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Bernardo Pinheiro

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Bernardo Pinheiro
NationalityPortugal Portuguese
Born (2004-03-03) 3 March 2004 (age 20)
Portugal
European Le Mans Series career
Debut season2024
Current teamTeam Virage
Racing licence FIA Silver
Car number11
Starts5 (5 entries)
Wins2
Podiums3
Poles0
Fastest laps0
Best finishTBD in 2024
Previous series
2022–23Ligier European Series - JS P4

Bernardo Lucas Pinheiro (born 3 March 2004) is a Portuguese racing driver currently competing for Team Virage in the European Le Mans Series.[1][2] He finished as the runner-up in the 2023 season of the Ligier European Series's JS P4 class alongside George King.

Career

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After competing in karts, Pinheiro made his car racing debut at his father's track in 2022, racing for Team Virage in the final round of the Ligier European Series.[3] He and José Maria Marreiros finished last in the JS P4 class during race 1 as Marreiros spun but improved to eighth place in race 2.[4] Pinheiro would remain with the team for a full season of the LES in 2023, this time partnering the previous year's third place finisher George King.[5] The pair scored two runner-up finishes at the Barcelona season opener, coming up short to teammate Mihnea Ștefan in both races.[6]

After retiring from the Le Mans round Pinheiro and King established themselves as a top team, only losing out on victory to Ștefan at Le Castellet, and finishing third in race 2 at Aragón; Pinheiro also scored his maiden pole position at the latter track but missed out on the win in race 1 when King encountered a fuel issue mere metres before the finish line.[7] They then took their first win of the season in Belgium, where Pinheiro passed Ștefan, who would clinch the title at that round, during the opening stint.[8][9] The Portuguese won the season finale at Portimão to claim second in the standings alongside King, before the pair and Ștefan took part in the European Le Mans Series's post-season test.[10]

Having taken a podium in the third round of the Prototype Winter Series at the start of 2024, Pinheiro would enter the LMP3 class of the ELMS alongside 2023 Le Mans Cup champions Gillian Henrion and Julien Gerbi, once again returning to Team Virage.[11] The #8 crew got off to a strong start, as they won the opening race at Barcelona.[12] At the next race in Le Castellet however, Pinheiro failed to drive for the mandated minimum time of 40 minutes, meaning that he would be ineligible to score any points from their seventh place finish.[13] After Pinheiro competed in the Road to Le Mans event in June he and his Team Virage teammates finished second in Imola.[14][15] They then took sixth place at Spa before a well-executed fuel saving stint by Henrion guaranteed them victory at Mugello.[16][17]

Personal life

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He was the son of Paulo Pinheiro, the CEO of the Algarve International Circuit, who died in July 2024.[18]

Racing record

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Racing career summary

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Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2022 Ligier European Series - JS P4 Team Virage 2 0 0 0 0 5 23rd
2023 Ligier European Series - JS P4 Team Virage 11 2 1 1 8 167 2nd
2024 Prototype Winter Series - Class 3 Mühlner Motorsport 2 0 0 0 1 11.43 10th
European Le Mans Series - LMP3 Team Virage 6 2 0 0 3 76 4th
Le Mans Cup - LMP3 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
Ultimate Cup Series - Proto P3 Bretton Racing 1 0 1 1 0 * *

† As Pinheiro was a guest driver, he was ineligible for championship points.
*Season still in progress.

Complete Ligier European Series results

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

Year Entrant Class Chassis 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
2022 Team Virage JS P4 Ligier JS P4 LEC
1 		LEC
2 		IMO
1 		IMO
2 		LMS
1 		LMS
2 		MNZ
1 		MNZ
2 		SPA
1 		SPA
2 		ALG
1
10 		ALG
2
8 		23rd 5
2023 Team Virage JS P4 Ligier JS P4 CAT
1
2 		CAT
2
2 		LMS
Ret 		LEC
1
2 		LEC
2
2 		ARA
1
Ret 		ARA
2
3 		SPA
1
4 		SPA
2
1 		ALG
1
2 		ALG
2
1 		2nd 167

Complete European Le Mans Series results

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

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rank Points
2024 Team Virage LMP3 Ligier JS P320 Nissan VK56DE 5.6L V8 CAT
1 		LEC
7 		IMO
2 		SPA
6 		MUG
1 		ALG
6 		4th 76

* Season still in progress.

References

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  1. ^ "Driver - Bernardo Pinheiro". europeanlemansseries.com. 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  2. ^ "ELMS Field Almost Complete With Barcelona Prologue Approaching". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  3. ^ "The 2022 season finale at Portimão". Endurance Info. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  4. ^ "Double Victory For Team Virage, CTF Performance & RLR MSport Take JS2 R Wins". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  5. ^ "Ligier European Series: season 4 at the vanguard of diversity". Endurance Info. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  6. ^ "Team Virage Sweeps Ligier European Series Opening Weekend". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  7. ^ "Challenges and Triumphs: A Recap of the ELMS Weekend at Motorland Aragon - Virage Group". 2023-10-06. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  8. ^ "Wins For Virage & ANS At Spa |". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  9. ^ Informação, Sul (2023-09-18). "Algarvio Bernardo Pinheiro wants to win on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit". Sul Informação. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  10. ^ "22 Cars Entered For ELMS Rookie Test | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  11. ^ Goodwin, Graham (4 December 2023). "43 Car Entry Confirmed For 2024 European Le Mans Series". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  12. ^ Euwema, Davey (2024-04-14). "Cool Racing Victorious in 4H Barcelona – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  13. ^ "4 Hours of Le Castellet - Decision No. 35" (PDF). 5 May 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Concluding Challenging Road to Le Mans Round - Virage Group". 2024-06-17. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  15. ^ Dagys, John (2024-07-07). "Panis Oreca Wins 4H Imola; Iron Dames Claim LMGT3 Honors – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  16. ^ "Iron Lynx Proton ORECA Wins Chaotic 4H Mugello". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  17. ^ Euwema, Davey (2024-09-29). "Iron Lynx-Proton Wins Red-Flagged 4H Mugello – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  18. ^ "Paulo Pineiro Passes, ELMS News Notebook:". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
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