Ryan Cullen

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

Early career

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. 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. During the winter, Cullen drove in the MRF Challenge Formula 2000 Championship and finished sixth overall.

Cullen stayed with Marussia Manor for the 2014 GP3 season. Following seven scoreless weekends from Cullen, the team withdrew due to financial troubles, meaning that Cullen would miss the round at Sochi. He returned for the season finale with Trident Racing, but was unable to prevent himself from going a second successive season without scoring. 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, four pole positions and six fastest laps.[citation needed]

Sportscar career

Porsche series

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.[citation needed]

After finishing third in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East during the off-season, Cullen 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.

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

LMP2 venture

Cullen switched to prototype racing in 2018/19, driving in the LMP2 class of the European Le Mans Series for APR - Rebellion Racing alongside Gustavo Menezes and Harrison Newey. 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. For the main 2019 season, he remained in the ELMS, this time partnering Alex Brundle and Will Owen at United Autosports. 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. Cullen made his 24 Hours of Le Mans debut the same year, finishing 14th in class.

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.

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.

The following year saw Cullen step into the WEC for the entire season, as he drove with new team Vector Sport in the LMP2 category. 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.

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. 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.

With the dropping of LMP2 from the WEC after 2023, Cullen returned to drive for Vector in the 2024 European Le Mans Series. Partnering Felipe Drugovich and Stéphane Richelmi, the Irishman finished 14th in the drivers' standings. Of note was a collision he caused at Barcelona, where an overly ambitious overtaking attempt led to him spinning Alex García into the gravel, and a self-induced spin at Imola — though the team recovered well and finished the race in third. He finished fourth in class at Le Mans, having been partnered by Richelmi and Patrick Pilet. Cullen remained at Vector for the 2025 ELMS season, where he drove alongside Pietro Fittipaldi and Vladislav Lomko. The trio began well in Barcelona, finishing fourth overall and taking third in the Pro category. Fourth in Pro at the next round in Le Castellet preceded 12th place in Imola, a race where the Vector car was turned around late by Tom Dillmann. Points in Spa came next, before Cullen and his teammates completed a tidy race at a rainy Silverstone to claim third overall.

Personal life

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

Racing record

Racing career summary

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

Complete British Formula Ford Championship results

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

Complete GP3 Series results

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

Complete Porsche Supercup results

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

Complete European Le Mans Series results

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

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

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

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

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

External links

• career summary at DriverDB.com