Photo: Paola Depalmas
Nico Varrone will return to single-seaters next year by joining Van Amersfoort Racing in Formula 2.
It has been over five years since the 24-year-old Argentinian last competed in open-wheel racing, and he has established himself in sportscars since then.
Varrone was 2023 World Endurance champion and Le Mans 24 Hours winner in the LMGTE Am class, and this year made the move up to the top Hypercar prototype class for the first time. He was part of the crew that came fourth in the LMP2 class at Le Mans in 2024, and he won the LMP3 class the year before that in IMSA’s Daytona 24 Hours race.
“I’m super excited to be joining VAR for the 2026 F2 season,” said Varrone. “A very professional team with a lot of history and success. Can’t wait to get behind the wheel and start working with them.”
Before sportscar racing filled his schedule, Varrone gathered plenty of experience in Formula Renault 2.0 at home and abroad and was the final ever champion of the VdeV Single-Seater Challenge in 2018.
He headed to BRDC British Formula 3 (now known as GB3) in 2019 but budget issues meant he did just three rounds. In those he claimed a victory and a second place. During the COVID-19 pandemic he won the championship’s Esports title, then returned to real-world action in that paddock but this time only registered two outings.
VAR’s team principal Brad Joyce added: “We’re very pleased to welcome Nico to Van Amersfoort Racing for our 2026 FIA F2 campaign. His experience and achievements in endurance racing, including his success at Le Mans, speak for themselves.
“Stepping into F2 will be a new challenge, but with his talent and technical understanding, we’re confident he will adapt quickly to the environment. We’re looking forward to working with him and believe his arrival will bring great value to the team as we take on the season together.”
Varrone already knows the F2 car, having driven for AIX Racing in post-season testing last year.