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Justin Bell
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Justin Derek Bell (born 23 February 1968) is a British racing driver who, after a successful career behind the wheel, transitioned into the media world in front of the camera and established himself as one of the top US-based automotive content hosts. He is the son of Derek Bell.[2]
Key Information
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Career
[edit]Like many successful car racers, Bell nurtured and developed his passion for speed and competitive racing at an early age. With natural talent and the encouragement of his father Derek Bell, a five-time Le Mans 24 hours winner, he started out fast and got faster, and soon began carving his own place in history. Since beginning his career in 1988, Bell has achieved many significant racing accomplishments, including the 1997 FIA GT2 Championship, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans GT2 class in 1998 and second-place finishes in Le Mans and Daytona, and a pair of SCCA Trans-Am wins.
Along the way, Bell raced for major car manufacturers including Saab, Peugeot, Porsche, BMW, Dodge and General Motors. For Dodge Viper, he won the 1997 FIA GT2 world championship and the GT2 class at Le Mans in 1998. In 2000, Bell signed with General Motors as a driver for the factory Corvette Racing team, finishing second in the Daytona 24 Hours, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Petit Le Mans.
Early in his career, as Bell made consistent progress through a variety of racing categories, all the while appearing in various television programs. In 1993, he was co-host of the motor sports television program 555 Performance World, which ran on Asia's largest satellite network Star TV and was seen by over 80 million viewers. This led to him hosting a six-part series, The International Young Driver of the Year on BBC television.
Since 2005, Bell has worked frequently with Speed Channel (now Fox Sports 1) as a host of various live and format based TV shows, such as the Barrett Jackson Auctions, American Le Mans Series, Grand American Racing, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Test Drive and Shut up and Drive.
Bell co-founded Torque Media Group in 2018 with Tommy Kendall and Jason Jacobson. Breaking with the traditional TV model the trio created The Torque Show as a branded Livestream Show to support Michelin in the IMSA Series. Evolving into a vibrant chat show style format, JB and TK interview the highest profile people in the Sportscar world, attracting a huge audience on their Facebook Live channel.
Another series integrated into The Torque Show is 'The Love of Cars' presented by Hagerty, which has seen guests such as Jay Leno, Patrick Dempsey and Danny Trejo.
Drawing on their vast experience in Live sports broadcasting, and led by the producing talents of Jason Jacobson, the company branched out into live event hosting with the Audrain Newport Concours and Motorweek and the incredibly prestigious honor of hosting and producing the livestream for the Pebble beach Concours d'Elegance in 2021.
Other career milestones
[edit]Bell and his father raced together in the 1992 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans. He tried to qualify for the 1996 Indianapolis 500 in a four year old Lola chassis. Later in 1997, he won the FIA GT championship in the GT2 class[3] in a Dodge Viper GTS-R, racing for Team Oreca.
From 2000 to 2004, Bell had his own racing school which trained the pupils with Chevrolet Corvette cars.[4]
In 2001-2003, Bell raced in the Trans Am Series, winning two major races at Houston and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and took the Rookie of the Year title.[5]
In 2009, Bell debuted as the driving instructor for the celebrities on The Jay Leno Show[3] where he also interviewed the celebrity for the website.
Motorsports career results
[edit]Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
[edit]| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 |  Euro Racing
|
 Shunji Kasuya
|
Spice SE88P | C2 | - | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1992 |  ADA Engineering
|
Tiff Needell Derek Bell
|
Porsche 962C GTi | C3 | 284 | 12th | 5th |
| 1994 |  Rent-A-Car Racing Team Luigi Racing
|
René Arnoux Bertrand Balas
|
Dodge Viper RT/10 | LM GT1 | 273 | 12th | 3rd |
| 1995 | Harrods Mach One Racing David Price Racing
|
Andy Wallace Derek Bell
|
McLaren F1 GTR | GT1 | 296 | 3rd | 2nd |
| 1996 | Viper Team Oreca
|
Dominique Dupuy Perry McCarthy
|
Chrysler Viper GTS-R | GT1 | 96 | DNF | DNF |
| 1997 | Viper Team Oreca
|
Pierre Yver John Morton
|
Chrysler Viper GTS-R | GT2 | 278 | 14th | 5th |
| 1998 | Viper Team Oreca
|
David Donohue Luca Drudi
|
Chrysler Viper GTS-R | GT2 | 317 | 11th | 1st |
| 1999 | Viper Team Oreca
|
Tommy Archer Marc Duez
|
Chrysler Viper GTS-R | GT2 | 318 | 12th | 2nd |
| 2000 | Corvette Racing
|
 Ron Fellows Chris Kneifel
|
Chevrolet Corvette C5R | LM GTS | 326 | 11th | 4th |
Complete Japanese Touring Car Championship (1994-) results
[edit]| Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | DC | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | HKS Opel Team Japan | Opel Vectra | FUJ 1 NC |
FUJ 2 Ret |
SUG 1 14 |
SUG 2 7 |
TOK 1 15 |
TOK 2 14 |
SUZ 1 10 |
SUZ 2 Ret |
MIN 1 18 |
MIN 2 16 |
AID 1 7 |
AID 2 6 |
SEN 1 5 |
SEN 2 4 |
FUJ 1 7 |
FUJ 2 10 |
11th | 32 |
IRL IndyCar Series
[edit]| Year | Team | Chassis | No. | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | Rank | Points | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Tempero–Giuffre Racing | Lola T92 | 15 | Buick | WDW | PHX | INDY Wth |
- | 0 | [6] |
References
[edit]- ^ Dagys, John (16 November 2018). "2019 Preliminary Driver Ratings Released". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ "First win for Bell". The Independent. London. 10 September 2001. Retrieved 19 March 2010.[dead link]
- ^ a b Motavalli, Jim (19 September 2009). "Jay Leno's Green Car Challenge Puts Guests on Racetrack". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
- ^ "Motorsport.com: News". Motorsport.com. 5 December 2000. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
- ^ "Motorsport.com: News". Motorsport.com. 6 October 2001. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
- ^ "Justin Bell – 1996 Indy Racing League Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
Justin Bell
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Early life
Birth and family background
Justin Bell was born on 23 February 1968 in Rustington, West Sussex, England.[3] He is the son of renowned British racing driver Derek Bell, a five-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race (in 1975, 1981, 1982, 1986, and 1987).[12] The Bell family resided in southern England, with their home in Rustington reflecting a stable base amid Derek's international racing commitments. He has at least one sister, Melanie Bell.[13] The family's lifestyle was deeply intertwined with Derek Bell's professional racing career, which involved frequent travel across Europe for major events. As a child, Justin accompanied his father to circuits like Spa-Francorchamps, the Nürburgring, and Le Mans, gaining early exposure to the motorsport world through these trips that transformed family outings into immersive experiences at the tracks.[14] This proximity to high-level racing, coupled with Derek's storied legacy as a multiple Le Mans champion, provided a foundational influence that shaped Justin's interest in the sport, though his father initially discouraged him from pursuing a racing path.[8]Introduction to racing
Justin Bell's introduction to motorsport was profoundly shaped by his father, Derek Bell, a five-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, who provided early access to racing environments and guidance that fostered his son's competitive drive. Growing up immersed in the sport, Bell pursued speed through motocross on motorbikes from age 9 into his late teens and competitive downhill skiing, honing his skills and developing a passion for competition before transitioning to cars around age 17. He also worked on the family farm, picking potatoes, prior to his first single-seater experience. This foundational phase, influenced by his father's career, equipped him with the fundamentals needed to enter professional circuits.[2][8] Bell's first competitive car race came in 1988, marking his debut in the British Formula Vauxhall Lotus Championship, where he competed under the banner of his father's team, Derek Bell Racing, in a Camel-sponsored Reynard chassis at events like Mallory Park. That same year, he also ventured into the Barber Saab Pro Series in the United States, participating in 14 races and accumulating points in his inaugural season of international exposure. These early outings demonstrated his rapid adaptation to open-wheel racing, building on his background to secure consistent finishes.[1][3][15] Progressing through junior formulae, Bell raced in the British Formula Ford 1600 series during the late 1980s, where he notched podiums, including a notable third-place finish in a race alongside established driver Allan McNish. By 1989, he returned to the Barber Saab Pro Series, achieving third overall in the championship with strong performances across the season. His father's mentorship was instrumental, steering him through these developmental categories and emphasizing discipline and technique. Further international steps included participation in the Nissan Touring Car Series in New Zealand around 1990–1993 and attempts in the Indy Lights series in 1993, broadening his experience ahead of higher-level professional racing.[16][3][1]Racing career
Early professional racing (1988–1994)
Bell began his professional racing career in 1988, transitioning from karting and junior formulae into paid drives in British single-seater series. He competed in the British Formula Ford 1600 championship that year, securing initial sponsorship and team support through his family's connections, marking his entry into competitive, remunerated motorsport. This period overlapped with ongoing participation in Formula Vauxhall Lotus events, where he raced under the Derek Bell Racing banner, honing skills in higher-powered machinery while benefiting from his father's strategic advice on racecraft and career progression.[17][2][1] Bell made his Le Mans debut in 1992, co-driving the #53 Porsche 962C with his father Derek Bell and Tiff Needell for ADA Engineering, finishing 23rd overall. By 1993, Bell's growing profile led to side involvement in motorsport media, co-hosting the television program 555 Performance World on Star TV, Asia's largest satellite network, which exposed him to international audiences and complemented his racing commitments. His father's guidance proved invaluable during these formative years, helping him navigate challenges such as adapting to diverse car setups and managing the pressures of professional expectations, often drawing on Derek Bell's extensive endurance racing experience to emphasize consistency and endurance over raw speed. This mentorship was particularly evident in Bell's approach to team dynamics and preparation for major events.[1][2] In 1994, Bell expanded into international touring and GT racing, driving a BMW 318i for Motorola Pagers Racing in the Asia-Pacific Touring Car Championship, where he finished fourth overall across the season's rounds in circuits like Fuji, Wellington, and Macau. That same year, he made his second appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, partnering with René Arnoux and Bertrand Balas in the Rent-a-Car Racing Team's Dodge Viper RT/10, achieving third place in the LM GT1 class and 12th overall after completing 273 laps. Additionally, Bell participated in the International GT Cup with a Porsche 968 Turbo development car for Mulsanne Racing, gaining experience in high-performance GT machinery that foreshadowed his future successes in the discipline.[1][18][19]GT, touring, and endurance racing (1995–2000)
In 1995, Bell competed in the Japanese Touring Car Championship for the HKS Opel Team Japan, driving an Opel Vectra GT and finishing 11th in the drivers' standings across the season's races.[3] That same year, he transitioned into international GT racing with the Harrods-sponsored McLaren F1 GTR in the BPR Global GT Series, where he shared the #51 chassis with Andy Wallace and his father, Derek Bell—a milestone father-son collaboration at the highest level of endurance racing.[1] Their efforts culminated at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the trio secured third place overall and second in the GT1 class, navigating challenging conditions including rain to hold off rivals despite gearbox issues late in the race.[20][21] Bell's foray into American open-wheel racing began in 1996 with an attempt to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 under the Indy Racing League banner for Tempero-Giuffre Racing, but the team struggled with speed throughout the month of May, leading Bell to withdraw from the final qualifying session and forgo the event entirely.[22] Returning to GT competition, he achieved a career highlight in 1997 by winning the FIA GT Championship's GT2 drivers' title with Viper Team Oreca in the Chrysler Viper GTS-R, securing four victories across the season's rounds and contributing to the team's constructors' championship as well.[23] This success built on his prior endurance experience, showcasing his adaptability to the Viper's high-powered V10 engine in a series dominated by prototypes in the GT1 class. The Viper program continued to yield strong results at Le Mans, with Bell claiming the GT2 class victory in 1998 alongside David Donohue and Luca Drudi in the #53 Chrysler Viper GTS-R, finishing 11th overall after a reliable 24-hour run that capitalized on the car's durability and strategic pit stops.[24] He followed this with a runner-up finish in GT2 the next year, driving the #52 Viper with Tommy Archer and Marc Duez to second place in class amid intense competition from Porsche and Ferrari entries.[3] By 2000, Bell shifted to factory support with General Motors' Corvette Racing team, piloting the Chevrolet Corvette C5-R to 2nd in the LMGTS class (11th overall) at the 24 Hours of Le Mans—sharing the #63 car with Ron Fellows and Chris Kneifel—as well as 2nd overall (1st in GTS) at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in the #3 car, and 1st in the GTS class (3rd overall) at the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, marking a seamless transition to American sports car prototypes and underscoring his versatility across GT machinery.[25] That year also saw the launch of his personal racing school, the Justin Bell GT Motorsports Experience, which utilized Chevrolet Corvettes to train aspiring drivers in high-performance techniques.[1]American series and later races (2001–2005)
In 2001, Justin Bell transitioned to American racing series, competing in the Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich Tires Cup with Derhaag Motorsports in a Chevrolet Corvette, where he secured fifth place overall in the championship standings with 219 points.[3] That season marked his rookie year in the series, earning him the AmeriSuites Rookie of the Year award after achieving victories in the final two races at the Houston Grand Prix and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.[26][27] Bell also made a single appearance in the Grand-Am Cup Series at the season finale in Daytona, finishing second in the SGS class.[1] Bell continued in the Trans-Am Series in 2002, driving a Chevrolet Corvette and recording five podium finishes, though mechanical issues and funding limitations restricted him to eight events, resulting in 12th place overall with 150 points.[1][28] He supplemented this with a one-off start in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series at the California Speedway season finale, where he placed third in the AGT class.[1] The 2003 season saw Bell achieve further success in the Grand-Am Rolex Series, starting with a class pole position for the GTS category at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in the No. 40 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette, posting the fastest qualifying time in the GTS class of 1:49.394.[1][29] Over seven starts in the GTS class with Derhaag Motorsports' Mosler MT900R, he earned two victories—at Barber Motorsports Park and the Grand Prix of Toronto—contributing to a fifth-place championship finish with 181 points.[1][30] Additionally, Bell competed in the SPEED World Challenge Touring Car series with an Audi A4 for Audi of Fairfield/STaSIS, though he ended 67th overall with no points-scoring finishes.[3] By 2005, Bell's competitive driving tapered off with a partial schedule in the Grand-Am Cup Series, including three starts where his best result was eighth in the ST class, alongside a 14th-place finish in the Daytona Prototype class at the Rolex 24 at Daytona.[1] These outings represented his final professional races, as growing media and broadcasting opportunities prompted his retirement from full-time competition around that year.[1] His prior experience in European GT and endurance racing had equipped him well for adapting to the demanding U.S. circuits and team dynamics.[1]Post-racing career
Racing instruction
After retiring from full-time professional racing, Justin Bell transitioned into motorsports education by founding the Justin Bell GT Motorsports Experience in 2000, leveraging his championship-winning background—including a GT2 class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans—to instruct aspiring drivers.[1][31] The school, which Bell owned and led as chief instructor, specialized in experiential programs that provided participants with supervised track time in high-performance vehicles such as Chevrolet Corvettes and Dodge Vipers, emphasizing advanced driving techniques in GT-style cars over one- to three-day sessions.[32][33] Operated in partnership with Chevrolet, the Justin Bell GT Motorsports Experience (also known as the Corvette Racing School) ran successfully through the early 2000s but closed in 2004 following the withdrawal of Chevrolet's sponsorship support.[34][35] In 2009, Bell returned to instructional duties as the professional driving coach for celebrities competing in the "Green Car Challenge" segment on The Jay Leno Show, where he prepared high-profile guests like actors and musicians for competitive laps in eco-friendly vehicles at a test track.[36][37]Media and broadcasting
Bell entered the media landscape early in his career, co-hosting the motorsports television program 555 Performance World in 1993, which aired on Asia's Star TV satellite network.[1] Following his retirement from full-time racing in 2005, Bell transitioned to broadcasting with Speed Channel, later rebranded as Fox Sports 1, where he hosted live events including the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auctions.[8] He also provided commentary and hosting for IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship coverage, leveraging his racing expertise to analyze endurance races.[9] In 2018, Bell co-founded Torque Media Group alongside fellow racer Tommy Kendall and producer Jason Jacobson, shifting toward independent content creation outside traditional television models.[9] Through the company, he co-hosts The Torque Show, a livestream series sponsored by Michelin that airs from IMSA paddocks and features interviews with automotive figures like Jay Leno.[38] The group also produces The Love of Cars, a weekly Hagerty-presented program where Bell and Kendall discuss collector vehicles and industry trends with guests such as Patrick Dempsey.[39] Bell has expanded into digital audio with hosting duties on the Drive to Wynn Formula One podcast, launched in 2023 and broadcast from Wynn Las Vegas, featuring conversations with drivers like Mario Andretti and team principals.[40] His media presence extends to web series contributions, including episodes of World's Fastest Car Show on MotorTrend's platform and features on Jay Leno's Garage.[41] As a keynote speaker, Bell delivers talks on adapting from professional racing to media roles, drawing from his career pivot to inspire audiences in sports, manufacturing, and entertainment sectors.[9] His automotive journalism includes on-air analyses for events like the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance livestream and contributions to outlets such as MotorTrend, where he evaluates high-performance vehicles.[9]Motorsports career results
24 Hours of Le Mans results
Justin Bell participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans nine times from 1991 to 2000, starting eight races, with his best result being a class victory in LM GT2 in 1998.[42] He shared driving duties with his father, Derek Bell, in 1992 and 1995.[42] The table below details his complete entries, including teams, cars, co-drivers, classes, finishing positions, laps completed, and any retirements.[42]| Year | Team | Car | Co-drivers | Class | Overall Position | Class Position | Laps Completed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Euro Racing / Classic TFR (USA) | SPICE SE 88 P | Shunji Kasuya, Franco Scapini | C2 | DNQ | - | - | Did not qualify |
| 1992 | ADA Engineering (GB) | Porsche 962 C Gti | Derek Bell, Tiff Needell | C3 | 12th | 5th | 284 | Finished |
| 1994 | Rent-a-Car Racing Team (F) | Dodge Viper R/T 10 | René Arnoux, Bertrand Balas | LM GT1 | 12th | 3rd | 273 | Finished |
| 1995 | Harrods Mach One Racing | McLaren F1 GTR | Andy Wallace, Derek Bell | LM GT1 | 3rd | 2nd | 296 | Finished |
| 1996 | Societé Viper Team ORECA (F) | Chrysler Viper GTS-R | Dominique Dupuy, Perry McCarthy | LM GT1 | - | - | 96 | Retired (engine failure, 13th hour) |
| 1997 | Sté Viper Team ORECA (F) | Chrysler Viper GTS-R | Pierre Yver, John Morton | LM GT2 | 14th | 5th | 278 | Finished |
| 1998 | Societé Viper Team ORECA (F) | Chrysler Viper GTS-R | David Donohue, Luca Drudi | LM GT2 | 11th | 1st | 317 | Finished |
| 1999 | Viper Team ORECA (F) | Chrysler Viper GTS-R | Tommy Archer, Marc Duez | LM GTS | 12th | 2nd | 318 | Finished |
| 2000 | Corvette Racing / Gary Pratt (USA) | Corvette C5R | Chris Kneifel, Ron Fellows | LM GTS | 11th | 4th | 326 | Finished |
Japanese Touring Car Championship results
Justin Bell made his debut in the Japanese Touring Car Championship (JTCC) in 1994, entering only the season finale at Fuji Speedway for Motorola Pagers Racing in a BMW 318i. He finished 20th in the first race but retired from the second, scoring no championship points.[43] Bell returned for a full campaign in 1995 with the HKS Opel Team Japan, driving an Opel Vectra GT across all eight rounds and 16 races. His season included consistent mid-pack finishes, highlighted by a fourth-place result at Nishi-Nippon Speedway, though he suffered mechanical issues leading to non-finishes in three races. Bell ended the year 11th in the drivers' standings with 32 points from his 11 best results, having completed 13 races without securing a win or podium.[3][43]| Round | Circuit | Date | Race 1 Position | Race 2 Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fuji Speedway | 12 Mar | NC | Ret |
| 2 | Sportsland SUGO | 14 May | 14 | 7 |
| 3 | Tokachi Speedway | 11 Jun | 15 | 14 |
| 4 | Suzuka Circuit | 2 Jul | 10 | Ret |
| 5 | Mine Circuit | 23 Jul | 18 | 16 |
| 6 | TI Aida | 6 Aug | 7 | 6 |
| 7 | Nishi-Nippon Speedway | 8 Oct | 5 | 4 |
| 8 | Fuji Speedway | 5 Nov | 7 | 10 |
Indy Racing League results
Bell's involvement with the Indy Racing League (IRL) was limited to a single entry during the series' inaugural 1996 season, as part of his broader transition to American motorsport that year.[3] Driving the No. 15 entry for the underfunded Tempero-Giuffre Racing team, he aimed to make his open-wheel debut at the prestigious Indianapolis 500.[44] Equipped with a four-year-old Lola T92 chassis powered by a Buick V6 turbocharged engine, Bell successfully completed the Rookie Orientation Program on May 5, 1996, logging six laps at an average speed of 139.695 mph, and passed his physical examination the following day.[22] Over the subsequent practice sessions, he accumulated 55 laps with a best single-lap speed of 186.548 mph on May 9.[22] However, the team encountered significant speed deficiencies throughout the month, preventing competitive runs, and Bell withdrew the entry on May 16—prior to the start of qualifying—opting not to attempt a spot in the 33-car field.[22] No points were earned from the attempt.[45]| Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | Race | Start | Finish | Status | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Tempero–Giuffre Racing | Lola T92 | Buick V6 Turbo | Indianapolis 500 | - | - | Withdrew | 0 |