Nico Pino Bio
Nicolás Ignacio Pino Muñoz (born 21 September 2004) is a Chilean racing driver who competes in endurance and prototype racing at the international level. He currently drives in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA SportsCar Championship, representing Proton Competition under the No. 99 banner. Pino is recognized as an emerging talent in the endurance racing scene, with notable results in the European Le Mans Series and a class podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. His career trajectory has carried him from karting in Santiago de Chile to top-tier sports car competition in Europe and North America.
Early Life and Background
Nicolás Ignacio Pino Muñoz was born on 21 September 2004 in Santiago, Chile. He grew up in the Chilean capital and was introduced to motorsport at a young age through karting, beginning his racing career at the age of eight. Pino remained active in the local karting community in Santiago until he was thirteen, building the foundational car control and race craft that would shape his later progression.
At thirteen, Pino transitioned to the European and World karting scene, taking his first steps outside South America. This move exposed him to a higher level of competition and prepared him for a future in formula and prototype racing. His Chilean heritage remains a point of pride, as he is one of the few drivers from his country competing at the top levels of international endurance racing.
Path to Endurance Racing
After his karting years, Pino advanced into single-seater competition, making appearances in the Formula 4 South East Asia Championship in 2019. In 2020, he moved to the F4 British Championship with Argenti Motorsport, although he departed the series after four rounds. By the end of 2021, he returned to formula racing with a one-off Euroformula Open appearance at Monza Circuit and added three rounds with Drivex at the start of 2022.
His career shifted decisively toward endurance racing in late 2021, when he joined Inter Europol Competition for the final two rounds of the European Le Mans Series in the LMP3 class. The following year brought his first major title push, as Pino and teammates Guilherme Oliveira and Charles Crews won three successive ELMS races at Monza, Barcelona, and Spa, only to lose the championship battle late in the season. The performance confirmed his potential in prototype machinery and set the stage for a step up to LMP2 competition.
Nico Pino Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Pino launched his endurance racing career with Inter Europol Competition in the European Le Mans Series LMP3 class, contesting the final two rounds of the 2021 season. He began 2022 with an Asian Le Mans Series campaign alongside Oliveira, finishing seventh in the championship. A full ELMS season followed, and the trio mounted a serious title challenge before a late collision at Spa ended their bid and dropped them to second in the final standings.
During the same year, Pino also sampled American endurance racing, joining Sean Creech Motorsport for two IMSA SportsCar Championship rounds and scoring a podium at the Petit Le Mans event. These results demonstrated his adaptability across continents and racing formats.
LMP2 and Le Mans Breakthrough (2023)
The 2023 Asian Le Mans Series marked Pino’s LMP2 debut, where he partnered László Tóth and Miro Konôpka at ARC Bratislava. The campaign was challenging, with a best finish of seventh, but it gave him critical experience in the larger and more demanding LMP2 machinery.
That summer, Pino split his schedule between Europe and North America. He raced for Duqueine Team in the ELMS alongside René Binder and former WEC and Le Mans champion Neel Jani, earning two Pro class podiums and finishing fourth in the standings. He also contested the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup rounds with Sean Creech Motorsport in LMP3, taking second-place finishes at Daytona and Road America. The defining moment of his 2023 season came at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Pino, Jani, and Binder scored a class podium with third place, announcing his arrival on the global endurance stage.
WEC Debut and Proton Competition Era (2024–Present)
In 2024, Pino debuted in the FIA World Endurance Championship, contesting the newly formed LMGT3 category with United Autosports. He simultaneously drove with Nielsen Racing in the European Le Mans Series and represented United in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup. By the end of April 2024, it was also announced that he had joined Stellantis Motorsport as part of his growing portfolio of factory affiliations.
He has since moved to Proton Competition, where he races the No. 99 entry in both the FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA SportsCar Championship. Across 14 WEC starts to date, he has recorded one podium and one pole position, with a best championship finish of 18th in 2024 in the LMGT3 class. His ongoing campaign with Proton Competition reflects his continued growth as a versatile endurance racing driver.
Driving Style and Strengths
Pino has shown particular strength in long-distance prototype racing, where consistency and tire management are essential. His three consecutive ELMS wins in 2022 and his class podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023 highlight his race craft and ability to perform under pressure across multi-class fields. Comfortable in both European and North American endurance environments, he has built a reputation as a reliable and adaptable driver capable of supporting strong teammate pairings.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among Pino’s signature performances are his three straight ELMS victories at Monza, Barcelona, and Spa in 2022 and his class podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023 alongside Neel Jani and René Binder. His second-place finishes at Daytona and Road America in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup in 2023 also stand out as defining moments in his early American sports car career.
Nico Pino Career Wins
Nico Pino has built his reputation around consistent endurance racing performances rather than outright win totals, with his most celebrated results coming in prototype and GT categories. His verified victories include three consecutive European Le Mans Series LMP3 races in 2022, while additional class podiums at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup underscore his results in top-flight endurance events.
Endurance Racing Highlights
In the European Le Mans Series, Pino has secured three LMP3 wins at Monza, Barcelona, and Spa during the 2022 season with Inter Europol Competition. He has also added Pro class podiums in the ELMS and a class podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023 with Duqueine Team, alongside Neel Jani and René Binder. Across 14 FIA World Endurance Championship starts with United Autosports and Proton Competition, he has recorded one podium and one pole position.
Other Wins and Performances
In the IMSA SportsCar Championship, Pino’s standout results include a podium at the 2022 Petit Le Mans with Sean Creech Motorsport and runner-up finishes at Daytona and Road America in the 2023 IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup. He also contested the Asian Le Mans Series with ARC Bratislava in 2023 in his LMP2 debut campaign.
Nico Pino Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Pino was raised in Santiago, Chile, where his introduction to motorsport came through the local karting community. Public information about his immediate family and any deeper racing lineage within the Pino family is not widely documented.
Personal Life
Nicolás Ignacio Pino Muñoz continues to balance his racing career between Europe and North America, with his professional base centered on his FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA SportsCar Championship programs. He maintains an active presence on social media, sharing updates from his racing campaigns with supporters around the world.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 campaign marks Nico Pino’s second full season in the FIA World Endurance Championship, now competing with Proton Competition in the No. 99 entry. His WEC results to date include one podium and one pole position, signaling his continued competitiveness within the highly competitive endurance field. With increased seat time in the championship, Pino is well positioned to push for stronger overall classifications.
Beyond the WEC, Pino remains active in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, balancing a transatlantic schedule that keeps him sharp across multiple endurance formats. His combination of LMGT3 and prototype experience provides flexibility and depth as he works with his engineering group to refine setups and strategy. The 2025 season represents a critical step in establishing himself as a regular presence on international endurance podiums.