# 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.
He 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, which turned out to be his only race wins in single-seaters.

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

## 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

| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
| 2012 | British Formula Ford Championship | Race Car Consultants | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 340 | 5th |
| 2012 | Formula Renault BARC Championship | Cullen Motorsport | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| 2012 | Formula Renault BARC Winter Series | Cullen Motorsport | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 12th |
| 2013 | GP3 Series | Marussia Manor Racing | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29th |
| 2013–14 | MRF Challenge Formula 2000 Championship | MRF Racing | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 8th |
| 2014 | GP3 Series | Marussia Manor Racing | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25th |
| 2014 | GP3 Series | Trident | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25th |
| 2014–15 | MRF Challenge Formula 2000 Championship | MRF Racing | 12 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 174 | 2nd |
| 2015 | Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain | G-Cat Racing | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 14th |
| 2015 | Porsche Supercup | VERVA Lechner Racing Team | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 18th |
| 2015–16 | Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East | Cullen Motorsport | 12 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 235 | 3rd |
| 2016 | Porsche Supercup | Lechner Racing Middle East | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 10th |
| 2016 | Porsche Carrera Cup Germany - Class A | Konrad Motorsport | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 91 | 9th |
| 2016 | Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe - Pro | Konrad Motorsport | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 12th |
| 2016–17 | Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East | Cullen Motorsport | 12 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 265 | 1st |
| 2017 | Porsche Supercup | Walter Lechner Racing Team | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 11th |
| 2017 | Porsche Supercup | Lechner Racing Middle East | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 11th |
| 2017 | Porsche Carrera Cup Germany | raceunion Huber Racing | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 73 | 10th |
| 2018 | European Le Mans Series - LMP2 | APR - Rebellion Racing | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23.25 | 12th |
| 2019 | European Le Mans Series - LMP2 | United Autosports | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 37.5 | 12th |
| 2019 | IMSA SportsCar Championship - LMP2 | DragonSpeed | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 8th |
| 2019 | 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 | United Autosports | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 14th |
| 2019–20 | FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP2 | Jackie Chan DC Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 16th |
| 2020 | European Le Mans Series - LMP2 | DragonSpeed USA | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.5 | 24th |
| 2020 | 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 | G-Drive Racing by Algarve | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | DNF |
| 2021 | FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP2 | Risi Competizione | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC† |
| 2021 | 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 | Risi Competizione | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | DNF |
| 2022 | FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP2 | Vector Sport | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 14th |
| 2022 | 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 | Vector Sport | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 22nd |
| 2023 | FIA World Endurance Championship - LMP2 | Vector Sport | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 16th |
| 2023 | 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 | Vector Sport | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 7th |
| 2024 | European Le Mans Series - LMP2 | Vector Sport | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 14th |
| 2024 | 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 | Vector Sport | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 5th |
† 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)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | Pos | Points |
| 2012 | Race Car Consultants | OUL 1 8 | OUL 2 5 | OUL 3 10 | BRI 1 9 | BRI 2 9 | BRI 3 Ret | ROC 1 5 | ROC 2 7 | ROC 3 5 | BHGP 1 Ret | BHGP 2 Ret | BHGP 3 Ret | NÜR 1 6 | NÜR 2 4 | NÜR 3 5 | SNE 1 6 | SNE 2 6 | SNE 3 Ret | SIL 1 6 | SIL 2 5 | SIL 3 3 | DON 1 6 | DON 2 3 | DON 3 C | 6th | 324 |

### Complete GP3 Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Pos | Points |
| 2013 | Marussia Manor Racing | CAT FEA 21 | CAT SPR Ret | VAL FEA 20 | VAL SPR 20 | SIL FEA 21 | SIL SPR 17 | NÜR FEA 19 | NÜR SPR 25 | HUN FEA 23 | HUN SPR Ret | SPA FEA 18 | SPA SPR 17 | MNZ FEA 20 | MNZ SPR Ret | YMC FEA 20 | YMC SPR 24 | | | 29th | 0 |
| 2014 | Marussia Manor Racing | CAT FEA 15 | CAT SPR 16 | RBR FEA 17 | RBR SPR 13 | SIL FEA 19 | SIL SPR Ret | HOC FEA 20 | HOC SPR 19 | HUN FEA 24 | HUN SPR 21 | SPA FEA 14 | SPA SPR 13 | MNZ FEA Ret | MNZ SPR 16 | SOC FEA | SOC SPR | | | 25th | 0 |
| 2014 | Trident | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | YMC FEA 19 | YMC SPR Ret | 25th | 0 |

### Complete Porsche Supercup results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Pos. | Pts |
| 2015 | VERVA Lechner Racing Team | CAT | MON | RBR | SIL Ret | HUN Ret | SPA 19 | SPA 12 | MNZ 20 | MNZ 22 | USA C | USA 15 | 18th | 10 |
| 2016 | Lechner Racing Middle East | CAT 13 | MON 14 | RBR 6 | SIL 20 | HUN 8 | HOC 14 | SPA 14 | MNZ Ret | USA 14 | USA 14 | | 11th | 45 |
| 2017 | Walter Lechner Racing Team | CAT 21 | CAT 16 | MON 12 | RBR 12 | SIL Ret | HUN Ret | SPA 15 | SPA 11 | MNZ 6 | MEX 9 | MEX 9 | 11th | 41 |

### Complete European Le Mans Series results

| Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Rank | Points |
| 2018 | APR - Rebellion Racing | LMP2 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | LEC 15 | MNZ 8 | RBR 6 | SIL 5 | SPA 15‡ | ALG 12 | 12th | 23.25 |
| 2019 | United Autosports | LMP2 | Ligier JS P217 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | LEC 12 | MNZ 3 | CAT 8 | SIL 8 | SPA 9 | ALG 4 | 12th | 37.5 |
| 2020 | DragonSpeed | LMP2 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | LEC 8 | SPA 14 | LEC | MNZ | ALG | | 24th | 4.5 |
| 2024 | Vector Sport | LMP2 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | CAT 10 | LEC 10 | IMO 3 | SPA 8 | MUG 12 | ALG Ret | 14th | 21 |
$^‡$ 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)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Make | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Rank | Points |
| 2019 | DragonSpeed | LMP2 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | DAY 1 | SEB | MDO | WGL | MOS | ELK | LGA | PET | 8th | 35 |

### Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
| 2019 | United Autosports | Alex Brundle Will Owen | Ligier JS P217-Gibson | LMP2 | 348 | 19th | 14th |
| 2020 | G-Drive Racing with Algarve | Oliver Jarvis Nick Tandy | Aurus 01-Gibson | LMP2 | 105 | DNF | DNF |
| 2021 | Risi Competizione | Oliver Jarvis Felipe Nasr | Oreca 07-Gibson | LMP2 | 275 | NC | NC |
| 2022 | Vector Sport | Sébastien Bourdais Nico Müller | Oreca 07-Gibson | LMP2 | 357 | 27th | 22nd |
| 2023 | Vector Sport | Gabriel Aubry Matthias Kaiser | Oreca 07-Gibson | LMP2 | 325 | 15th | 7th |
| 2024 | Vector Sport | Patrick Pilet Stéphane Richelmi | Oreca 07-Gibson | LMP2 | 297 | 19th | 5th |

### Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Car | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Rank | Points |
| 2019–20 | Jackie Chan DC Racing | LMP2 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | SIL | FUJ | SHA | BHR | COA | SPA 6 | LMS | BHR | 16th | 8 |
| 2022 | Vector Sport | LMP2 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | SEB NC | SPA 10 | LMS 13 | MNZ 3 | FUJ 9 | BHR 9 | | | 14th | 21 |
| 2023 | Vector Sport | LMP2 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | SEB 9 | ALG 11 | SPA Ret | LMS 5 | MNZ Ret | FUJ 7 | BHR NC | | 16th | 29 |