Until age eleven, he thought he would follow his father’s path and become a professional tennis player. Then he discovered karting, and Tristan Nunez had a new passion—one which has carried him in amazing leaps to the top of the his chosen trade.
Several karting championships led to a Skip Barber title and a test in an IMSA Lites car, which led to a full-season ride, which led to Nunez becoming the youngest sports car champion in history at age 16—which led to rides in the top-tier professional ALMS and Rolex series, which led to becoming the youngest winner in those series—while still in high school.
Now just turned 18, Nunez has reached the next level in his career—a very, very elevated level.
The young driver has been chosen as one of four Mazda SpeedSource factory drivers who will pilot the brand-new Mazda/SpeedSource LMP2 SkyActiv diesel in the Tudor United Sports Car Series Prototype class—the fastest class of sports cars on the continent.
The young driver understands what a rare honor it is to be chosen as a factory drive so early in one’s career.
Nunez received the news officially while driving for Mazda at the TUSC Roar Before The Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway, Jan. 3–5 and “almost broke down in tears—that’s just a dream come true,” he said a few hours after the announcement. “It’s one step closer to my big dream, which is racing at Le Mans.”
