Filipe Albuquerque

Filipe Albuquerque
Born	Filipe Miguel Delgadinho Albuquerque (1985-06-13) June 13, 1985 Portugal
Occupation	Racing driver
Years active	1993–present
Known for	Competing in IMSA SportsCar Championship and European Le Mans Series; FIA World Endurance Championship LMP2 champion (2019–20); 24 Hours of Le Mans LMP2 class winner (2020); 24 Hours of Daytona overall winner (2018, 2021)

Filipe Miguel Delgadinho Albuquerque (born 13 June 1985) is a Portuguese professional racecar driver currently active in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, piloting an Acura ARX-06 for Wayne Taylor Racing, as well as competing in the European Le Mans Series behind the wheel of an Oreca 07 for Nielsen Racing. He claimed the LMP2 category championship in the 2019–20 FIA World Endurance Championship, triumphed in the LMP2 class at the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans, and earned overall victories at the 24 Hours of Daytona in both 2018 and 2021.

Career

Albuquerque launched his motorsport journey in karting in 1993, swiftly progressing with backing from Red Bull. He secured two national karting championships before advancing to compete in Spanish Formula Three. Following this, he transitioned to Formula Renault, initially impressing as a guest driver before securing a full-time seat. His results included sixth place in Spanish Formula Three, fifth in the Formula Renault Eurocup, and third in Formula Renault Germany, topping rookie rankings across all three series.

In 2006, he captured championship titles in both the Formula Renault Eurocup and North European Formula Renault series. The following year, Albuquerque entered the Formula Renault 3.5 Series with Epsilon Euskadi, concluding the season fourth overall. Additionally, he took part as a substitute driver during the GP2 Series round at Silverstone. In 2008, his schedule combined selective appearances in Formula Renault 3.5 with a primary focus on competing in the A1 Grand Prix series.

Albuquerque made his A1 GP debut midway through the 2007–08 season, stepping in for João Urbano and consistently scoring points along with podium finishes. As Portugal’s sole representative during the 2008–09 campaign, he secured the nation’s inaugural victory in the series and ended third in the championship standings. Retained for the 2009–10 season, his efforts were cut short as financial difficulties led to the series' cancellation.

Facing limited opportunities in single-seaters, Albuquerque shifted towards Italian GT racing starting in 2009. He participated part-time in the Italian GT3 Championship driving an Audi R8 LMS and made impactful outings in the Superstars Series touring car championship behind an Audi RS4, achieving multiple second-place results. Committing full-time to Italian GT3 in 2010, he finished joint runner-up alongside teammate Marco Bonanomi and also claimed a Superstars victory at his home circuit, Autódromo Internacional do Algarve.

In 2010, Albuquerque competed at the Race of Champions held in Düsseldorf, where he earned the prestigious individual Champion of Champions title by besting elite drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and Sébastien Loeb.

The year 2011 saw him enter the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters aboard a 2008-spec Audi A4 while simultaneously joining Belgian outfit WRT’s Audi R8 squad for the Blancpain Endurance Series, finishing second overall in that championship.

Albuquerque’s first appearance at the 24 Hours of Daytona came in 2013 with Alex Job Racing’s Audi R8 Grand-Am car, where he won his class contributing to an Audi one-two finish.

In 2014, his efforts centered on the European Le Mans Series LMP2 division where he ended as runner-up; he also represented Audi’s factory team during that year’s 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans.

During the 2017 24 Hours of Daytona, Albuquerque was leading late into the race but lost ground following contact that caused him to spin; he ultimately finished just 0.671 seconds behind winner Ricky Taylor.

Highlights

• FIA WEC (LMP2): Titleholder (2019–20)
• 24 Hours of Le Mans: LMP2 Class Victor (2020)
• European Le Mans Series: Titleholder (2020)
• Race of Champions: Champion (2010)
• Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0: Titlewinner (2006)
• Formula Renault 2.0 NEC: Champion (2006)
• 24 Hours of Daytona: Overall victor (2018 and 2021), GTD Category Winner (2013)
• Italian GT Championship – GT3: Third place (2010)
• Blancpain Endurance Series – GT3 Pro Cup : Third position (2011)
• North American Endurance Cup: Champion (2017)