season test.

Cullen went back to the MRF series for 2014/2015, where he finished second with three victories, which turned out to be his only race wins in single-seaters.

Sportscar career

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Porsche series

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In 2015, Cullen performed double-duties, partaking in the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain with G-Cat Racing whilst also racing for VERVA Lechner Racing Team in the Porsche Supercup from round 4 onwards. He scored a best race finish of eighth in the former and 12th in the latter.

After finishing third in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East during the off-season, the Irishman returned to the Porsche Supercup with Lechner Racing whilst also competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany at Konrad Motorsport. In the latter, Cullen finished tenth in the standings, being beaten by all full-time drivers, meanwhile he classified 11th in the Supercup with a best result of seventh at the Red Bull Ring.[9]

For his third season in the Porsche world, Cullen remained with Lechner in the Supercup, but switched to Huber Racing in the PCCG.[10] He would end up 11th again in the former, whilst improving to ninth place in the latter's standings.

LMP2 venture

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Cullen switched to prototype racing in 2018, driving in the LMP2 class of the European Le Mans Series for APR - Rebellion Racing alongside Gustavo Menezes and Harrison Newey.[11] The team ended up ninth in the standings, having finished all six races.

At the start of 2019, Cullen took his maiden endurance racing victory in the 24 Hours of Daytona, having driven for DragonSpeed together with Pastor Maldonado, Roberto González, and Sebastián Saavedra.[12] For the main 2019 season, the Irishman remained in the ELMS, this time partnering Alex Brundle and Will Owen at United Autosports.[13] Cullen and his teammates scored their first podium of the year at Monza, finishing third, but were unable to match the results of the sister car, finishing eighth in the teams' championship.[14] Cullen made his 24 Hours of Le Mans debut the same year, finishing 14th in class.[15]

Without a full-time programme in the COVID-stricken 2020 campaign, Cullen had to make do with one-off appearances. He raced in two races of the ELMS with DragonSpeed, drove for Jackie Chan DC Racing at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, and competed at Le Mans for G-Drive Racing.[16][17]

Cullen underwent another patchy season during 2021, as he raced in two events of the FIA World Endurance Championship with Risi Competizione, which included another appearance in Le Mans - where he and his teammates retired due to engine troubles.[18]

The following year saw the Irishman step into the WEC for the entire season, as he drove with new team Vector Sport in the LMP2 category.[19] Despite scoring a podium at Monza, Cullen and the team struggled, ending up tenth and second-lowest of the Pro class entries in the standings.[20][21]

Returning for the team's second season in the category, Cullen partnered Gabriel Aubry as well as fellow silver-ranked driver Matthias Kaiser for the 2023 WEC season.[22] With numerous technical issues and a collision at Monza, Vector Sport finished tenth overall, once again ranking second-lowest. However, a strong drive by Aubry carried the team towards a seventh place in class at Le Mans.[23][24]

Personal life

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Cullen was born to an Irish father and a Cypriot mother.[25] He was coached by Adam Carroll during his early years in car racing.[12]

Racing record

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Racing career summary

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Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2012 British Formula Ford Championship Race Car Consultants 23 0 0 0 3 340 5th
Formula Renault BARC Championship Cullen Motorsport 2 0 0 0 0 5
Formula Renault BARC Winter Series 2 0 0 0 0 30 12th
2013 GP3 Series Marussia Manor Racing 16 0 0 0 0 0 29th
2013–14 MRF Challenge Formula 2000 Championship MRF Racing 13 0 0 0 0 45 8th
2014 GP3 Series Marussia Manor Racing 14 0 0 0 0 0 25th
Trident 2 0 0 0 0
2014–15 MRF Challenge Formula 2000 Championship MRF Racing 12 3 2 2 6 174 2nd
2015 Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain G-Cat Racing 10 0 0 0 0 40 14th
Porsche Supercup VERVA Lechner Racing Team 7 0 0 0 0 10 18th
2015–16 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East Cullen Motorsport 12 2 0 3 7 235 3rd
2016 Porsche Supercup Lechner Racing Middle East 10 0 0 0 0 45 10th
Porsche Carrera Cup Germany - Class A Konrad Motorsport 12 0 0 0 0 91 9th
Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe - Pro 3 0 0 0 0 17 12th
2016–17 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East Cullen Motorsport 12 8 4 2 11 265 1st
2017 Porsche Supercup Walter Lechner Racing Team 9 0 0 0 0 41 11th
Lechner Racing Middle East 2 0 0 0 0
Porsche Carrera Cup Germany raceunion Huber Racing 13 0 0 0 0 73 10th
2018 European Le Mans Series - LMP2 APR - Rebellion Racing 6 0 0 0 0 23.25 12th
2019 European Le Mans Series - LMP2 United Autosports 6 0 0 0 1 37.5 12th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - LMP2 DragonSpeed 1 1 0 0 1 35 8th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 United Autosports 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 14th
2019–20 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP2 Jackie Chan DC Racing 1 0 0 0 0 8 16th
2020 European Le Mans Series - LMP2 DragonSpeed USA 2 0 0 0 0 4.5 24th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 G-Drive Racing by Algarve 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
2021 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP2 Risi Competizione 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
2022 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP2 Vector Sport 6 0 0 0 1 21 14th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 22nd
2023 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP2 Vector Sport 7 0 0 0 0 29 16th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 7th
2024 European Le Mans Series - LMP2 Vector Sport 6 0 0 0 1 21 14th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 5th

† As Cullen was a guest driver, he was ineligible for championship points.

Complete British Formula Ford Championship results

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

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pos Points
2012 Race Car Consultants OUL
1
8 		OUL
2
5 		OUL
3
10 		BRI
1
9 		BRI
2
9 		BRI
3
Ret 		ROC
1
5 		ROC
2
7 		ROC
3
5 		BHGP
1
Ret 		BHGP
2
Ret 		BHGP
3
Ret 		NÜR
1
6 		NÜR
2
4 		NÜR
3
5 		SNE
1
6 		SNE
2
6 		SNE
3
Ret 		SIL
1
6 		SIL
2
5 		SIL
3
3 		DON
1
6 		DON
2
3 		DON
3
C 		6th 324

Complete GP3 Series results

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

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Pos Points
2013 Marussia Manor Racing CAT
FEA
21 		CAT
SPR
Ret 		VAL
FEA
20 		VAL
SPR
20 		SIL
FEA
21 		SIL
SPR
17 		NÜR
FEA
19 		NÜR
SPR
25 		HUN
FEA
23 		HUN
SPR
Ret 		SPA
FEA
18 		SPA
SPR
17 		MNZ
FEA
20 		MNZ
SPR
Ret 		YMC
FEA
20 		YMC
SPR
24 		29th 0
2014 Marussia Manor Racing CAT
FEA
15 		CAT
SPR
16 		RBR
FEA
17 		RBR
SPR
13 		SIL
FEA
19 		SIL
SPR
Ret 		HOC
FEA
20 		HOC
SPR
19 		HUN
FEA
24 		HUN
SPR
21 		SPA
FEA
14 		SPA
SPR
13 		MNZ
FEA
Ret 		MNZ
SPR
16 		SOC
FEA 		SOC
SPR 		25th 0
Trident YMC
FEA
19 		YMC
SPR
Ret

Complete Porsche Supercup results

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

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Pos. Pts
2015 VERVA Lechner Racing Team CAT MON RBR SIL
Ret 		HUN
Ret 		SPA
19 		SPA
12 		MNZ
20 		MNZ
22 		USA
C 		USA
15 		18th 10
2016 Lechner Racing Middle East CAT
13 		MON
14 		RBR
6 		SIL
20 		HUN
8 		HOC
14 		SPA
14 		MNZ
Ret 		USA
14 		USA
14 		11th 45
2017 Walter Lechner Racing Team CAT
21 		CAT
16 		MON
12 		RBR
12 		SIL
Ret 		HUN
Ret 		SPA
15 		SPA
11 		MNZ
6 		MEX
9 		MEX
9 		11th 41

Complete European Le Mans Series results

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Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rank Points
2018 APR - Rebellion Racing LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 LEC
15 		MNZ
8 		RBR
6 		SIL
5 		SPA
15‡ 		ALG
12 		12th 23.25
2019 United Autosports LMP2 Ligier JS P217 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 LEC
12 		MNZ
3 		CAT
8 		SIL
8 		SPA
9 		ALG
4 		12th 37.5
2020 DragonSpeed LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 LEC
8 		SPA
14 		LEC MNZ ALG 24th 4.5
2024 Vector Sport LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 CAT
10 		LEC
10 		IMO
3 		SPA
8 		MUG
12 		ALG
Ret 		14th 21

‡ Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance was completed.

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

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

Year Entrant Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Rank Points
2019 DragonSpeed LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 DAY
1 		SEB MDO WGL MOS ELK LGA PET 8th 35

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

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Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2019   United Autosports   Alex Brundle
  Will Owen 		Ligier JS P217-Gibson LMP2 348 19th 14th
2020   G-Drive Racing with Algarve   Oliver Jarvis
  Nick Tandy 		Aurus 01-Gibson LMP2 105 DNF DNF
2021   Risi Competizione   Oliver Jarvis
  Felipe Nasr 		Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 275 NC NC
2022   Vector Sport   Sébastien Bourdais
  Nico Müller 		Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 357 27th 22nd
2023   Vector Sport   Gabriel Aubry
  Matthias Kaiser 		Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 325 15th 7th
2024   Vector Sport   Patrick Pilet
  Stéphane Richelmi 		Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 297 19th 5th

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

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

Year Entrant Class Car Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Rank Points
2019–20 Jackie Chan DC Racing LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 SIL FUJ SHA BHR COA SPA
6 		LMS BHR 16th 8
2022 Vector Sport LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 SEB
NC 		SPA
10 		LMS
13 		MNZ
3 		FUJ
9 		BHR
9 		14th 21
2023 Vector Sport LMP2 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 SEB
9 		ALG
11 		SPA
Ret 		LMS
5 		MNZ
Ret 		FUJ
7 		BHR
NC 		16th 29

References

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  1. ^ Balasundaram, Nemesha (18 February 2015). "Ryan Cullen on his Formula One dream, racing idols and driving under the Irish flag". The Irish Post. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  2. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (12 January 2022). "Record 39-Car Grid for WEC Season". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Ryan Cullen competes Marussia Manor Racing Team". GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 2 May 2013. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  4. ^ Allen, Peter (23 December 2013). "2013 GP3 Series season review". Formula Scout. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Comparison between Ryan Cullen and 2013 | Racing Years". www.racingyears.com. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Marussia F1 Team reveals 2014 GP3 Team driver line-up". GP3 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 19 March 2014. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  7. ^ "Marussia's junior team pull out of Russian GP3 race but team stress decision not because of Jules Bianchi crash". 8 October 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  8. ^ Allen, Peter (6 December 2014). "2014 GP3 Series season review". Formula Scout. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  9. ^ Motorsport-Magazin.com. "Supercup Gesamtwertung 2016 - Supercup 2016". Motorsport-Magazin.com (in German). Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  10. ^ Bonham, Lee (29 March 2017). "Ryan Cullen: Britain's Secret Supercup Star". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  11. ^ Kilshaw, Jake (6 March 2018). "Cullen Completes APR-Rebellion Lineup – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Cullen: Winning The Rolex 24 "Was A Dream Come True!"". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  13. ^ "41 Cars On The Full-Season ELMS Entry". Dailysportscar. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  14. ^ "4H Monza: Post-Race Notes". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  15. ^ "FIA WEC – 87º Edition des 24 Heures du Mans – Race – Final Classification" (PDF). Automobile Club de l'Ouest. 12 July 2019. pp. 1–2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  16. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (15 January 2020). "Reigning LMP2 Champion Rojas Joins New DragonSpeed Lineup". sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  17. ^ "2020 Le Mans Tales: Ryan Cullen". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  18. ^ "2021 24 Hours Of Le Mans: Event Info". Motorsport Stats. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021. "Le Mans 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans: Race". Autosport. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021. Barstow, Ollie (22 August 2021). "2021 Le Mans 24 Hours – Final Official Classification after 24h of 24h". Crash. Archived from the original on 23 August 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021. "FIA WEC: 89º Edition des 24 Heures du Mans: Race: Final Classification" (PDF). Automobile Club de l'Ouest. 22 August 2021. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  19. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (12 January 2022). "Record 39-Car Grid for WEC Season". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  20. ^ Euwema, Davey (10 July 2022). "Alpine Drivers Extend Points Lead with 6H Monza Win – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  21. ^ "WEC 2022 results and standings for top drivers and teams". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  22. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (18 November 2022). "Vector Sport Planning for Second Season in LMP2 – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  23. ^ "FIA WEC 91º Edition des 24 Heures du Mans Race Final Classification – Amended" (PDF). Automobile Club de l'Ouest. 11 June 2023. pp. 1–2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023. "Le Mans 24 Hours 2023". Racing Sports Cars. Archived from the original on 8 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  24. ^ Heinemeier Hansson, David (12 June 2023). "@dhhracing on Twitter".
  25. ^ Balasundaram, Nemesha. "Ryan Cullen on his Formula One dream, racing idols and driving under the Irish flag". The Irish Post. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
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