Endurance driver Felipe Nasr on courage and creativity
Ahead of speaking at Soho Summit, our upcoming festival of ideas powered by Porsche, the sportsman shares the challenges that came with pursuing his dream in race driving
Wednesday 16 April 2025 By Chloe Lawrance
Meet Felipe Nasr, Formula 1 driver-turned-endurance racer. Since 2022, he’s led Porsche’s IMSA SportsCar Championship team to victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona (yes, that’s 24 straight hours of racing) on two occasions – and he’ll be joining us for Soho Summit 2025.
‘Racing is in my blood. My father was a mechanic and my uncle a go-kart driver, and they owned a local race team in Brazil. I first tried go-karting at seven. I felt a connection with it immediately: the speed, the adrenaline. It felt so natural to me. By 15, I had moved to Italy to become a professional motor racer.
‘That came with some challenges. I was pursuing my dream as a driver, but I was also away from home, looking after myself for the very first time with no family around to support me. It was tough. I had to learn quickly how to balance homesickness with keeping my mind and body in a strong enough place to race.
‘Racing is in my blood. My father was a mechanic and my uncle a go-kart driver, and they owned a local race team in Brazil. I first tried go-karting at seven. I felt a connection with it immediately: the speed, the adrenaline. It felt so natural to me. By 15, I had moved to Italy to become a professional motor racer.
‘That came with some challenges. I was pursuing my dream as a driver, but I was also away from home, looking after myself for the very first time with no family around to support me. It was tough. I had to learn quickly how to balance homesickness with keeping my mind and body in a strong enough place to race.
‘Now I know the experience set me on the path to success. As a driver, preparation is everything; you have to be aware of your emotions. I’ve worked with a mindfulness coach for the past 10 years, learning how to be present in the moment. Professionally, I drive at over 300 km per hour; I’ve had to learn how to calm my mind and bring down the adrenaline once I step out of the car.
‘I understand my goals better than ever before, especially since becoming part of team Porsche in 2022. There’s a huge amount of trust between us, and being part of the development of the 963 LMDh prototype from the start has been such a unique experience. Our first victory at the Daytona 24 in 2024 was probably one of the greatest moments of my career. Following it up with a win in 2025 was a dream come true.’
‘I understand my goals better than ever before, especially since becoming part of team Porsche in 2022. There’s a huge amount of trust between us, and being part of the development of the 963 LMDh prototype from the start has been such a unique experience. Our first victory at the Daytona 24 in 2024 was probably one of the greatest moments of my career. Following it up with a win in 2025 was a dream come true.’
Soho Summit
Soho Summit, powered by Porsche, is back for 2025, as we touch down at Soho Farmhouse from Wednesday 30 April to Friday 2 May.
Expect inspiring talks, hands-on workshops and in-depth masterclasses, as high-profile creative minds from the worlds of design, art, TV, film and music join members to connect, be inspired and explore ideas that drive culture forward. This year we’ll explore ‘when courage inspires creative change’ – a theme that’s never felt quite so pertinent.
Across the three-day event, we’ll be joined by headline speakers that include Gillian Anderson, Munroe Bergdorf, Rebel Wilson, Bernie Taupin, and Helen Fielding. Industry leaders will host experiential workshops, from capturing the perfect shot with esteemed celebrity photographer Adam Fussell – who has documented the likes of Kate Moss and Cynthia Erivo – to mastering clay sculpture with artist Hannah Lim.
Once again, we’ll be partnering with Porsche to bring the summit to our members. Porsche is a brand of dreamers, thanks to its founder Ferry Porsche whose passion and belief in his vision changed the automotive world forever. Alongside activations around the festival, Porsche will be giving guests the opportunity to take part in an exhilarating half-day driving experience at Silverstone Circuit, the home of British motorsport. See you at Soho Summit.
Visit the events page to find out what’s on at our Houses around the world
Soho Summit, powered by Porsche, is back for 2025, as we touch down at Soho Farmhouse from Wednesday 30 April to Friday 2 May.
Expect inspiring talks, hands-on workshops and in-depth masterclasses, as high-profile creative minds from the worlds of design, art, TV, film and music join members to connect, be inspired and explore ideas that drive culture forward. This year we’ll explore ‘when courage inspires creative change’ – a theme that’s never felt quite so pertinent.
Across the three-day event, we’ll be joined by headline speakers that include Gillian Anderson, Munroe Bergdorf, Rebel Wilson, Bernie Taupin, and Helen Fielding. Industry leaders will host experiential workshops, from capturing the perfect shot with esteemed celebrity photographer Adam Fussell – who has documented the likes of Kate Moss and Cynthia Erivo – to mastering clay sculpture with artist Hannah Lim.
Once again, we’ll be partnering with Porsche to bring the summit to our members. Porsche is a brand of dreamers, thanks to its founder Ferry Porsche whose passion and belief in his vision changed the automotive world forever. Alongside activations around the festival, Porsche will be giving guests the opportunity to take part in an exhilarating half-day driving experience at Silverstone Circuit, the home of British motorsport. See you at Soho Summit.
Visit the events page to find out what’s on at our Houses around the world
