Nico Varrone, a two-time winner in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, is on a quest to continue his career in open-wheel racing. Growing up in Argentina, Varrone has always dreamed of reaching the pinnacle of the sport. Following in the footsteps of recent success stories like Colin Braun, Toby Sowery, and Hunter McElrea, the 23-year-old is using his impressive results in sports cars as a springboard to make his way back to open-wheel racing.
Hailing from Buenos Aires, Varrone made a name for himself in karting before venturing to Europe as a teenager to pursue his passion for single-seater racing. He quickly made an impact by winning the Formula Renault V de V championship in his debut season. Despite facing financial constraints, Varrone managed to secure a win at Spa in the British Formula 3 championship with the underdog Hillspeed team. However, his funding ran out, forcing him to explore other opportunities.
Varrone found success in GT and LMP3 competitions before making his mark in LMP2. He claimed victory at the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 2023 and followed it 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 sports cars, Varrone’s ultimate goal has always been to race in IndyCar, inspired by the likes of Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves.
Agustin Canapino, another Argentine driver, serves as a testament to the potential of talent in overcoming 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 budget 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 race opportunities next year.
Elton Julian, former IndyCar team owner and founder of DragonSpeed, was impressed by Varrone’s performance at Watkins Glen. Julian believes that Varrone possesses the skills and pace required 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 on securing sponsorships, and they have received interest from potential investors. A test opportunity would be ideal to showcase Varrone’s abilities and attract further investment. With the right support and a favorable situation, Varrone is determined to make his mark in IndyCar and fulfill his lifelong dream.
