Tio Ellinas
Eftihios "Tio" Ellinas | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 27, 1992 Larnaca, Cyprus |
| Occupation | Professional racing driver |
| Years active | 2003–present |
Eftihios "Tio" Ellinas (born 27 January 1992 in Larnaca, Cyprus) is a professional racing driver from Cyprus. He embarked on his karting journey at the age of seven, securing 10 national titles in Cyprus between 2003 and 2009, notably including victory at the 2005 ROK Cup International Final. In 2009, he triumphed at the Grand Prix Shootout held in the United Kingdom, outperforming 50 of the world's leading young talents.
In 2010, Ellinas competed in the MSA Dunlop Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain with the JTR Team. During this campaign, he claimed three race wins and achieved fourth place in the overall standings—the highest finishing position for a rookie since Jenson Button in 1998—earning him the distinction of "Rookie Of The Year."
Progressing to the UK Formula Renault 2.0 championship in 2011, Ellinas joined Atech Reid GP Team and concluded the season third in the championship. The following year, he signed with Marussia Manor Racing to compete in the GP3 Series.
Ellinas participated in testing for the Marussia F1 Team during the 2013 Formula One campaign.
Karting
Starting his motorsport career at seven years old, Ellinas took part in 131 kart races, achieving 101 victories and standing on the podium 20 times. His notable accomplishments include:
- Third place in Cyprus Karting Championship – KZ2 class, 2009
- Runner-up in ROK Cup Cyprus – Super Class, 2009
- Champion of Cyprus Karting Championship – KF2 category, 2009
- Winner of Bridgestone Cup Cyprus – KZ2 class, 2009
- Second place in Cyprus Karting Championship – KZ2, 2008
- Third position in ROK Cup Cyprus – Senior category, 2007
- Cyprus Rotax Max Challenge Junior champion, 2006
- Cyprus ICA Junior champion, 2006
- Junior ROK champion at ROK Cup International Final, 2005
- Junior champion of ROK Cup Cyprus, 2005
- Cyprus ICA Junior champion, 2005
- Cyprus Rotax Max Challenge Junior champion in both 2004 and 2003
Grand Prix Shootout
Ellinas secured victory at the inaugural Grand Prix Shootout held in the UK in 2009. Evaluated by esteemed coach Rob Wilson, he competed against fifty drivers boasting over one hundred significant titles collectively. Driving a Double R Racing Formula BMW car during the sessions, his success represented a key early career breakthrough.
Formula Ford
Competing in the MSA Dunlop Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain with JTR, Ellinas became only the second driver since Ayrton Senna to start on the front row during his debut race weekend. He also recorded the fastest times in all wet-weather tests that year. Concluding the season fourth overall in 2010, he earned Rookie of the Year honors—a rookie achievement unmatched since Jenson Button's performance in 1998.
Formula Renault
In the UK Formula Renault championship of 2011, Ellinas raced for Atech Reid GP and finished third overall, reflecting significant advancement within his single-seater racing career.
GP3 Series
Ellinas made his GP3 Series debut in 2012 with Marussia Manor Racing, ending eighth in the championship standings with one victory and a podium finish at Monza. Returning for the 2013 season with the same outfit, he elevated his performance to finish fourth overall, winning both the opening and closing races of that year.
Formula One
On 17 June 2013, Ellinas undertook an aerodynamic evaluation test with the Marussia Formula One team at Kemble airfield in Gloucestershire. This made him the first driver from Cyprus to pilot a Formula One car. His involvement followed his status as Marussia Manor's highest-ranked driver during the 2012 GP3 Series season and led to participation in Marussia F1's Young Driver Tests later that year.
Career overview
| Season | Competition | Team | Events | Victories | Pole positions | F.L. | Podium finishes | Points scored | Final standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | British Formula Ford Championship | JTR | 25 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 451 | 4th place |
| Formula Ford Festival | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | N/A | 3rd place | ||
| 2011 | Formula Renault UK | Atech Reid GP | 20 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 475 | 3rd overall |
| Formula Renault 2.0 NEC | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 47 | 26th place | ||
| 2012 | GP3 Series | Marussia Manor Racing | 16 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 97 | 8th position |
| 2013 | GP3 Series | Marussia Manor Racing | 16 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 116 | 4th overall |
| Formula One | Marussia F1 Team | Test driver role only | |||||||
| Season | Competition | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F.L. | Podiums | Points | Final position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | MRF Challenge Formula 2000 | MRF Racing | 13 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 10 | "182" | "2nd" |
† Since Ellinas participated as a guest competitor, he was not eligible to earn championship points.
Full Formula Renault 2.0 NEC results
(key) (Races highlighted in bold denote pole position; those in italics represent fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Final standing (DC) | Points earned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Atech Reid GP | HOC 1 |
HOC 2 |
HOC 3 |
SPA 1 |
SPA 2 |
NÜR 1 |
NÜR 2 |
ASS 1 |
ASS 2 |
ASS 3 |
OSC 1 1 |
OSC 2 4 |
ZAN 1 |
ZAN 2 |
MST 1 |
MST 2 |
MST 3 |
MNZ 1 |
MNZ 2 |
MNZ 3 |
26th place | 47 points |
Complete GP3 Series results
(key) (Pole positions shown in bold; fastest laps in italics)
| Year | Team | Race 1 | Race 2 | Race 3 | Race 4 | Race 5 | Race 6 | Race 7 | Race 8 | Race 9 | Race10 | Race11 | Race12 | Race13 | Race14 | Race15 | Race16 | Final classification (DC) | Total points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (2012) | ! Marussia Manor Racing | style="background:#dfffdf;"|(CAT FEA) Template:Small 7 |
style="background:#cfcfff;"|(CAT SPR) Template:Small 15 |
style="background:#dfffdf;"|(MON FEA) Template:Small 9 |
style="background:#dfffdf;"|(MON SPR) Template:Small 8 |
style="background:#dfffdf;"|(VAL FEA) Template:Small 4 |
style="background:#dfffdf;"|(VAL SPR) Template:Small 5 |
style="background:#dfffdf;"|(SIL FEA) Template:Small 6 |
style="background:#dfffdf;"|(SIL SPR) Template:Small 4 |
style="background:#dfffdf;"|(HOC FEA) Template:Small 10 |
style="background:#dfffdf;"|(HOC SPR) Template:Small 7 |
style="background:#cfcfff;"|(HUN FEA) Template:Small 13 |
style="background:#dfffdf;"|(HUN SPR) Template:Small 4 |
style="background:#dfffdf;"|(SPA FEA) Template:Small 4 |
style="background:#efcfff;"|(SPA SPR) Template:Small Ret |
style="background:#dfdfdf;"|(MNZ FEA) Template:Small 2 |
style="background:#ffffbf;"|(MNZ SPR) Template:Small 1 |
!8th place | !97 points |
| (2013) | ! Marussia Manor Racing | style="background:#ffffbf;" (CAT FEA) Template:Small 1 |
style="background:#dfffdf;"(CAT SPR) Template:Small 4 |
style="background:#dfffdf;"(VAL FEA) Template:Small 6 |
style="background:#dfffdf;"(VAL SPR) Template:Small 4 |
style="background:#dfffdf;"(SIL FEA) Template:Small 5 |
style="background:#dfffdf;"(SIL SPR) Template:Small 6 |
style="background:#dfdfdf;"(NÜR FEA) Template:Small 2 |
style="background:#dfffdf;"(NÜR SPR) Template:Small 5 |
style="background:#cfcfff;"(HUN FEA) Template:Small 11 |
style="background:#cfcfff;"(HUN SPR) Template:Small 10 |
style="background:#dfffdf;"(SPA FEA) Template:Small 8 |
style="background:#efcfff;"(SPA SPR) Template:Small Ret |
style="background:#efcfff;"(MNZ FEA) Template:Small Ret |
style="background:#cfcfff;"(MNZ SPR) Template:Small 11 |
style="background:#dfffdf;"(YMC FEA) Template:Small 7 |
style="background:#ffffbf;" (YMC SPR) Template:Small 1 |
!4th place | !116 points |
Full GP2 Series Results
(key)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | Final Position | Points Scored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | MP Motorsport | BHR Feature Race |
BHR Sprint Race |
CAT Feature Race 7th |
CAT Sprint Race 11th |
MON Feature Race 10th |
MON Sprint Race 22nd |
RBR Feature Race 23rd |
RBR Sprint Race 22nd |
SIL Feature Race |
SIL Sprint Race |
HOC Feature Race |
HOC Sprint Race |
HUN Feature Race |
HUN Sprint Race |
SPA Feature Race |
SPA Sprint Race |
MNZ Feature Race |
MNZ Sprint Race |
22nd place | 7 points | ||||
| Rapax | SOC Feature Race 21st |
SOC Sprint Race 14th |
YMC Feature Race |
YMC Sprint Race | |||||||||||||||||||||
Full Formula Renault 3.5 Series Results
(key) (Races highlighted in bold denote pole position)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Position | Total Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Strakka Racing | ALC Race 1 Retired |
ALC Race 2 4th |
MON Race 1 Retired |
SPA Race 1 7th |
SPA Race 2 5th |
HUN Race 1 17th |
HUN Race 2 6th |
RBR Race 1 9th |
RBR Race 2 13th |
SIL Race 1 1st |
SIL Race 2 11th |
NÜR Race 1 6th |
NÜR Race 2 1st |
BUG Race 1 9th |
BUG Race 2 3rd |
JER Race 1 5th |
JER Race 2 4th |
4th place | 135 points |
Comprehensive Porsche Supercup Results
(legend) (Entries in bold denote pole positions) (Entries in italics signify fastest laps)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Pos. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Momo Megatron Lechner Racing Team |
CAT 4 |
MON 8 |
RBR 10 |
SIL 16 |
HOC 3⹋ |
HUN 4 |
SPA 6 |
MNZ 11 |
MEX 3 |
MEX 11 |
7th | 81 |
| 2021 | BWT Lechner Racing | MON 8 |
RBR 12 |
RBR 6 |
HUN 7 |
SPA 9 |
ZND 17 |
MNZ 11 |
MNZ Ret |
11th | 48 | ||
⹋ Points were not awarded due to completion of less than half the race distance.
Personal Details
Ellinas is based in Larnaca, Cyprus.