Fran Rueda
Francisco Rueda Mateos | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 14, 1997 Alhaurín de la Torre, Spain |
| Occupation | Racing driver |
| Years active | 2008–present |
Francisco Rueda Mateos (born 14 February 1997 in Alhaurín de la Torre) is a professional Spanish racing driver currently active in the LMGT3 category of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship representing Iron Lynx, as well as competing in the 2025 European Le Mans Series for Kessel Racing.
Career
Rueda's motorsport journey began in karting, where he competed from 2008 through 2011. He captured the title in the Cadet division of the Spanish Karting Championship in 2009 and secured second place in the KF3 category by 2011.
Progressing to single-seater racing in 2012, he entered the French F4 Championship, concluding the season in 13th place. The following year, Rueda participated in the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup with AV Formula, achieving a top result of sixth and finishing 24th overall.
Shifting focus to touring cars, he raced with Monlau Competición in the SEAT León Eurocup during 2014 and 2015. Throughout these seasons, he earned several podium finishes and two victories, ending both years eighth in the championship standings despite missing the final event in 2015.
In 2016, Rueda joined the Marc VDS Racing Team to compete in the Renault Sport Trophy. He triumphed in his class at endurance races held at the Red Bull Ring and Le Castellet, ultimately finishing second in the Am category and fifth overall in the Endurance classification.
Between 2017 and 2019, Rueda raced in the International GT Open series with Teo Martín Motorsport. Piloting BMW vehicles initially and later transitioning to the McLaren 720S GT3, he achieved multiple victories and podium placements. He finished as championship runner-up twice (in 2017 and 2018) and secured fourth place overall in 2019.
After a reduced racing schedule in 2020, Rueda returned on a part-time basis to International GT Open with Teo Martín Motorsport. In 2022, he competed for Baporo Motorsport and Greystone GT, also making a one-time appearance in the Stock Car Pro Series.
During the 2023 season, Rueda drove for Altitude Racing by Greystone GT before switching to Optimum Motorsport within International GT Open’s Pro-Am class. He consistently placed within the top ten, including achieving a class victory at Le Castellet, concluding the year eighth in Pro-Am rankings.
For 2024, Rueda signed with Kessel Racing to contest the GT3 class of the Le Mans Cup, partnering with Andrew Gilbert. They secured three podiums en route to third place overall. Additionally, he competed with Kessel Racing in both the 24H Series and Gulf 12 Hours events, while also appearing for Optimum Motorsport in British GT and GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup races.
Rueda took part in the 2024–25 Asian Le Mans Series campaign with Optimum Motorsport, earning points at Yas Marina Circuit and finishing seventeenth overall.
In 2025, he advanced to compete full-time in the European Le Mans Series alongside Gilbert and Miguel Molina for Kessel Racing. Concurrently, Rueda joined Iron Lynx for the remainder of the FIA World Endurance Championship season, including participation at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans, teaming up with Gilbert and Lorcan Hanafin.
Karting career summary
| Season | Series | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Leon Karting Championship – Minikart | 20th | |
| Copa De Campeones – Cadet | 7th | ||
| 2009 | Spanish Karting Championship – Cadet | 1st | |
| 2010 | South Garda Winter Cup – KF3 | Genikart-LTP | NC |
| WSK World Series – KF3 | 23rd | ||
| WSK Euro Series – KF3 | 50th | ||
| Karting European Championship – KF3 | 23rd | ||
| Karting World Cup – KF3 | NC | ||
| WSK Nations Cup – KF3 | NC | ||
| Spanish Karting Championship – KF3 | 7th | ||
| 2011 | South Garda Winter Cup – KF3 | Genikart-LTP | 30th |
| WSK Master Series – KF3 | 33rd | ||
| Grand Prix Open Karting – KF3 | 35th | ||
| WSK Euro Series – KF3 | 70th | ||
| Spanish Karting Championship – KF3 | 2nd | ||
| Karting World Cup – KF3 | 30th | ||
| Karting European Championship – KF3 | 27th |
Summary of racing career
| Season | Series | Team | Races | Victories | Pole positions | Fastest laps | Podium finishes | Points | Final standing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 2012 | French F4 Championship | FFSA Academy | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 13th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup | AV Formula | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 24th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | SEAT León Eurocup | Monlau Competición | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | (1) | (24) | (8th) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | (SEAT León Eurocup) | (Monlau Competición) | (12) | (2) | (0) | (0) | (2) | (34) | (8th) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | (Renault Sport Trophy – Am) | (Team Marc VDS EG 0,0) | (9) | (2) | (2) | (0) | (6) | (147) | (style=background:#dfdfdf; 2nd) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Renault Sport Trophy – Endurance) | (6) | (1) | (1) | (0) | (3) | (63) | (5th) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | (International GT Open) | (BMW Team Teo Martín) | (14) | (2) | (3) | (1) | (7) | (106) | (style=background:#dfdfdf; 2nd) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | (International GT Open) | (BMW Team Teo Martín) | (14) | (3) | (2) | (3) | (6) | (114) | (style=background:#dfdfdf; 2nd) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | (International GT Open) | (Teo Martín Motorsport) | (13) | (3) | (1) | (0) | (7) | (113) | (4th) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | (International GT Open) | (Teo Martín Motorsport) | (4) | (0) | (1) | (0) | (1) | (20) | (11th) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (International GT Open – Pro-Am) | (4) | (1) | (1) | (2) | (2) | (21) | (7th) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | (Stock Car Pro Series) | (Blau Motorsport) | (1) | (0) | (0) | (0) | (0) | (0) | (NC) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (International GT Open) | (Greystone GT) | (6) | (0) | (0) | (0) | (0) | (10) | (19th) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (International GT Open – Pro-Am) | (Greystone GT) | (6) | (0) | (1) | (0) | (0) | (12) | (13th) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Middle East Trophy – GT3 Am | 7TSIX | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | NC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| rowspan=2 |International GT Open | Altitude Racing by Greystone GT | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | rowspan=2 |8 | rowspan=2 |25th | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Altitude Racing by Optimum Motorsport | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| rowspan=2 |International GT Open – Pro-Am | Altitude Racing by Greystone GT | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | rowspan=2 |23 | rowspan=2 |8th | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Altitude Racing by Optimum Motorsport | 4 | (1) | (2) | (2) | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ! British GT Championship – GT3 | Greystone GT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | ! British GT Championship – GT3 Pro-Am | Greystone GT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | ! GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup | Inception Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | ! GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup – Bronze | Inception Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 2024 | !24H Series – GT3 Am | Kessel Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 00 | 00 | - | !Le Mans Cup – GT3 | Kessel Racing | 7 | 00 | 00 | 01 | 03 | 69.5 | - | !Gulf 12 Hours | Kessel Racing | 1 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 | N/A | - | !British GT Championship – GT3 | Optimum Motorsport | 1 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 | - | !British GT Championship – GT3 Silver-Am | Optimum Motorsport | 1 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 | - | !GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup | Optimum Motorsport | 3 | 00 | 00 | - | !GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup – Bronze | Optimum Motorsport | 2 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 14 | - | 2024–25 | Asian Le Mans Series – GT | Optimum Motorsport | 6 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 12 | 17th | 2025 | European Le Mans Series – LMGT3 | Kessel Racing | 2 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 1* | 16th* |- | British GT Championship – GT3 | Kessel Racing | 1 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00* | NC* |- | British GT Championship – GT3 Silver-Am | Kessel Racing | 1 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 00* | NC* |- | FIA World Endurance Championship – LMGT3 | Iron Lynx | * |
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans Results
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Vehicle | Category | Laps Completed | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Template:Country data ITATemplate:Namespace detect showall Iron Lynx | Template:Country data GBRTemplate:Namespace detect showall Andrew Gilbert Template:Country data GBRTemplate:Namespace detect showall Lorcan Hanafin |
Mercedes AMG GT3 Evo | LMGT3 | 57 | DNF | DNF |