Ander Vilariño

Ander Vilariño
Ander Vilariño
Born	November 6, 1979 (age 47); Hondarribia, Spain
Occupation	Professional racing driver
Known for	NASCAR Whelen Euro Series driver, three-time series champion (2012, 2013, 2015)

Ander Vilariño Facal (born 6 November 1979 in Hondarribia) is a Spanish professional racing driver actively participating in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. He pilots the No. 22 Chevrolet Camaro for DF1 Racing. Vilariño stands out as one of the series' most accomplished competitors, boasting three championship titles (2012, 2013, and 2015) alongside a record 22 race victories, the highest tally in the series' history.

His motorsport journey began with karting before advancing to Formula Renault Campus in 1996. He is also the son of former FIA European Hill Climb Champion Andrés Vilariño.

Racing career

Starting his racing path in karting in 1990, Vilariño made his Formula Renault Campus debut in 1996. The following year, he competed in the French Fórmula Renault series but was forced to pause due to a crash. Returning to competition in 1998, he transitioned to rallying and hill climb events across Spain by 1999. In 2000, he secured the Spanish Formula Supertoyota Championship title and went on to claim the Spanish Formula 3 Championship crown in 2001. That same year, he also participated in the European Le Mans Series at the 6 Hours of Estoril. Between 2002 and early 2004, Vilariño raced for Epsilon Euskadi in the World Series by Nissan, achieving two victories, three pole positions, and eight podium finishes before departing amid team conflicts.

He then shifted focus to hill climb competitions, winning the FIA European Hill Climb Cup in 2005. After missing most of the 2006 season due to an accident, he captured the FIA European Hill Climb Championship title in 2007. Returning to circuit racing, Vilariño finished seventh overall in the European Endurance Challenge VdeV for prototype cars in 2008 and improved to third place in 2009 despite limited participation. In 2010, he competed intermittently in VdeV events while claiming the Basque Rallysprint Championship.

Vilariño entered stock car racing in 2011 through the FIA Racecar Euro Series—the predecessor to today's NASCAR Whelen Euro Series—where he achieved third place overall with multiple wins and podiums. That year also saw him win a race within the FIA Speed Euroseries and take victory at Jarama during a V de V European Endurance Challenge event. In 2012, he made history as the inaugural official NASCAR-sanctioned Racecar Euro Series champion by securing six wins and eight podium finishes. He qualified for the prestigious 2013 UNOH Battle at the Beach at Daytona but was hampered by engine failure, finishing 23rd.

Vilariño successfully defended his Euro Series championship in 2013 with seven wins and ten podiums. The following year, he narrowly missed out on retaining the title by a single point while accumulating three victories and ten podiums; he was also scheduled to compete in a NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Watkins Glen but withdrew prior to participation. Regaining his third Euro Series championship in 2015, he subsequently redirected his efforts toward sports car racing within V de V Sports and the GT4 European Series.

After stepping away for three seasons, Vilariño rejoined the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series with Racing Engineering for the 2019 campaign, finishing fifth overall and sweeping both races at his home venue in Valencia. In 2020, he transferred to DF1 Racing but did not take part due to family commitments and business considerations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position granted by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

K&N Pro Series East

NASCAR K&N Pro Series East performance overview
Year	Team	No.	Manufacturer	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	NKNPSEC	Points
2014	Troy Williams Racing	12	Dodge	NSM	DAY	BRI	GRE	RCH	IOW	BGS	FIF	LGY	NHA	COL	IOW	GLN Wth	VIR	GRE		68th	17

Whelen Euro Series - Elite 1

Results in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series - Elite 1 category
Year	Team	No.	Manufacturer	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	NWES	Points
2012	TFT-Banco Santander	2	Chevy	NOG 1	NOG 1*	BRH 1*	BRH 2*	SPA 1**	SPA 2	VAL 1**	VAL 1*				1st	667
2013													1st	696
2014													2nd	655
2015													1st	662
2019	Racing Engineering	48	Ford					5th	463

Spain, France, Portugal

In 1995, secured the Elf Steering Winner title
Achieved fourth overall in the 1996 Formula Renault Campus series, including two victories, two pole positions, six fastest laps, and three podium finishes
Placed fourth in the Formula Renault International Finals during the 1997 season
Competed in the 1998 Formula Renault championship with best results of fifth place at Pau and Ledenon circuits
In 1999, triumphed in three Andorra ice rallies, won the Garbi Hill Climb, finished second at Jaizkibel Hill Climb; also attained third place in Saxo Cup at Caja Cantabria with five top stage times
Crowned Spanish Champion Formula Super Toyota in 2000 with six wins, two poles, two fastest laps, and six podiums
Earned the Spanish Formula 3 Championship title in 2001 by securing six wins, nine pole positions, eight podiums, and eight fastest laps
Victorious in the French Sport Cars Championship at Magny Cours in 2005
Achieved third place at the Italian Sport Cars Championship held at Autódromo de Monza in 2005
Claimed Basque Hill Climb Champion honors twice, in both 2005 and again in 2010

Europe

2001 European Le Mans Series 1000 km at Estoril (Porsche GT3): Did not finish.
2001 Indoor World Cup Karting event held in Bercy.
2002 World Series by Nissan rookie season: earned rookie of the year honors with one pole position and two podium finishes.
2003 World Series by Nissan campaign: secured two victories, two poles, and five podiums; honored as Auto Hebdo Sport’s Circuit Spanish revelation driver.
2004 FIA European Hill Climb Cup driving an F3000 Reynard: achieved one win and a second place in two outings.
2005 crowned FIA European Hill Climb Cup Champion piloting the F3000 Reynard K01 with six wins, five new records, and one runner-up finish.
2006 FIA European Hill Climb Championship season was lost due to an accident.
2007 reclaimed the FIA European Hill Climb Champion title in the F3000 Reynard K01, recording nine victories, five records, and a single second place.
2008 participated in the V de V European Endurance Challenge with a Norma M20 alongside teammate Andrés Vilariño; finished seventh overall, including one win and three pole positions.
2009 secured third place in the V de V European Endurance Challenge, achieving two wins and three podiums over four races with teammate Andrés Vilariño.
2011 competed in FIA Speed Euroseries with a Norma M20, earning one victory and two poles in four races.
Also in 2011, took part in a single V de V Endurance Challenge race, winning and securing pole position.
Additionally in 2011, finished third in the FIA Euro-Racecar Series, with two wins and five podiums.
In 2012, crowned NASCAR Racecar Euro Series Champion with six wins, five poles, and eight podium finishes.
In 2013, retained the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Championship by claiming seven victories, eight poles, and eight fastest laps.
Finished as runner-up in 2014, achieving four wins and nine podiums.
Regained the title in 2015 as champion again with three wins and eight podiums.
Earned the V de V Challenge Endurance Proto Championship in 2016 by securing four wins and six podiums.
In 2017, captured the V de V Proto Endurance Challenge Championship with three victories and three podium finishes.
Competed in both Northern and Southern Cups of the GT4 European Series during 2017, collecting multiple pole positions and podiums within the Pro-Am category.
In 2019, achieved two wins, two poles, and two podium placements.

Awards

2001 – Honored by the Gobierno Vasco and recognized among leading Guipuzcoan athletes by APDG.
2003 – Nominated for best sportsman by APDG; received accolades from Gobierno Vasco and listed among top Guipuzcoan sports figures by APDG.
2005 – Included among prominent Guipuzcoan sports personalities recognized by APDG.
2006 – Awarded an Olympic medal from the Spanish Olympic Committee (Comité Olímpico Español).
2007 – Featured among the best Basque athletes (El Correo).
2007 – Nominated for best sportsman by APDG and recognized among leading Guipuzcoan sportsmen by APDG.
2007 – Received nomination for best sportsman from Euskadi Irratia.