Ben Barker
Barker in 2023
NationalityUnited Kingdom British
Born (1991-04-23) 23 April 1991 (age 32)
Cambridge, United Kingdom
FIA World Endurance Championship career
Debut season2016
Current teamGR Racing
Racing licence FIA Gold
Car number86
Starts45 (45 entries)
Wins0
Podiums3
Poles0
Fastest laps3
Best finish6th (LMGTE Am) in 2017
Championship titles
2010Australian Drivers' Championship

Benjamin William "Ben" Barker[1] (born 23 April 1991) is a British professional racing driver currently competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship with GR Racing.[2] A Porsche stalwart for over a decade, he is an Australian Formula 3 champion, a Porsche Carrera Cup GB runner-up, a four-time Bathurst 12 Hour class winner and a Dubai 24 Hour overall winner. Despite limited success in the FIA World Endurance Championship, Barker is considered one of the strongest GTE Am drivers, having broken the lap record for the category at the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans.[3][4]

In 2023, Barker finished on the 24 Hours of Le Mans class podium, having played an instrumental role in his team's charge towards the front.[5]

Racing record

Barker in 2010, his Australian Formula 3 title-winning season

Racing career summary

Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2009 British Formula Ford Championship Fluid Motorsport Development 24 1 1 1 1 272 8th
Formula Ford Festival 3 0 0 0 1 N/A 4th
2010 Australian Formula 3 Championship - Gold Star Team BRM 20 6 1 10 12 220 1st
Australian Formula 3 Championship - East Coast Shootout 8 3 0 5 6 101 1st
Australian Formula Ford Championship 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series MW Motorsport 2 0 0 0 0 156 31st
2011 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Team BRM 21 2 2 3 6 755 5th
Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain Parr Motorsport 4 0 0 1 2 45 17th
Radical Australia Cup Excaliber Racing 2 1 0 1 2 0 NC†
PSCRAA Enduro Championship Quintessence Construction 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
2012 Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain Parr Motorsport 20 5 5 5 9 282 2nd
Historic Grand Prix of Monaco - F3 pre-1985 1 1 1 1 1 N/A 1st
2013 Porsche Supercup Team Bleekemolen 9 0 0 0 0 66 10th
Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Team BetterLife 2 0 0 0 1 0 NC†
2014 Porsche Supercup VERVA Lechner Racing Team 10 0 0 0 1 96 6th
European Le Mans Series - GTC Gulf Racing UK 4 0 0 0 0 26 12th
United Sports Car Championship - GTD GB Autosport 6 0 0 0 0 139 26th
Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain Parr Motorsport 3 3 1 2 3 22 19th
Porsche Carrera Cup 24H Le Mans Support Race - Class A 1 1 0 0 1 N/A 1st
Bathurst 12 Hour - Class B Grove Motorsport[6] 1 1 0 0 1 N/A 1st
2015 Porsche Supercup MOMO-Megatron Team PARTRAX 9 0 0 0 1 69 9th
Porsche Carrera Cup Germany - Class A Land Motorsport 17 0 0 0 2 101 12th
Bathurst 12 Hour - Class B Grove Group 1 0 0 0 1 N/A 2nd
2016 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Am Gulf Racing[7][8] 9 0 0 0 0 106 7th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Am 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 5th
Porsche Supercup MOMO-Megatron Team PARTRAX 4 0 0 0 0 43 12th
European Le Mans Series - GTE Proton Competition 1 0 1 0 0 11 18th
GT3 Le Mans Cup Mentos Racing 1 0 0 0 1 18 11th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD TRG-AMR 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
2017 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Am Gulf Racing[3][9][10] 9 0 0 0 2 97 6th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Am 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 10th
Le Mans Cup - GT3 4 1 1 3 2 44.5 6th
Bathurst 12 Hour - Class B (GT3 Cup) Grove Motorsport 1 0 1 1 0 0 NC†
2018 European Le Mans Series - GTE Gulf Racing[4] 2 0 0 0 0 10 12th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Am 1 0 0 1 0 N/A 10th
Bathurst 12 Hour - Class B (GT3 Cup) Grove Racing[11][12] 1 1 1 0 1 N/A 1st
2018–19 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Am Gulf Racing UK 8 0 0 1 0 79 7th
2019 Bathurst 12 Hour - Class B (GT3 Cup) Grove Racing[13] 1 1 1 0 1 N/A 1st
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Am Gulf Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 8th
2019–20 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Am Gulf Racing 8 0 0 0 1 85 9th
2020 European Le Mans Series - GTE Gulf Racing UK 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Am 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 5th
24H GT Series Continents' - GT3 Pro Black Falcon[14] 1 1 0 0 1 30 3rd
Dubai 24 Hour - GT3 Pro 1 1 0 0 1 N/A 1st
Bathurst 12 Hour - Class A (GT3 Pro/Am) Grove Racing[15][16][17] 1 1 0 0 1 N/A 1st
2021 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Am GR Racing 6 0 0 0 0 23 15th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Am 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 14th
International GT Open - Pro Cup Lechner Racing 2 0 1 0 2 18 13th
British GT Cup Championship - GTH In2 Racing 4 2 0 0 3 0 NC†
2022 Asian Le Mans Series - GT Dinamic Motorsport[18] 4 0 0 0 0 5.5 13th
FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Am GR Racing[19][20] 5 0 0 2 0 50 10th
24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Am 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 4th
GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup Barwell Motorsport 0 0 0 0 0 0 NC
GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup - Pro-Am 0 0 1 0 0 1 7th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Barwell Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Allied Racing 1 0 0 0 0
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup - Gold Barwell Motorsport[21] 1 0 0 0 0 18 15th
Allied Racing 1 0 0 1 0
Bathurst 12 Hour - Class A (GT3 Pro/Am) Grove Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
2023 Asian Le Mans Series - GT Dinamic GT 0 0 0 0 0 0 23rd
Kessel Racing 1 0 0 0 0
FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Am GR Racing 5 0 0 0 2 54* 5th*
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Dinamic GT Huber Racing 3 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Dinamic GT 2 0 0 0 0
2023–24 Asian Le Mans Series - GT GR Racing
2024 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGT3 Proton Competition

† As Barker was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.

Complete Porsche Supercup results

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

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Pos. Points
2013 Team Bleekemolen CAT
10 		MON
9 		SIL
9 		GER
6 		HUN
16 		SPA
9 		MNZ
12 		UAE
4 		UAE
9 		10th 66
2014 Verva Lechner Racing Team CAT
3 		MON
5 		RBR
8 		SIL
9 		GER
10 		HUN
8 		SPA
7 		MNZ
9 		USA
7 		USA
4 		6th 96
2015 MOMO Megatron Team PARTRAX CAT
9 		MON
3 		RBR
19 		SIL
4 		HUN
12 		SPA
6 		SPA
8 		MNZ
Ret 		MNZ
DNS 		USA
C 		USA
6 		9th 69

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

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

Year Entrant Class Car Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Rank Points
2016 Gulf Racing LMGTE Am Porsche 911 RSR Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 SIL
Ret 		SPA
5 		LMS
3 		NÜR
5 		MEX
4 		COA
4 		FUJ
4 		SHA
6 		BHR
4 		7th 106
2017 Gulf Racing LMGTE Am Porsche 911 RSR Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 SIL
4 		SPA
Ret 		LMS
5 		NÜR
5 		MEX
3 		COA
Ret 		FUJ
4 		SHA
2 		BHR
5 		6th 97
2018–19 Gulf Racing UK LMGTE Am Porsche 911 RSR Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 SPA
7 		LMS
6 		SIL
6 		FUJ
4 		SHA
9 		SEB
4 		SPA
7 		LMS
4 		7th 79
2019–20 Gulf Racing LMGTE Am Porsche 911 RSR Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 SIL
4 		FUJ
8 		SHA
9 		BHR
3 		COA
6 		SPA
10 		LMS
5 		BHR
5 		9th 85
2021 GR Racing LMGTE Am Porsche 911 RSR-19 Porsche 4.2 L Flat-6 SPA
Ret 		ALG
8 		MNZ
8 		LMS
9 		BHR
6 		BHR
9 		15th 23
2022 GR Racing LMGTE Am Porsche 911 RSR-19 Porsche 4.2 L Flat-6 SEB SPA
6 		LMS
3 		MNZ
12 		FUJ
12 		BHR
6 		10th 50
2023 GR Racing LMGTE Am Porsche 911 RSR-19 Porsche 4.2 L Flat-6 SEB
7 		PRT
11 		SPA
12 		LMS
3 		MNZ
3 		FUJ
8 		BHR
8 		6th 64
2024 Proton Competition LMGT3 Ford Mustang GT3 Ford Coyote 5.4 L V8 QAT IMO SPA LMS SÃO COA FUJ BHR * *

* Season still in progress.

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2016 United Kingdom Gulf Racing United Kingdom Adam Carroll
United Kingdom Michael Wainwright 		Porsche 911 RSR GTE
Am 		328 33rd 5th
2017 United Kingdom Gulf Racing UK Australia Nick Foster
United Kingdom Michael Wainwright 		Porsche 911 RSR GTE
Am 		328 38th 10th
2018 United Kingdom Gulf Racing Australia Alex Davison
United Kingdom Michael Wainwright 		Porsche 911 RSR GTE
Am 		283 40th 10th
2019 United Kingdom Gulf Racing Austria Thomas Preining
United Kingdom Michael Wainwright 		Porsche 911 RSR GTE
Am 		331 38th 8th
2020 United Kingdom Gulf Racing United Kingdom Michael Wainwright
United Kingdom Andrew Watson 		Porsche 911 RSR GTE
Am 		337 29th 5th
2021 United Kingdom GR Racing United Kingdom Tom Gamble
United Kingdom Michael Wainwright 		Porsche 911 RSR-19 GTE
Am 		322 43rd 14th
2022 United Kingdom GR Racing Italy Riccardo Pera
United Kingdom Michael Wainwright 		Porsche 911 RSR-19 GTE
Am 		340 37th 4th
2023 United Kingdom GR Racing Italy Riccardo Pera
United Kingdom Michael Wainwright 		Porsche 911 RSR-19 GTE
Am 		312 29th 3rd

References

  1. ^ "Pilote des 24 heures du Mans : Benjamin William Barker". www.24h-en-piste.com (in French). Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  2. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (10 February 2022). "GR Racing Signs Pera to Porsche GTE-Am Crew". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b Goodwin, Graham (18 March 2017). "Ben Barker On 2017 As Lead Driver For Gulf Racing, "It's A Real Privilege To Be A Part Of It"". dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Ben Barker catches the eye with a new lap record at Le Mans". Cambridge Independent. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  5. ^ Pettit, Vince (13 June 2023). "GR Racing Achieves Lifelong Ambition with Podium Finish at Le Mans 24 Hours". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  6. ^ "Star drivers on the hunt for 12 hour seats in the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour". Motorsport.com. 2 January 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  7. ^ Barnett, Josh (16 February 2016). "Ben Barker gets Gulf Porsche FIA World Endurance seat". Total 911. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  8. ^ Klein, Jamie (16 February 2016). "Carroll, Barker get WEC seats at Gulf Racing". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  9. ^ Kilbey, Stephen (20 March 2017). "Barker, Foster complete Gulf Racing WEC line-up". Racer.com. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  10. ^ Beyeler, Marc (24 June 2017). "Ben Barker blames balance of performance for lack of pace at Le Mans 24 Hours". Cambridge News. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  11. ^ "International star joins father-son team". Bathurst 12 Hour. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  12. ^ Williams, Bruce (30 November 2017). "Ben Barker returns to Grove Racing for Bathurst 12 Hour". Auto Action. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  13. ^ "Ben Barker helps drive Grove Motorsport to history-making win in Bathurst 12 Hour success". Cambridge Independent. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  14. ^ Kilshaw, Jake (12 January 2020). "Barker Praises Black Falcon For "Pretty Mad" 24H Dubai Win". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  15. ^ Goodwin, Graham (28 November 2019). "Grove Racing Step Up To GT3 For 2020 Bathurst 12 Hour". dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  16. ^ "IntGTC: Best Porsche finishes fourth at Bathurst, victory in the Pro-Am class". Porsche Newsroom. 2 February 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  17. ^ Makhoul, Joshua (3 February 2020). "Groves claim Bathurst 12 Hour record". Supercars Championship. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  18. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (19 January 2022). "Dinamic Commits to Asian LMS; Barker Leads Lineup". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  19. ^ Plümer, Jonas (9 February 2022). "FIA WEC: GR Racing präsentiert 2022er Aufgebot". GT-Place.com (in German). Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  20. ^ "Looped crew at GR Racing". endurance-info.com (in French). 8 February 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  21. ^ Euwema, Davey (14 March 2022). "Barker Leads Barwell Gold Cup Lineup". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 10 January 2023.

External links

Sporting positions Preceded byJoey Foster Winner of the Australian Drivers' Championship 2010 Succeeded byChris Gilmour
Teams and drivers that are set to compete in the LMGT3 class of the 2024 World Endurance Championship
Categories