Manuel Maldonado

Manuel Maldonado, born on October 5, 1999, is a Venezuelan racing driver currently competing in the European Le Mans Series for Panis Racing. He is the cousin of former Formula One driver Pastor Maldonado.

Maldonado's racing journey began in karting in Venezuela in 2009. He transitioned to single-seaters in 2016, participating in the Italian F4 Championship. He later competed in the MRF Challenge Formula 2000 and the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship, achieving notable results including two wins and finishing 7th overall in the 2018 British F3 season. In 2020, he showcased his talent in the Euroformula Open Championship, securing four podiums and finishing fourth overall.

A significant highlight of Maldonado's career is his success in endurance racing. In 2021, he joined United Autosports for the Asian Le Mans Series, where he and his teammates clinched the LMP3 championship, winning both races in Dubai and the final race in Abu Dhabi. He made his debut in the European Le Mans Series in 2021 and has since achieved multiple podium finishes, including a third-place finish in the 4 Hours of Le Castellet in his debut season and four podiums in the 2023 ELMS season with Panis Racing, finishing third overall in the championship.