Matt Rao

Matt Rao
Rao in 2017
NationalityUnited Kingdom British
Born (1994-05-03) 3 May 1994
Toulouse, France
Categorisation FIA Silver
Championship titles
2012British Formula Ford Championship – Duratec

Matthew Kiran Rao (born 3 May 1994) is a British-Indian racing driver who last competed for Signatech Alpine Matmut and CEFC Manor TRS Racing in the LMP2 class of the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2017.

Personal life

Rao is the son of Indian-born British businessman Dr. Martin Kiran Rao, who worked at Airbus as the company's Executive Vice President of Strategy and Marketing.[1] Rao's brother James (1992–2014), also worked in the aviation industry, serving as a commercial airline pilot for Safi Airways until his death in April 2014 due to cancer.[2]

Career

Rao began his single-seater career in 2011 by competing in the British Formula Ford Championship for Fluid Motorsport, finishing runner-up in the Scholarship class.[3] Returning to the series for the following year,[4] Rao secured the Duratec title with four wins and nine other podiums to his name.[5] Towards the end of 2012, Rao also raced for Hillspeed in the last round of the Formula Renault BARC main series and the two-round Winter Series.[6][7]

Rao driving for Fortec in Formula 3 at Spa in 2015.

Stepping up to full-time Formula Renault competition in 2013, Rao remained with Hillspeed to compete in the Protyre Formula Renault Championship.[8] In his only season in the series, Rao scored a best result of third in race three at Snetterton en route to a 15th-place points finish at the end of the year.[9] At the start of the following year, Rao joined Giles Motorsport to compete in the New Zealand–based Toyota Racing Series,[10] in which he took a best result of fifth in race one at Hampton Downs to take 14th in the overall standings.[11] The following year, Rao joined Fortec Motorsport to compete in the British Formula 3 International Series.[12] After scoring his first win of the season at Rockingham and winning at Snetterton,[13][14] Rao won again at Thruxton and the final two Donington Park races to secure runner-up honours in points behind Martin Cao.[15][16] At the end of the year, Rao took part in the GP3 Series post-season tests at Yas Marina for Carlin.[17]

Rao made his 24 Hours of Le Mans debut in 2016 for Manor's LMP2 team.

Remaining with Fortec for 2015, Rao raced with them in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship,[18] in which he failed to score a point and took a best result of 14th at both the Hockenheimring and Spa.[19] At the end of the year, Rao partook in the FIA World Endurance Championship rookie test in Bahrain for Signatech Alpine's LMP2 squad.[20] In 2016, Rao made the full-time switch to sportscars, as he joined Manor to compete in the LMP2 class of the FIA World Endurance Championship.[21] Dabbling between the team's No. 44 and No. 45 entries,[22] Rao scored his only podium of the season at the 6 Hours of Spa with Roberto Merhi and Richard Bradley, as well as helping Alex Lynn secure pole position at the 6 Hours of Shanghai.[23][24]

Continuing in the WEC for 2017, Rao joined Signatech Alpine Matmut in the team's No. 36 car to partner Gustavo Menezes, Nicolas Lapierre and Romain Dumas.[25] Racing with the team through the first four rounds, Rao finished third at the 6 Hours of Nürburgring before parting ways with the team.[26][27] Rao saw out the rest of the season with CEFC Manor TRS Racing,[28] finishing third on his return at the 6 Hours of Mexico alongside Ben Hanley and Jean-Éric Vergne, and took seventh in the LMP2 standings.[29]

Racing record

Racing career summary

Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2011 British Formula Ford Championship – Scholarship Fluid Motorsport 11 1 0 0 9 243 2nd
Formula Ford Festival 1 0 0 0 0 N/a DNF
2012 British Formula Ford Championship Fluid Motorsport Development 23 0 0 0 0 118 10th
British Formula Ford Championship – Duratec 4 9 6 13 515 1st
Dutch Formula Ford Championship 4 0 0 0 0 30 21st
Formula Renault BARC Hillspeed 2 0 0 0 0 6 32nd
Formula Renault BARC Winter Series 2 0 0 0 0 11 20th
2013 Protyre Formula Renault Championship Hillspeed 14 0 0 0 1 128 15th
2014 Toyota Racing Series Giles Motorsport 15 0 0 0 0 394 14th
British Formula 3 International Series Fortec Motorsport 21 5 3 7 15 283 2nd
2015 FIA Formula 3 European Championship Fortec Motorsports 33 0 0 0 0 0 29th
2016 FIA World Endurance Championship – LMP2 Manor 9 0 1 0 1 33 17th
24 Hours of Le Mans – LMP2 1 0 0 0 0 N/a DNF
2017 FIA World Endurance Championship – LMP2 Signatech Alpine Matmut 4 0 0 0 1 100 7th
CEFC Manor TRS Racing 5 0 0 0 1
24 Hours of Le Mans – LMP2 Signatech Alpine Matmut 1 0 0 0 0 N/a 8th
Sources:[30][31]

Complete Protyre Formula Renault 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 Pos Points
2013 Hillspeed DON
1
8		 DON
2
8		 SNE
1
14		 SNE
2
17		 SNE
3
3		 THR
1
9		 THR
2
7		 THR
3
DNS		 CRO
1
8		 CRO
2
Ret		 CRO
3
Ret		 ROC
1
10		 ROC
2
10		 ROC
3
Ret		 SIL
1
Ret		 SIL
2
DNS		 15th 128

Complete Toyota Racing 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 Pos Points
2014 Giles Motorsport TER
1
14		 TER
2
20		 TER
3
15		 TIM
1
10		 TIM
2
Ret		 TIM
3
13		 HIG
1
14		 HIG
2
8		 HIG
3
12		 HMP
1
5		 HMP
2
10		 HMP
3
9		 MAN
1
18		 MAN
2
19		 MAN
3
10		 14th 394

Complete British Formula 3 International 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 19 20 21 DC Points
2014 Fortec Motorsport ROC
1
Ret		 ROC
2
4		 ROC
3
1		 SIL
1
5		 SIL
2
Ret		 SIL
3
3		 SNE
1
3		 SNE
2
1		 SNE
3
3		 SPA
1
8		 SPA
2
6		 SPA
3
4		 THR
1
2		 THR
2
2		 THR
3
1		 BRH
1
4		 BRH
2
2		 BRH
3
3		 DON
1
3		 DON
2
1		 DON
3
1		 2nd 283

Complete FIA Formula 3 European Championship results

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

Year Entrant Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 DC Points
2015 Fortec Motorsports Mercedes SIL
1
Ret		 SIL
2
22		 SIL
3
Ret		 HOC
1
14		 HOC
2
16		 HOC
3
31		 PAU
1
19		 PAU
2
24		 PAU
3
19		 MNZ
1
16		 MNZ
2
15		 MNZ
3
EX		 SPA
1
23		 SPA
2
14		 SPA
3
Ret		 NOR
1
23		 NOR
2
21		 NOR
3
Ret		 ZAN
1
22		 ZAN
2
23		 ZAN
3
27		 RBR
1
25		 RBR
2
31		 RBR
3
25		 ALG
1
25		 ALG
2
Ret		 ALG
3
21		 NÜR
1
22		 NÜR
2
18		 NÜR
3
Ret		 HOC
1
23		 HOC
2
28		 HOC
3
18		 29th 0

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

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

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Rank Points
2016 Manor LMP2 Oreca 05 Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 SIL
6		 SPA
3		 LMS
Ret		 NÜR
Ret		 MEX
Ret		 COA
Ret		 FUJ
7		 SHA
9		 BHR
10		 17th 33
2017 Signatech Alpine Matmut LMP2 Alpine A470 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 SIL
4		 SPA
5		 LMS
5		 NÜR
3		 7th 100
CEFC Manor TRS Racing Oreca 07 MEX
3		 COA
6		 FUJ
5		 SHA
9		 BHR
6

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2016 United Kingdom Manor Thailand Tor Graves
Spain Roberto Merhi		 Oreca 05-Nissan LMP2 283 DNF DNF
2017 France Signatech Alpine Matmut France Romain Dumas
United States Gustavo Menezes		 Alpine A470-Gibson LMP2 351 10th 8th

References

  1. ↑ "About Us". blueskiesconsultants.com. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  2. ↑ "About James". jamesraodream.com. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  3. ↑ Paice, Simon (10 October 2011). "Formula Ford Seasons Ends In Symmetry". thecheckeredflag.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  4. ↑ McErlean, Paul (16 May 2012). "BRANDS BATTLE LOOMS FOR FORMULA FORD MEN". brscc.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  5. ↑ McErlean, Paul (25 March 2013). "FORMULA FORD ON TRACK FOR A SOLID START". brscc.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  6. ↑ Paice, Simon (18 October 2012). "Formula Renault BARC Winter Series Preview". thecheckeredflag.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  7. ↑ Paice, Simon (1 December 2012). "2012 Formula Renault BARC Season Review". thecheckeredflag.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  8. ↑ Price, Simon (13 February 2013). "Rao Remains With Hillspeed For Full Renault Campaign". thecheckeredflag.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  9. ↑ "MacLeod Takes Maiden Formula Renault Win As Middlehurst Extends Series Lead". racecar.com. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  10. ↑ Thompson, Eric (10 January 2014). "Motorsport: Young guns ready for action in Toyota Racing Series". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  11. ↑ Khorounzhiy, Valentin (1 February 2014). "Mardenborough takes points lead with Hampton Downs victory". formulascout.com. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  12. ↑ Simmons, Marcus (15 January 2014). "Matt Rao first UK driver to commit to 2014 British F3 with Fortec". autosport.com. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  13. ↑ Mitchell, Scott (5 May 2014). "Matt Rao takes maiden British F3 win at Rockingham". autosport.com. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  14. ↑ Allen, Peter (22 June 2014). "Rao inherits Snetterton race two win after contact ahead". formulascout.com. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  15. ↑ Khorounzhiy, Valentin (17 August 2014). "Rao denies Cao a hat-trick at Thruxton". formulascout.com. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  16. ↑ Thomas, Stella-Maria; Waite, Lynne (14 September 2014). "Rao wins race but Cao takes title at Donington". motorsport.com. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  17. ↑ Borgo, Marco (29 November 2014). "GP3 | Test Abu Dhabi, Day 3: Ghiotto e Fuoco davanti a tutti". formulapassion.it (in Italian). Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  18. ↑ "Matt Rao remains with Fortec in FIAF3". formularapida.net. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  19. ↑ Allen, Peter (1 May 2015). "Giovinazzi notches up first win of 2015 to extend European F3 lead". formulascout.com. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  20. ↑ Rolland, Emmanuel (13 November 2015). "La liste complète des pilotes du Rookie Test à Bahreïn dévoilée". motorsport.com (in French). Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  21. ↑ Goodwin, Graham (7 March 2016). "Matt Rao Joins Manor For 2016 FIA WEC". dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  22. ↑ Dagys, John (18 May 2016). "Shakeup in Manor Driver Lineup for 24H Le Mans". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  23. ↑ Goodwin, Graham (9 May 2016). "11 Things You May Have Missed From The 6 Hours of Spa Francorchamps". dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  24. ↑ Colombo, Diletta (5 November 2016). "WEC 2016, 6 Ore di Shanghai: pole per Porsche". automoto.it (in Italian). Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  25. ↑ "Les équipages Signatech-Alpine Matmut dévoilés..." endurance-info.com (in French). 28 March 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  26. ↑ Dagys, John (16 July 2017). "Porsche Takes Commanding Win at Nürburgring". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  27. ↑ Dagys, John (20 July 2017). "Negrao to Replace Rao in Single-Car Signatech Alpine Entry for Mexico". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  28. ↑ "Manor TRS Racing to use new lineup for Mexico". racer.com. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  29. ↑ Dagys, John (3 September 2017). "Porsche Dominates 6H Mexico, Extends Championship Lead". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  30. ↑ "Matthew Rao Results". motorsportstats.com. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  31. ↑ "Matt Rao | Racing career profile | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
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