Varrone Eyes Open-Wheel Return, Inspired by IndyCar SuccessesVarrone Eyes Open-Wheel Return, Inspired by IndyCar Successes Two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Nico Varrone aspires to reignite his open-wheel racing career, drawing inspiration from Argentinian compatriot Agustin Canapino’s transition from touring cars to IndyCar. Varrone, a Buenos Aires native, impressed in karting before embarking on a single-seater journey in Europe. He triumphed in Formula Renault V de V and secured a British Formula 3 victory with Hillspeed, despite financial limitations. Seeking alternative paths, Varrone excelled in GT and LMP3 before making his mark in LMP2. He claimed victory at the 2023 Rolex 24 At Daytona and Le Mans, setting the fastest class lap at the Six Hours of The Glen. However, Varrone’s ultimate goal remains IndyCar, inspired by the likes of Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves. With limited open-wheel background, he aims to follow in Canapino’s footsteps. Varrone’s manager is actively pursuing testing opportunities, engaging with three IndyCar teams. Former team owner Elton Julian believes Varrone possesses the necessary skills, as evidenced by his performance in DragonSpeed’s ORECA. Varrone acknowledges the need to demonstrate his abilities in the American open-wheel scene and attract sponsors. With sufficient support, he is determined to make his mark on IndyCar and fulfill his lifelong dream.
Two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Nico Varrone is looking to continue his career in open-wheel racing. Growing up in Argentina, Varrone always dreamed of reaching the top of the sport. Following in the footsteps of recent success stories such as Colin Braun, Toby Sowery and Hunter McElrea, the 23-year-old is using his impressive results in sports cars as a springboard to return to open-wheel racing.
Varrone, originally from Buenos Aires, made his name in karting before moving to Europe as a teenager to pursue his passion for single-seater racing. He quickly made an impression by winning the Formula Renault V de V championship in his debut season. Despite financial constraints, Varrone managed to take a win at Spa in the British Formula 3 Championship with underdog team Hillspeed. However, his funding ran out, forcing him to explore other opportunities.
Varrone found success in GT and LMP3 competition before making his mark in LMP2, taking victory at the 2023 Rolex 24 At Daytona and following this up with a win at Le Mans, where he also set the fastest lap in his class at the Six Hours of The Glen. Despite his achievements in sportscars, Varrone’s ultimate goal was always to race in IndyCar, inspired by the likes of Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves.
Agustin Canapino, another Argentinian driver, is a testament to the potential of talent to overcome the lack of a traditional open-wheel background. Varrone looks up to Dixon as his racing hero and draws inspiration from his journey. The first step for Varrone is to secure the necessary funding for testing, which he is actively pursuing with his manager. They have already been in contact with three IndyCar teams and hope to secure a few racing opportunities next year.
Former IndyCar team owner and DragonSpeed founder Elton Julian was impressed with Varrone’s performance at Watkins Glen. Julian believes Varrone has the skills and pace needed to succeed in IndyCar, as demonstrated by his time in the team’s ORECA 07-Gibson entry. However, Varrone acknowledges that he needs to prove himself within the American open-wheel scene and attract sponsors before he can secure a race seat.
Varrone and his team are actively working to secure sponsors and have received interest from potential investors. A test drive opportunity would be ideal to showcase Varrone’s skills and attract further investment. With the right support and a favorable situation, Varrone is determined to make his mark on IndyCar and fulfill his lifelong dream.
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