GR Racing
{{short description|British racing team (founded 2021)}}
{{use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox motor racing team
| name = {{flagicon|GBR}} GR Racing
| logo = GR Racing logo.jpg
| founded = 2011
| base = Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| principal = Mike Wainwright
| chassis = Ferrari 296 GT3
| current series = European Le Mans Series
| former series = FIA World Endurance Championship
| current drivers =
| drivers = {{flagicon|GBR}} Ben Barker
{{flagicon|ITA}} Riccardo Pera
{{flagicon|ITA}} Davide Rigon
{{flagicon|GBR}} Mike Wainwright
| driver titles =
| website =
}}
GR Racing, formerly known as Gulf Racing, is a British auto racing team founded in 2011 by businessman and amateur driver Mike Wainwright. The team is based in Milton Keynes, England and has featured in various endurance racing events including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, European Le Mans Series (ELMS) and FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC).{{cite web|url=https://motorsports.porsche.com/international/en/article/2023/11/03/wec-bahrain-quickfacts|title=Quick Facts: GR Racing|website=Porsche Motorsport|date=3 November 2023|access-date=14 August 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/competizioni-gt/articles/le-mans-24-hours-to-win-gr-racing|title=Le Mans, 24 Hours to Win: Gr Racing|website=Ferrari|date=10 June 2024|access-date=14 August 2024}}
History
File:Porsche 911 RSR - Michael Wainwright, Ben Barker & Riccardo Pera in Ford Chicane at the 2023 Le Mans (53427991997).jpg at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans]]
GR Racing was founded in 2011 with the aim to merge competitive racing with the iconic Gulf Oil livery, representing motorsports excellence since the 1960s.{{cite web|url=https://www.gtraceway.com.au/l-racing/le-mans-gulf-racing.html|title=Le Mans Gulf Racing|website=GT Raceway|access-date=14 August 2024}} The team debuted in the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship competing in the GTE Am category with a Porsche 911 RSR.
The debut season provided valuable experience and a competitive edge. Over subsequent years, Gulf Racing achieved podium finishes in the FIA WEC, led by Ben Barker. In 2021 the team stopped using the Gulf Oil livery and changed its name to GR Racing.
In recent years, GR Racing has been active in the FIA WEC and other endurance racing series. At the 24 Hours of Le Mans the team finished 4th in the LM GTE Am class in 2022 and 3rd in 2023. The team expanded its operations and technical capabilities, forming partnerships with leading automotive and racing technology companies.
In 2024, GR Racing became a Ferrari customer team, fielding a Ferrari 296 GT3 in the European Le Mans Series for Wainwright, Riccardo Pera and factory driver Davide Rigon.{{cite web|url=https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/competizioni-gt/articles/ferrari-296-lmgt3s-at-the-24-hours-of-le-mans|title=Ferrari 296 LMGT3s at the 24 Hours of Le Mans|website=Ferrari|date=6 June 2024|access-date=14 August 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.europeanlemansseries.com/pilot/442?year=2024|title=Driver: Michael Wainwright|website=ELMS European Le Mans Series|date=2024|access-date=14 August 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.europeanlemansseries.com/pilot/266?year=2024|title=Driver: Davide Rigon|website=ELMS European Le Mans Series|date=2024|access-date=14 August 2024}}
Racing record
File:Gulf Racing UK's Porsche 911 RSR Driven by Michael Wainwright, Ben Barker and Nick Foster (36038041512).jpg at the 2017 24 Hours of Le Mans]]
File:2024 4 Hours of Le Castellet 36.jpg running at Circuit Paul Ricard in ELMS in 2024]]
=24 Hours of Le Mans results=
class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%" |
Year
! Entrant ! No. ! Car ! Drivers ! Class ! Laps ! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Overall Position}} ! {{Tooltip|Class |
---|
align="center"
! 2016 |align=left| {{flagicon|GBR}} Gulf Racing | 86 |align=left| Porsche 911 RSR |align=left| {{flagicon|GBR}} Ben Barker | LMGTE Am | 328 | 33rd | 5th |
align="center"
! 2017 |align=left| {{flagicon|GBR}} Gulf Racing UK | 86 |align=left| Porsche 911 RSR |align=left| {{flagicon|GBR}} Ben Barker | LMGTE Am | 328 | 38th | 10th |
align="center"
! 2018 |align=left| {{flagicon|GBR}} Gulf Racing | 86 |align=left| Porsche 911 RSR |align=left| {{flagicon|GBR}} Ben Barker | LMGTE Am | 283 | 40th | 10th |
align="center"
! 2019 |align=left| {{flagicon|GBR}} Gulf Racing | 86 |align=left| Porsche 911 RSR |align=left| {{flagicon|GBR}} Ben Barker | LMGTE Am | 331 | 38th | 8th |
align="center"
! 2020 |align=left| {{flagicon|GBR}} Gulf Racing | 86 |align=left| Porsche 911 RSR |align=left| {{flagicon|GBR}} Ben Barker | LMGTE Am | 337 | 29th | 5th |
align="center"
! 2021 |align=left| {{flagicon|GBR}} GR Racing | 86 |align=left| Porsche 911 RSR-19 |align=left| {{flagicon|GBR}} Ben Barker | LMGTE Am | 322 | 43rd | 14th |
align="center"
! 2022 |align=left| {{flagicon|GBR}} GR Racing | 86 |align=left| Porsche 911 RSR-19 |align=left| {{flagicon|GBR}} Ben Barker | LMGTE Am | 340 | 37th | 4th |
align="center"
! 2023 |align=left| {{flagicon|GBR}} GR Racing | 86 |align=left| Porsche 911 RSR-19 |align=left| {{flagicon|GBR}} Ben Barker | LMGTE Am | 312 | 29th |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd |
align="center"
! 2024 |align=left| {{flagicon|GBR}} GR Racing | 86 |align=left| Ferrari 296 GT3 |align=left| {{flagicon|ITA}} Riccardo Pera | LMGT3 | 278 | 39th | 12th |