Felipe Nasr

Felipe Nasr Bio

Luiz Felipe de Oliveira Nasr, known professionally as Felipe Nasr, is a Brazilian racing driver who competes in the IMSA SportsCar Championship for Porsche Penske Motorsport. Born on 21 August 1992 in Brasília, Federal District, Brazil, Nasr has built a versatile career that spans karting, junior open-wheel categories, Formula One, and endurance sports car racing. He is recognized for winning three IMSA SportsCar Championship titles, with championships in 2018, 2021, and 2024. Nasr also earned major endurance victories, including the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2019 and 2025, and the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2024 and 2025.

After competing in Formula One from 2015 to 2016 with Sauber, Nasr transitioned to North American endurance racing, where he established himself as one of the premier prototype drivers. He carries car number 7 for Porsche Penske Motorsport and continues to be a leading figure in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) era of IMSA competition.

Early Life and Background

Felipe Nasr was born in Brasília, the capital of Brazil, on 21 August 1992. He began karting at the age of seven and quickly rose through the ranks of Brazilian junior motorsport. Between 2000 and 2007, he collected several karting championship titles in his home country, laying the foundation for a professional racing career. Nasr is of Lebanese ancestry, with his grandfather having emigrated to Brazil in the 1960s, a heritage that has remained a part of his personal identity.

Nasr comes from a family with deep connections to motorsport. His uncle, Amir Nasr, owns one of the most successful South American Formula Three racing teams, which helped develop numerous Brazilian drivers, including Hélio Castroneves, Bruno Junqueira, and Cristiano da Matta. Growing up around this environment gave Nasr early exposure to the racing industry and a clear path toward open-wheel competition.

Path to NASCAR

Note: Felipe Nasr’s career path has not included NASCAR national series competition. His professional trajectory has focused on international open-wheel racing and sports car endurance events, including Formula One, the GP2 Series, and the IMSA SportsCar Championship. As a result, this section is not applicable to his biographical profile.

Felipe Nasr Career

Early Career (2008–2011)

Nasr made his open-wheel racing debut in the final round of the 2008 Formula BMW Americas season at Interlagos, securing a podium finish in the second race. In 2009, he moved to the European Formula BMW championship with EuroInternational and dominated the series, finishing fourteen of sixteen races in the top two, winning six races, and claiming five pole positions. He secured the championship by 104 points over teammate Daniel Juncadella. Originally scheduled to test a Sauber Formula One car through BMW’s driver development program, the opportunity fell through when BMW withdrew from the sport at the end of 2009.

Between 2010 and 2011, Nasr competed in the British Formula 3 Championship, first with Räikkönen Robertson Racing and then with Carlin Motorsport. In 2011, he won the Sunoco Rolex 24 at Daytona Challenge, earning a drive in the 2012 Rolex 24 at Daytona, and he finished third in the prestigious 24-hour race. He also claimed the 2011 British Formula 3 title, finishing 123 points ahead of his teammate, future Formula One driver Kevin Magnussen.

GP2 Series Breakthrough (2012–2014)

Nasr entered the GP2 Series in 2012 with DAMS, supported by Brazilian sponsors Banco do Brasil and OGX. Although he finished tenth in the standings, he contributed to DAMS winning the teams’ championship alongside champion Davide Valsecchi. He recorded four podium finishes, including a second place at Spa-Francorchamps. In 2013, Nasr moved to Carlin and finished fourth overall, while in 2014, he secured his first GP2 victory in the Barcelona sprint race. He added wins at the Red Bull Ring, Silverstone, and Spa-Francorchamps, ultimately finishing third in the championship after a season-long battle with Jolyon Palmer.

Formula One Era (2015–2016)

After serving as a test and reserve driver for Williams in 2014, Nasr joined Sauber as a full-time Formula One driver for the 2015 season. In his debut race at the Australian Grand Prix, he finished fifth, the highest placing for a Brazilian driver making a Grand Prix début. He ended his rookie year with 27 points, finishing thirteenth in the World Drivers’ Championship, and was retained by Sauber for 2016.

Sauber’s only points in 2016 came at the Brazilian Grand Prix, where Nasr finished ninth. That result allowed Sauber to overtake Manor in the constructors’ championship, contributing to Manor’s eventual withdrawal from the sport. Because of Manor’s exit, Nasr’s planned swap with Pascal Wehrlein fell through, and he was left without a seat for 2017.

Porsche Penske Motorsport Era (2022–Present)

In December 2021, Nasr and Dane Cameron were announced as the first drivers for the new Porsche Penske Motorsport LMDh program. In preparation for the Porsche 963, Nasr competed in the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship’s LMP2 class with Penske. During the same year, he also contested the three IMSA crown jewel events in the GTD Pro class with Pfaff Motorsports, claiming a dramatic class win at the 24 Hours of Daytona.

Partnering Matt Campbell in 2023, Nasr scored three podiums in the Porsche 963’s debut IMSA season, including a victory at Road America. In 2024, with Cameron returning as his full-season co-driver, Nasr won the 24 Hours of Daytona after a late-race battle with Tom Blomqvist and added a second win at Watkins Glen. He and Cameron captured the 2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship title and the Michelin Endurance Cup. In 2025, Nasr partnered Nick Tandy to defend the title, while also adding further wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Daytona.

Driving Style and Strengths

Nasr is widely respected for his consistency in endurance racing and his ability to manage tire wear, fuel strategy, and long stints behind the wheel. His race craft shines in prototype competition, where clean stints and smart pit work often decide the outcome. Working alongside co-drivers and crew chiefs, he has built a reputation as a calm and methodical competitor.

Notable Races and Milestones

Signature moments include his first IMSA victory at Belle Isle in 2018, his 12 Hours of Sebring wins in 2019 and 2025, and his 24 Hours of Daytona victories in 2024 and 2025. His 2024 Daytona win, decided by a hard-fought defense against Tom Blomqvist in the final hour, is considered one of the defining performances of his sports car career.

Felipe Nasr Career Wins

Across his sports car career, Felipe Nasr has accumulated 16 wins, 40 podiums, 8 poles, and 15 fastest laps in 73 IMSA SportsCar Championship starts, along with three championship titles in 2018, 2021, and 2024. His endurance racing résumé includes victories at the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, as well as the Michelin Endurance Cup.

IMSA SportsCar Championship Highlights

Nasr’s IMSA career began in 2018 with Action Express Racing, where he won the DPi class championship alongside Eric Curran in his rookie season. He added a second title in 2021 with Pipo Derani, before claiming a third championship in 2024 with Dane Cameron in the GTP era. His most recent IMSA victories came at the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2025.

Other Wins and Performances

Before moving to North America, Nasr won the 2009 Formula BMW Europe championship and the 2011 British Formula 3 title. He also recorded multiple GP2 Series victories during 2014 and finished on the podium in the 2012 Rolex 24 at Daytona. A planned IndyCar debut at St. Petersburg in 2020 was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ultimately did not take place.

Felipe Nasr Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Felipe Nasr comes from a family with strong ties to motorsport. His uncle, Amir Nasr, owns a prominent South American Formula Three team that has helped launch the careers of drivers including Hélio Castroneves, Bruno Junqueira, and Cristiano da Matta. Nasr is also of Lebanese ancestry, with his grandfather having emigrated to Brazil in the 1960s.

Personal Life

Outside of racing, Nasr lists his hobbies as sports, fishing, and mechanics. He cites the Star Wars and James Bond film series as his favorite films, names Ayrton Senna as his favorite driver, and considers Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps his favorite circuit. Nasr is multilingual and speaks Portuguese, English, and Italian.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 IMSA SportsCar Championship season has continued Felipe Nasr’s strong run with Porsche Penske Motorsport. Partnering Nick Tandy in the No. 7 Porsche 963, Nasr has added to his endurance racing legacy with key victories at the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Daytona. These results have reinforced his position as a leading contender in the GTP class.

Building on the momentum of his 2024 IMSA title, Nasr has remained a consistent presence at the front of the field throughout the 2025 campaign. His experience and pace have been central to Porsche Penske’s ongoing competitiveness against Acura, BMW, and Cadillac in the GTP era. The partnership between Nasr, his co-drivers, and the Porsche Penske engineering group has been a defining storyline of the year.

Looking ahead, Nasr’s primary goal for the remainder of 2025 is to defend his IMSA SportsCar Championship crown while continuing to add to Porsche Penske’s growing list of endurance racing accomplishments. With his combination of speed, strategy, and reliability, he remains one of the most respected prototype drivers in the paddock.