Robert Bell (racing driver)

Last updated

Rob Bell
RobBell.png
Bell on the podium at Donington Park
NationalityFlag of the United Kingdom.svg British
Born (1979-04-30) 30 April 1979 (age 46)
Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom
Related to Matt Bell (brother)
British GT Championship career
Debut season 2018
Current team Balfe Motorsport
Racing licence FIA Platinum Driver.png FIA Platinum
Car number22
Starts12
Wins1
Poles2
Best finish3rd in 2019
Previous series
2017 International GT Open
Championship titles
2001
2002
2007
2008
Formula Renault UK (Winter)
Formula Renault UK (Winter)
Le Mans Series (GT2 class)
Le Mans Series (GT2 class)
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years 20072011, 2013, 2015
TeamsTeam LNT
Virgo Motorsport
JMW Motorsport
Best finish23rd (2007, 2009)
Class wins0

Robert "Rob" Bell (born 30 April 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne) is a British former professional racing driver. [1] He has competed in such series as the FIA GT Championship, the British GT Championship and Formula Renault V6 Eurocup, and is best known as the winner of the 2016 Blancpain Endurance Series with Shane van Gisbergen and Côme Ledogar. He has also won the Winter Series of Formula Renault UK in both 2001 and 2002.

Contents

Bell was the Le Mans Series GT2 class champion for Virgo Motorsport in the 2007 and 2008 seasons, and vice-champion for JMW in 2009 and 2011. In 2009 he also finished 7th at the FIA GT Championship GT2 class for CRS Racing, collecting a 2nd place at the 24 Hours of Spa. Since 2012, Bell has competed at the Blancpain Endurance Series Pro Cup class with a McLaren MP4-12C for Gulf Racing UK.

Bell also finished 2nd in the GT class at the 2011 24 Hours of Daytona as a Paul Miller Racing driver. He returned to the team for the 2012 12 Hours of Sebring, resulting 5th in the GT class.

Bell competed in the 2019 British GT alongside Shaun Balfe in a McLaren 720S GT3. [2] He finished third in the GT3 standings after winning at the final round at Donington Park.

Bell at the wheel of a McLaren 720S GT3 in the lead of the race at Donington Park. Balfe Motorsport McLaren 720S.jpg
Bell at the wheel of a McLaren 720S GT3 in the lead of the race at Donington Park.

His brother Matt also races internationally in GT3 and LM prototypes.

Racing record

24 Hours of Le Mans results

YearTeamCo-DriversCarClassLapsPos.Class
Pos.
2007 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Team LNT Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lawrence Tomlinson
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Richard Dean
Panoz Esperante GT-LMGT230822nd5th
2008 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Virgo Motorsport Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tim Mullen
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tim Sugden
Ferrari F430 GT2GT2289DNFDNF
2009 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg JMW Motorsport Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andrew Kirkaldy
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tim Sugden
Ferrari F430 GT2GT232023rd4th
2010 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg JMW Motorsport Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tim Sugden
Flag of the United States.svg Bryce Miller
Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT2 GT271DNFDNF
2011 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg JMW Motorsport Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tim Sugden
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Xavier Maassen
Ferrari 458 Italia GTCGTE
Pro
29024th9th
2013 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Aston Martin Racing Flag of France.svg Frédéric Makowiecki
Flag of Brazil.svg Bruno Senna
Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT2 GTE
Pro
248DNFDNF
2015 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Aston Martin Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Darren Turner
Flag of Germany.svg Stefan Mücke
Aston Martin Vantage GTE GTE
Pro
110DNFDNF
2016 Flag of Singapore.svg Clearwater Racing Flag of Japan.svg Keita Sawa
Flag of Malaysia.svg Weng Sun Mok
Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 GTE
Am
32930th4th
2017 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg TF Sport Flag of Turkey.svg Salih Yoluc
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Euan Hankey
Aston Martin Vantage GTE GTE
Am
32935th7th

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

YearEntrantClassCarEngine12345678RankPoints
2013 Aston Martin Racing LMGTE Pro Aston Martin Vantage GTE Aston Martin 4.5 L V8 SIL SPA
2
LMS
Ret
SÃO
Ret
COA FUJ SHA BHR 24th19
2015 Aston Martin Racing LMGTE Pro Aston Martin Vantage GTE Aston Martin 4.5 L V8 SIL SPA
5
LMS
Ret
NÜR COA FUJ SHA BHR 24th10

Complete WeatherTech SportsCar Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

YearTeamClassMakeEngine1234567891011RankPoints
2014 SRT Motorsports GTLM SRT Viper GTS-R Dodge 8.0L V10 DAY
6
SEB
2
LBH LGA WGL MOS IMS ELK VIR COT PET
6
20th85

Complete FIA GT Series results

YearTeamCarClass123456789101112Pos.Points
2013 Hexis Racing McLaren MP4-12C GT3 Pro NOG
QR
NOG
CR
ZOL
QR
ZOL
CR
ZAN
QR
ZAN
CR
SVK
QR
SVK
CR
NAV
QR
NAV
CR
BAK
QR

3
BAK
CR

3
NC0‡

 — Guest driver – Not eligible for points.

Complete British GT Championship results

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

YearTeamCarClass123456789PosPoints
2018 Balfe Motorsport McLaren 650S GT3 GT3 OUL
1

8
OUL
2

12
ROC
1

Ret
SNE
1
SNE
2
SIL
1

8
SPA
1

Ret
BRH
1
DON
1
17th10
2019 Balfe Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3 GT3 OUL
1

WD
OUL
2

WD
SNE
1

31
SNE
2

3
SIL
1

11
DON
1

2
SPA
1

4
BRH
1

2
DON
1

1
3rd126
2020 Balfe Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3 GT3 OUL
1
OUL
2
DON
1
DON
2
BRH
1
DON
1
SNE
1
SNE
2
SIL
1

Ret
NC†0†
2022 Fox Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3 GT3 OUL
1
OUL
2
SIL
1
DON
1

9
SNE
1
SNE
2
SPA
1
BRH
1
DON
1
29th3
2023 Optimum Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3 GT3 OUL
1

7
OUL
2

10
SIL
1

3
DON
1

8
SNE
1

3
SNE
2

11
ALG
1

2
BRH
1

7
DON
1
10th86.5

† Not eligible for points.
* Season still in progress.

Complete Asian Le Mans Series results

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

YearTeamClassCarEngine12345Pos.Points
2023 Garage 59GT McLaren 720S GT3 McLaren M840T 4.0 L Turbo V8 DUB
1

12
DUB
2

5
ABU
1

11
ABU
2

10
13th11
2024 Optimum Motorsport GT McLaren 720S GT3 McLaren M840T 4.0 L Turbo V8 SEP
1

17
SEP
2

3
DUB
6
ABU
1

3
ABU
2

14
6th38

References

  1. "Driver Biography – Rob Bell". Archived from the original on 3 January 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  2. "Balfe Motorsport To Race 720S GT3 in British GT". Dailysportscar. 6 February 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup
Champion

2016
With: Côme Ledogar
and Shane van Gisbergen
Succeeded by