Ian James (racing driver)

Ian James
NationalityUnited Kingdom British
Born (1974-07-22) July 22, 1974 (age 50)
Epsom, Surrey, England
IMSA SportsCar Championship career
Debut season2014
Current teamHeart of Racing Team
Racing licence FIA Bronze
Former teams3GT Racing, Team Seattle
Starts52
Championships0
Wins5
Podiums15
Best finish4th in 2015
Previous series
American Le Mans Series
Rolex Sports Car Series

Ian James (born 22 July 1974 in Epsom[1]) is a British-American racing driver and principal of the Heart of Racing Team, competing in the IMSA SportsCar Championship. James has 11 total sportscar wins.[2]

In 2004 he had a class victory (LMP2) at the 2004 12 Hours of Sebring and won the LMP2 driving title in the 2004 American Le Mans Series.[3]

James competing in the 2014 12 Hours of Sebring

In 2015 James had a class victory (GTD) at the 2015 12 Hours of Sebring.[4][5]

In 2020 James founded the Heart of Racing Team.[6]

In 2023 James not only won the GTD class at the 2023 24 Hours of Daytona, but was the top GTD performer, beating out the more highly structured GTD Pro teams.[7] This win was the first for Aston Martin at the 24 Hours of Daytona, 59 years after their first attempt.[8]

Racing record

Career summary

Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2000 American Le Mans Series - GT Michael Colucci Racing/ Nygmatech 2 0 0 0 0 27 39th
2003 American Le Mans Series - LMP900 Sezio Florida Racing Team 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2004 American Le Mans Series - LMP2 Miracle Motorsports 9 3 0 0 8 143 1st
2005 American Le Mans Series - LMP2 Miracle Motorsports 1 1 0 0 1 26 8th
2006 American Le Mans Series - GT2 BMW Team PTG 2 0 0 0 0 8 45th
2007 American Le Mans Series - GT2 Tafel Racing 1 0 0 0 0 14 36th
2009 American Le Mans Series - GT2 Panoz Team PTG 10 0 0 0 2 95 8th
2011 American Le Mans Series - GT Panoz Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
JaguarRSR 1 0 0 0 0
2014 United SportsCar Championship - GTD Team Seattle 11 0 0 0 2 234 15th
2015 United SportsCar Championship - GTD Team Seattle 10 2 0 0 4 267 4th
2016 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Team Seattle 4 0 0 0 1 27 42nd
2017 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD 3GT Racing 3 0 0 0 0 38 51st
24H Series - SP3-GT4 Rotek Racing 1 0 0 0 0 12 10th
Brookspeed International Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0
2018 24H GT Series - GT4 Brookspeed International Motorsport
2019 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Audi Sport Team WRT Speedstar 1 0 0 0 1 30 47th
2020 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Heart of Racing Team 9 0 0 0 2 199 15th
2021 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Heart of Racing Team 7 1 0 0 3 1949 12th
24H GT Series - GT4
2022 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Heart of Racing Team 4 0 0 0 1 1048 25th
24H GT Series - GT4
2022-23 Middle East Trophy - GT3 Heart of Racing Team by SPS
2023 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Heart of Racing Team 4 1 1 0 1 1125 23rd
FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Am Northwest AMR 4 0 0 0 1 51 9th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Am 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 6th
24H GT Series - GT3 Heart of Racing by SPS
2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Heart of Racing Team 2 0 0 0 0 395* 15th*
FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGT3 1 0 0 0 1 27* 2nd*
24H Series - GT3 Heart of Racing by SPS
Intercontinental GT Challenge
Le Mans Cup - GT3
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup CrowdStrike Racing by Riley

Complete American Le Mans Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points Ref
2000 Michael Colucci Racing/ Nygmatech GT Porsche 911 GT3-R Porsche 3.6 L Flat-6 SEB
7 		CHA
11 		SIL NÜR SON MOS TEX ROS PET MON LSV 39th 27 [9]
2003 Sezio Florida Racing Team LMP900 Norma M2000 Ford (Kinetic) 6.0 L V8 SEB
10 		ATL SON TRO MOS AME MON MIA PET NC 0 [10]
2004 Miracle Motorsports LMP2 Courage C65 MG (AER) XP20 2.0L Turbo I4 SEB
1 		MID
3 		LIM
1 		SON
2 		POR
2 		MOS
2 		AME
1 		PET
4 		MON
3† 		1st 143 [11]
2005 Miracle Motorsports LMP2 Courage C65 AER P07 2.0 L Turbo I4 SEB
1 		ATL
 MID
 LIM
 SON
 POR
 AME
 MOS
 PET
 MON
 8th 26 [12]
2006 BMW Team PTG GT2 BMW M3 BMW 3.4L I6 SEB
13 		HOU MDO
 LRP
 UTA
 POR
 ELK
 MOS
 PET
9† 		LAG
 45th 8 [13]
2007 Tafel Racing GT2 Porsche 997 GT3-RSR Porsche 3.8L Flat-6 SEB
5 		STP LBH HOU UTA
 LRP MDO ELK MOS DET PET LAG 36th 14 [14]
2009 Panoz Team PTG GT2 Panoz Esperante GT-LM Ford 5.0 L V8 SEB
3 		STP
3 		LBH
6 		UTA
4 		LRP
6 		MDO
7 		ELK
11 		MOS
6 		PET
9 		LAG
4 		8th 95 [15]
2011 Panoz Racing GT Panoz Abruzzi Chevrolet 6.5 L V8 SEB
18 		LBH
 LRP
 MOS
 MDO
 ELK
 BAL
 LAG
 PET
 NC 0 [16]
JaguarRSR Jaguar XKR GT Jaguar 5.0 L V8 SEB LBH LRP MOS
 MDO ELK BAL LAG PET
16
Panoz Racing NC Panoz Abruzzi Chevrolet 6.5 L V8 SEB LBH LRP MOS
1 		MDO ELK BAL LAG PET
 NC 0

† Did not finish the race but was classified as his car completed more than 70% of the overall winner's race distance.

Complete WeatherTech SportsCar Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points Ref
2014 Team Seattle GTD Porsche 911 GT America Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 DAY
15 		SEB
3 		LGA
8 		DET
2 		WGL
16 		MOS
6 		IMS
6† 		ELK
6 		VIR
15 		COA
18 		PET
5 		15th 234 [17]
2015 Team Seattle GTD Porsche 911 GT America Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 DAY
18 		SEB
1 		LGA
3 		DET
1 		WGL
7 		LIM
4 		ELK
8 		VIR
3 		COA
4 		PET
7 		4th 267 [18]
2016 Team Seattle GTD Porsche 911 GT3 R Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 DAY
8 		SEB
4† 		LGA
 BEL
 WGL
3† 		MOS
 LIM
 ELK
 VIR
 AUS
 PET
8† 		42nd 27 [19]
2017 3GT Racing GTD Lexus RC F GT3 Lexus 5.0 L V8 DAY
27 		SEB
18 		LBH
 AUS
 BEL
 WGL
 MOS
 LIM
 ELK
 VIR
 LGA
 PET
10 		51st 38 [20]
2019 Audi Sport Team WRT Speedstar GTD Audi R8 LMS Evo Audi 5.2 L V10 DAY
3 		SEB
 MDO
 DET
 WGL
 MOS
 LIM
 ELK
 VIR
 LGA
 PET
 47th 30 [21]
2020 Heart of Racing GTD Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Aston Martin 4.0 L Turbo V8 DAY
18 		DAY SEB ELK
DNS 		VIR
8 		ATL
6 		MDO
4 		CLT
3 		PET
11 		LGA
4 		SEB
2 		15th 199 [22]
2021 Heart of Racing GTD Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Aston Martin 4.0 L Turbo V8 DAY
5 		SEB
3 		MDO
 DET
 WGL
3 		WGL
 LIM
 ELK
 LGA
12 		LBH
12 		VIR
6 		PET
1 		12th 1949 [23]
2022 Heart of Racing Team GTD Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Aston Martin 4.0 L Turbo V8 DAY
9 		SEB
15 		LBH
 LGA
 MDO
 DET
 WGL
1 		MOS
 LIM
 ELK
 VIR
 PET
7 		25th 1048 [24]
2023 Heart of Racing Team GTD Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Aston Martin 4.0 L Turbo V8 DAY
1 		SEB
15 		LBH
 MON
 WGL
6 		MOS
 LIM
 ELK
 VIR
 IMS
 PET
5 		23rd 1125 [25]
2024 Heart of Racing Team GTD Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo Aston Martin 4.0 L Turbo V8 DAY
22 		SEB
4 		LBH LGA WGL MOS ELK VIR IMS PET 15th* 395* [26]
Source:[27]

† James did not complete sufficient laps in order to score full points.


Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

Year Entrant Class Car Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Rank Points
2023 Northwest AMR GTE Am Aston Martin Vantage AMR Aston Martin M177 4.0 L Turbo V8 SEB PRT SPA
7 		LMS
6 		MNZ FUJ
7 		BHR
3 		9th 51
2024 Heart of Racing Team LMGT3 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo Aston Martin 4.0 L Turbo V8 QAT
2 		IMO
5 		SPA
11 		LMS
Ret 		SÃO COA FUJ BHR 7th* 37*
Sources:[27][1]

* Season still in progress


24 Hours of Le Mans results

24 Hours of Le Mans results
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2005 United States Miracle Motorsports United States John Macaluso
United States Andy Lally 		Courage C65-AER LMP2 115 DNF DNF
2006 United States Miracle Motorsports United States John Macaluso
United States Andy Lally 		Courage C65-AER LMP2 324 14th 3rd
2023 Canada Northwest AMR Italy Daniel Mancinelli
Spain Alex Riberas 		Aston Martin Vantage AMR GTE
Am 		310 33rd 6th
2024 United States Heart of Racing Team Italy Daniel Mancinelli
Spain Alex Riberas 		Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo LMGT3 196 DNF DNF
Sources:[27][28]

12 Hours of Sebring results

Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2000 United States Michael Colucci Racing
United States Nygmatech 		Portugal João Barbosa
United States Tim Robertson 		Porsche 911 Carrera RSR GT 276 18th 7th
2003 United States Sezio Florida Racing Team France Patrice Roussel
United States Allen Ziegelman 		Norma M2000-Ford LMP900 71 DNF DNF
2004 United States American Spirit Racing
United States Miracle Motorsports 		United States Mike Borkowski
United States John Macaluso 		Lola B2K/40-Nissan LMP2 264 23rd 1st
2005 United States Miracle Motorsports United States Jeff Bucknum
United States Chris McMurry 		Courage C65-AER LMP2 311 12th 1st
2006 United States BMW Team PTG United States Bill Auberlen
United States Joey Hand 		BMW M3 GTR GT2 197 DNF DNF
2007 United States Tafel Racing Germany Dominik Farnbacher
United States Jim Tafel 		Porsche 997 GT3-RSR GT2 314 17th 5th
2009 United States Panoz Team PTG Germany Dominik Farnbacher Panoz Esperante GT-LM GT2 329 10th 3rd
2011 United States Panoz Racing Switzerland Benjamin Leuenberger Panoz Abruzzi GT 19 DNF DNF
2014 United States Alex Job Racing / Team Seattle Germany Mario Farnbacher
Spain Alex Riberas 		Porsche 911 GT America GTD 278 25th 3rd
2015 United States Alex Job Racing / Team Seattle Germany Mario Farnbacher
Spain Alex Riberas 		Porsche 911 GT America GTD 318 15th 1st
2016 United States Alex Job Racing / Team Seattle Germany Mario Farnbacher
Spain Alex Riberas 		Porsche 911 GT3 R GTD 229 25th 4th
2017 United States 3GT Racing United States Sage Karam
United States Scott Pruett 		Lexus RC F GT3 GTD 269 35th 18th
2020 United States Heart of Racing Team Canada Roman De Angelis
United Kingdom Darren Turner 		Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 GTD 319 19th 2nd
2021 United States Heart of Racing Team Canada Roman De Angelis
United Kingdom Ross Gunn 		Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 GTD 320 20th 3rd
2022 United States Heart of Racing Team Canada Roman De Angelis
United Kingdom Tom Gamble 		Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 GTD 256 43rd 15th
2023 United States Heart of Racing Team Canada Roman De Angelis
Denmark Marco Sørensen 		Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 GTD 287 DNF DNF
Source:[27]


References

  1. ^ a b "Ian James". fiawec.com. FIA World Endurance Championship.
  2. ^ Staff, Speedway Digest (January 30, 2023). "Transcript: Ian James, Marco Sorensen, Darren Turner, Roman DeAngelis". speedwaydigest.com.
  3. ^ "dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com.
  4. ^ Camber, Negative (March 22, 2015). "Ian James, #23 team win 12 Hours of Sebring".
  5. ^ Pruett, Marshall (March 21, 2015). "IMSA: Action Express throttles field at Sebring". Racer.com. Racer Media & Marketing, Inc. Archived from the original on August 5, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  6. ^ "James leading rapid rise for Heart of Racing in GTD". April 2, 2021.
  7. ^ Dagys, John (January 29, 2023). "Engel Reflects on GTD Pro/GTD "Dogfight" of a Finish – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com.
  8. ^ "Decades in the making: Darren Turner on Daytona 24 win with Aston Martin". Motor Sport Magazine. January 31, 2023.
  9. ^ "Ian James – 2000 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  10. ^ "Ian James – 2003 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  11. ^ "Ian James – 2004 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  12. ^ "Ian James – 2005 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  13. ^ "Ian James – 2006 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  14. ^ "Ian James – 2007 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  15. ^ "Ian James – 2009 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  16. ^ "Ian James – 2011 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  17. ^ "Ian James – 2014 Tudor United SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  18. ^ "Ian James – 2015 Tudor United SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  19. ^ "Ian James – 2016 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  20. ^ "Ian James – 2017 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  21. ^ "Ian James – 2019 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  22. ^ "Ian James – 2020 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  23. ^ "Ian James – 2021 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  24. ^ "Ian James – 2022 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  25. ^ "Ian James – 2023 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  26. ^ "Ian James – 2024 Weathertech SportsCar Championship Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  27. ^ a b c d "Ian James Results". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  28. ^ "Ian James". Automobile Club de l'Ouest. Retrieved March 20, 2024.