Ben Barker (racing driver)

Having started his career in karts in 2004, Barker would step into the British Formula Ford Championship in 2009 with Fluid Motorsport Development.{{Cite web |title=Ben Barker {{!}} BRDC Members {{!}} British Racing Drivers' Club |url=http://www.brdc.co.uk/Ben-Barker |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=www.brdc.co.uk}} Following a year in which he scored one win at Knockhill, the Brit would migrate to Australia for a season in the 2010 Australian Formula 3 Championship.{{Cite web |date=2010-02-09 |title=AUS: Ben Barker steps up for 2010 Gold Star Battle |url=https://us.motorsport.com/f3/news/aus-ben-barker-steps-up-for-2010-gold-star-battle/2395162/ |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=us.motorsport.com |language=en}} He won the title by one point versus Mitch Evans, having taken six race wins.File:Dallara F307 of Ben Barker.jpg title-winning season]]

Barker moved into the Australian Porsche Carrera Cup in 2011, remaining with Team BRM, where he would finish fifth in the standings. The following year saw him return to Britain, partaking in a full-time campaign in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB.{{Cite web |last=Unknown |title=Ben Barker back from Australia in Porsche Carrera Cup |url=http://www.overdrive-uk.com/2012/01/ben-barker-back-from-australia-in.html |access-date=2024-02-27 |language=en-GB}} Despite having to wait for his first victory until the round at Knockhill, Barker would finish second in the championship, having won five races in a row in the latter half of the season.{{Cite web |title=Barker at the double in Porsche Carrera Cup |url=https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/2012/9/3/barker-at-the-double-in-porsche-carrera-cup/44644/ |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=www.fleetnews.co.uk |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Paice |first=Simon |date=2012-10-08 |title=Meadows Claims Title After Silverstone Win |url=https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2012/10/meadows-claims-title-after-silverstone-win/ |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=The Checkered Flag |language=en-GB}}

In 2013, Barker graduated to the Porsche Supercup as part of Team Bleekemolen.{{cite news |date=18 March 2013 |title=The big step – Team Bleekemolen in 2 Cups |url=http://racecam.de/index.php?site=news&sid=31&id=4494&lang=en |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041557/http://racecam.de/index.php?site=news&sid=31&id=4494&lang=en |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=31 March 2013 |work=racecam.de |publisher=racecam GmbH}} With a best result of fourth at the final round, Barker finished tenth in the overall standings and third in the rookie classification.{{Cite web |last=Barnett |first=Josh |date=2013-11-01 |title=911 in Motorsport: Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Abu Dhabi preview |url=https://www.total911.com/911-in-motorsport-porsche-mobil-1-supercup-abu-dhabi/ |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=Total 911 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Barnett |first=Josh |date=2013-12-16 |title=Ben Barker interview: "It was a really big learning curve" |url=https://www.total911.com/ben-barker-interview-it-was-a-really-big-learning-curve/ |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=Total 911 |language=en-GB}} At the end of the year, Barker would receive a silver ranking by the FIA.{{cite web |access-date=15 September 2019 |author=Laurent Mercier |date=5 September 2013 |title=Plusieurs pilotes nouvellement classés par la FIA… |url=http://archive.endurance-info.com/fr/actualite-endurance-20418/ |website=endurance-info.com}}

Remaining in the Supercup for 2014, Barker would score one podium for the Lechner Racing Team.{{cite news |date=26 February 2014 |title=BRDC announces 2014 SuperStars |url=http://www.brdc.co.uk/BRDC-announces-2014-SuperStars |access-date=3 March 2014 |work=brdc.co.uk |publisher=British Racing Drivers' Club}} He also took part in the support race of the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he won with a gap of five seconds to Tom Dillmann.{{Cite web |last=Speedcafe.com |date=2014-06-14 |title=Barker scores big win in Le Mans Carrera Cup |url=https://speedcafe.com/barker-scores-big-win-le-mans-carrera-cup/ |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=Speedcafe.com |language=en-AU}} As well as this, Barker paired up with businessman Michael Wainwright at his team Gulf Racing in the LMGTE class of the European Le Mans Series, driving a Porsche 911 RSR.{{cite web |access-date=15 September 2019 |author=Laurent Mercier |date=8 April 2014 |title=Silverstone : Un plateau de 39 autos pour débuter la saison ! |url=http://archive.endurance-info.com/fr/silverstone-un-plateau-de-39-autos-pour-debuter-la-saison/ |website=endurance-info.com}} Finally, Barker made six appearances for GB Autosport in the United SportsCar Championship.{{cite web |access-date=15 September 2019 |author=Laurent Mercier |date=29 May 2014 |title=Détroit : Un plateau de 32 autos pour le cinquième rendez-vous… |url=http://archive.endurance-info.com/fr/detroit-un-plateau-de-32-autos-pour-le-cinquieme-rendez-vous/ |website=endurance-info.com}}

At the start of 2015, Barker would be upgraded to gold by the FIA.{{cite web |access-date=15 September 2019 |author=Laurent Mercier |date=8 November 2014 |title=La FIA dévoile la liste des catégorisations de pilotes 2015… |url=http://archive.endurance-info.com/fr/la-fia-devoile-la-liste-des-categorisations-de-pilotes-2015/ |website=endurance-info.com}} He switched to MOMO-Megatron Team PARTRAX in the Porsche Supercup, where a podium at Monaco helped him to ninth in the standings. He also appeared in the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany, in which the Briton scored two podiums.{{cite news |title=Teams & Fahrer |url=http://www.porsche.com/germany/sportandevents/motorsport/customerracing/racing/porschecarreracupdeutschland/teamsanddriver/ |access-date=30 April 2015 |work=porsche.com |publisher=Porsche AG}}

Before the 2016 season, it was announced that Barker would partner Michael Wainwright and Adam Carroll at Gulf Racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship.{{cite web |last=Barnett |first=Josh |date=16 February 2016 |title=Ben Barker gets Gulf Porsche FIA World Endurance seat |url=https://www.total911.com/ben-barker-gets-gulf-porsche-fia-wec-seat/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Total 911}}{{cite web |last=Klein |first=Jamie |date=16 February 2016 |title=Carroll, Barker get WEC seats at Gulf Racing |url=https://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/carroll-barker-get-wec-seats-at-gulf-racing-673653/673653/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Motorsport.com}} Driving in the LMGTE Am category, the trio scored four fourth places and finished fifth in class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, thereby ending up sixth in the teams' championship. Barker partook in a round of the ELMS with Proton Competition, scoring a pole position at Estoril.{{cite web |access-date=15 September 2019 |author=Florian Defet |date=22 October 2016 |title=4H Estoril, Qualifs : Nouvelle pole position pour Nicolas Lapierre et DragonSpeed |url=https://endurance24.fr/4h-estoril-qualifs-nouvelle-pole-position-nicolas-lapierre-dragonspeed/ |website=endurance24.fr}}

Barker remained with Wainwright and Gulf Racing for the 2017 season, this time being partnered by Nick Foster.{{cite web |last=Kilbey |first=Stephen |date=20 March 2017 |title=Barker, Foster complete Gulf Racing WEC line-up |url=https://racer.com/2017/03/20/barker-foster-complete-gulf-racing-wec-line-up/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Racer.com}} Their results improved, as Barker was able to guide the team to third place at Mexico and to second in Shanghai, though the team would once again finish the championship as the lowest full-time entrant with fifth place overall.

For the 2018–19 WEC "super-season", Barker and Wainwright were joined by Alex Davison for the first three rounds and by Thomas Preining during subsequent events.{{cite web |last=Lloyd |first=Daniel |date=19 March 2018 |title=Davison Completes Gulf Racing Lineup |url=http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/davison-completes-gulf-racing-lineup/ |access-date=26 March 2018 |publisher=Sportscar365}} The season itself brought few peaks, with the team failing to score a podium, though their consistency of finishing every race would bring Gulf Racing sixth in the standings. Barker managed to stand out, setting a new lap record for his category at the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans. During these two years Barker would also win the Bathurst 12 Hour race in the GT3 Cup class, having previously won this race in 2014 driving in the same category.{{cite web |date=8 February 2019 |title=Ben Barker helps drive Grove Motorsport to history-making win in Bathurst 12 Hour success |url=https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/sport/ben-barker-helps-grove-motorsport-to-history-making-win-in-bathurst-12-hour-9061163/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Cambridge Independent}}{{Cite web |last=Pettit |first=Vince |date=2019-05-07 |title=INTERVIEW: Ben Barker - Being a podium finisher in Supercup puts you on the map |url=https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2019/05/interview-ben-barker-being-a-podium-finisher-in-supercup-puts-you-on-the-map/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=The Checkered Flag |language=en-GB}}

In the 2019–20 WEC campaign, Barker, Wainwright, and new teammate Andrew Watson managed to score a lone podium in Bahrain, finishing third.{{Cite web |title=2019 Bahrain 8 Hours Results |url=http://fiawec.alkamelsystems.com/Results/09_2019-2020/04_BAHRAIN%20INTERNATIONAL%20CIRCUIT/307_FIA%20WEC/201912141500_Race/Hour%208/03_Classification_Race_Hour%208.PDF}} They ended up seventh in the standings, having once again completed every race. At the start of 2020, Barker would attain overall victory at the Dubai 24 Hours and took another Bathurst victory, this one coming in the GT3 Pro-Am class.{{Cite web |last=Kilshaw |first=Jake |date=12 January 2020 |title=Barker Praises Black Falcon For "Pretty Mad" 24H Dubai Win |url=https://sportscar365.com/other-series/24hseries/barker-praises-black-falcon-for-pretty-mad-24h-dubai-win/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Sportscar365 |publisher=John Dagys Media |language=en-US}}{{cite web |date=2 February 2020 |title=IntGTC: Best Porsche finishes fourth at Bathurst, victory in the Pro-Am class |url=https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/2020/motorsports/porsche-international-gt-challenge-bathurst-first-round-12-hour-911-gt3-r-19832.html |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Porsche Newsroom}}

The 2021 season proved to be a disappointment, as the team dropped to twelfth and last of all full-time LMGTE Am entries with a best race result of sixth place.{{Cite web |last=Lloyd |first=Daniel |date=2021-01-21 |title=33-Car Entry List Revealed for 2021 Season – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/wec-reveals-33-car-season-entry-for-2021/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-01-19 |title=Standings |url=https://www.fia.com/events/world-endurance-championship/season-2021/standings |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=Federation Internationale de l'Automobile |language=en}}

Having started his 2022 season by leading Dinamic Motorsport in the Asian Le Mans Series, Barker returned to GR Racing with Wainwright and new silver-ranked driver Riccardo Pera.{{Cite web |last=Lloyd |first=Daniel |date=19 January 2022 |title=Dinamic Commits to Asian LMS; Barker Leads Lineup |url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/asian-lms/dinamic-commits-to-asian-lms-barker-leads-lineup/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=Sportscar365 |publisher=John Dagys Media |language=en-US}}{{cite web |last=Plümer |first=Jonas |date=9 February 2022 |title=FIA WEC: GR Racing präsentiert 2022er Aufgebot |url=https://gt-place.com/2022/02/09/fia-wec-gr-racing-praesentiert-2022er-aufgebot/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=GT-Place.com |language=de}}{{cite web |date=8 February 2022 |title=Looped crew at GR Racing |url=https://www.endurance-info.com/auto/article/100777-equipage-boucle-chez-gr-racing |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=endurance-info.com |language=fr}} Even though they missed the opening round, the team improved by scoring a then-record fourth place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and rising to eighth in the teams' standings.{{cite web |title=Le Mans 24 Hours 2022 |url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/Le_Mans-2022-06-11.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220805134822/https://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/Le_Mans-2022-06-11.html |archive-date=2022-08-05 |access-date=5 August 2022 |publisher=Racing Sports Cars}}

{{cite web |date=12 June 2022 |title=FIA WEC 90º Edition des 24 Heures du Mans Race Final Classification |url=http://fiawec.alkamelsystems.com/Results/11_2022/03_LE%20MANS/419_FIA%20WEC/202206111600_Race/24_Hour%2024/03_Classification_Race_Hour%2024.PDF |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614100442/http://fiawec.alkamelsystems.com/Results/11_2022/03_LE%20MANS/419_FIA%20WEC/202206111600_Race/24_Hour%2024/03_Classification_Race_Hour%2024.PDF |archive-date=14 June 2022 |access-date=5 August 2022 |publisher=Automobile Club de l'Ouest |pages=1–2}}{{Cite web |title=WEC 2022 results and standings for top drivers and teams |url=https://www.motorsport.com/wec/standings/2022/?type=Team&class=LMGTE+AM |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=www.motorsport.com |language=en}} Barker would play his part, setting two overall fastest laps in class at Spa and Monza.

The team retained their lineup for the 2023 WEC season, the last of the LMGTE era.{{Cite web |last=Lloyd |first=Daniel |date=2023-03-01 |title=Glickenhaus Lineup Confirmed in 37-Car Sebring Entry – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/glickenhaus-lineup-confirmed-in-37-car-sebring-entry/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}} The year proved to be the team's magnum opus, as Barker helped GR to finish third at the Centenary Le Mans 24 Hours, where Barker proved to be the fastest LMGTE driver, before managing another third place in Monza.{{Cite web |last=Pettit |first=Vince |date=2023-06-13 |title=GR Racing Achieves Lifelong Ambition with Podium Finish at Le Mans 24 Hours |url=https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2023/06/gr-racing-achieves-lifelong-ambition-with-podium-finish-at-le-mans-24-hours/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=The Checkered Flag |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Heinemeier Hansson |first=David |date=12 June 2023 |title=@dhhracing on Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/dhhracing/status/1668196515452530688/photo/1 |archive-date=}}{{cite web |title=2023 Monza Race results - FIA World Endurance Championship |url=http://fiawec.alkamelsystems.com/Results/12_2023/05_AUTODROMO%20NAZIONALE%20DI%20MONZA/479_FIA%20WEC/202307091230_Race/Hour%206/03_Classification_Race_Hour%206.PDF |access-date=14 September 2023 |work=FIA}} These two podiums helped the team to sixth in the championship. Barker concluded his tenure with GR Racing by racing in the 2023–24 Asian Le Mans Series, stating that Wainwright and the team had "put [him] on a pedestal" by giving him the chance to race in the WEC for seven seasons.{{Cite web |last=Euwema |first=Davey |date=2024-02-23 |title=Barker: GR Racing Stint "Put Me on a Pedestal" for Ford Deal – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/barker-gr-racing-stint-put-me-on-a-pedestal/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}}

At the end of 2023, it was announced that Barker would become part of the Ford factory driver lineup in the WEC and join the Canada-based Multimatic Motorsports operation.{{Cite web |title=Ben Barker Secures Factory Contract with Ford for 2024 Mustang GT3 Campaign |url=https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2023/12/ben-barker-secures-factory-contract-with-ford-for-2024-mustang-gt3-campaign/ |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=thecheckeredflag.co.uk |date=19 December 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Klein |first=Jamie |date=2023-12-16 |title=Ford Names Five New Factory Drivers for Mustang GT3 – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/ford-names-five-new-factory-drivers-for-mustang-gt3/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}} He would migrate to Proton Competition, driving a Ford Mustang GT3 alongside Zacharie Robichon and Ryan Hardwick in 2024.{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=2024-01-17 |title=Proton Sets Ford LMGT3 Lineups – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/proton-sets-ford-lmgt3-lineups/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}}

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

^* Season still in progress.

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

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

^* Season still in progress.

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|benbarkermotorsport.com}}
• {{DriverDB driver|ben-barker}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-sports}}

{{succession box | before = Joey Foster | title = Winner of the Australian Drivers' Championship | years = 2010 | after = Chris Gilmour}}

{{s-end}}{{WEC LMGT3 teams|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barker, Ben}}

Category:1991 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sportspeople from Cambridge

Category:Australian Formula 3 Championship drivers

Category:Porsche Carrera Cup GB drivers

Category:Porsche Supercup drivers

Category:European Le Mans Series drivers

Category:WeatherTech SportsCar Championship drivers

Category:FIA World Endurance Championship drivers

Category:24 Hours of Le Mans drivers

Category:24H Series drivers

Category:International GT Open drivers

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Category:Asian Le Mans Series drivers

Category:Formula Ford drivers

Category:Fluid Motorsport Development drivers

Category:Walter Lechner Racing drivers

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Category:Le Mans Cup drivers

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Category:Porsche Carrera Cup Australia drivers

Category:Porsche Carrera Cup Asia drivers

Category:24 Hours of Spa drivers

Category:Proton Competition drivers

Category:English racing drivers

Category:Multimatic Motorsports drivers