Martin Berry
{{short description|Australian racing driver (born 1977)}}
{{distinguish|Martin Barry}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox racing driver
| name = Martin Berry
| image = File:24H Le Mans 2025 Nr. 61.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Berry in 2025
| nationality = {{flagicon|AUS}} Australian
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|06|09|df=y}}
| birth_place = Melbourne, Australia
| related to =
| racing licence = 12px FIA Bronze
| current series =
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| titles = Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific - Trofeo Pirelli 458
| title years = 2017
| awards =
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}}
Martin Edward Berry{{Cite web|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/zObMSjJDNmi42ztAMYyLPKN9If4/appointments|title=Martin Edward Berry|language=en|access-date=23 June 2025}} (born 9 June 1977 in Melbourne) is an Australian businessman and racing driver competing for Iron Lynx in the LMGT3 class of the European Le Mans Series and the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Born in Melbourne, Berry moved to South Korea during his time as a Banker before founding Gong Cha Korea in 2012 and buying Gong Cha outright in 2017 to expand it worldwide. During Gong Cha's global expansion, Berry relocated to Singapore and began his racing career the same year. Racing with a Singaporean licence since then, Berry won the Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific series in the Trofeo Pirelli 458 class in 2017 and is a Michelin Le Mans Cup race winner.
Business career
Berry initially worked for Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore and later South Korea,{{cite web|url=https://news.mk.co.kr/newsReadPrint.php?year=2013&no=1337193|title=열정갖고 사는 삶 가장 행복…한국 패자부활 기회 늘어야|website=news.mk.co.kr|date=24 December 2013|access-date=23 June 2025}} but left the company in late 2012 to estabilish Gong Cha Korea.{{cite web|url=https://cnaluxury.channelnewsasia.com/people/singapore-venture-capitalist-martin-berry-dtribe-capital-182901|title=Gong Cha Korea's co-founder can navigate both Ferrari race cars and K-pop culture|website=cnaluxury.channelnewsasia.com|date=9 September 2020|access-date=23 June 2025}} Five years later, Berry bought the main company and founded Gong Cha Global, as he expanded the company's operations abroad as its chairman.{{cite web|url=https://www.portfoliomagsg.com/article/driven-by-passion-martin-berry.html|title=Driven by Passion: Martin Berry|website=portfoliomagsg.com|date=10 September 2024|access-date=23 June 2025}} Berry is also the founder of Launcho Ventures and BeMe Wellness.{{cite web|url=https://www.portfoliomagsg.com/article/a-strong-reopening.html|title=A Strong (Re)Opening|website=portfoliomagsg.com|date=20 November 2020|access-date=23 June 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.p300.it/wec-martin-berry-sostituira-christian-ried-alla-6-ore-di-spa-francorchamps/?lang=en|title=WEC {{!}} Martin Berry to replace Christian Ried at 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps|website=p300.it|date=2 May 2025|access-date=23 June 2025}}
Racing career
Berry made his racing debut in 2017, by competing in the Trofeo Pirelli 458 class of the Ferrari Challenge Asia-Pacific series.{{cite web|url=https://www.torque.com.sg/news/ferrari-challenge-driver-martin-berry-races-make-wish-singapore/|title=Ferrari Challenge driver Martin Berry races for Make-A-Wish Singapore|website=torque.com.sg|date=18 February 2017|access-date=23 June 2025}} After winning ten out of the 13 races contested, Berry clinched the title two rounds early and also was runner-up in the same class, at that year's Finali Mondiali.{{cite web|url=https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/corse-clienti/articles/challenge-apac-and-the-winners-are-prette-seto-fujiwara-and-berry|title=Challenge APAC - And the winners are Prette, Seto, Fujiwara and Berry!|website=ferrari.com|date=22 December 2017|access-date=23 June 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sgcarmart.com/articles/news/ital-auto-and-martin-berry-take-home-honours-at-finali-mondiali-19713|title=Ital Auto and Martin Berry take home honours at Finali Mondiali|website=sgcarmart.com|date=5 November 2017|access-date=23 June 2025}}
Returning to Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific for 2018, Berry finished fifth in the Trofeo Pirelli Am class.{{cite web|url=https://www.sgcarmart.com/articles/news/singapores-martin-berry-nabs-ferrari-challenge-podium-finish-22029|title=Singapore's Martin Berry nabs Ferrari Challenge podium finish|website=sgcarmart.com|date=23 November 2018|access-date=23 June 2025}} At the end of 2018, Berry made a one-off outing in the 24H GT Series for HB Racing at the final round of the season at Circuit of the Americas,{{cite web|url=https://www.endurance-info.com/auto/article/86642-24h-cota-hb-racing-confirme-lequipage-de-sa-ferrari|title=24H COTA : HB Racing confirme l'équipage de sa Ferrari|website=endurance-info.com|date=13 November 2018|access-date=23 June 2025}} before joining Absolute Racing for the last round of the Audi R8 LMS Cup at Sepang,{{cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/other-series/audi-r8-lms-cup/gt3-title-goes-down-to-the-wire-in-sepang/|title=GT3 Title Goes Down to the Wire in Sepang|website=sportscar365.com|date=22 November 2018|access-date=23 June 2025}} finishing fifth and eighth in the two races.{{cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/other-series/audi-r8-lms-cup/haryanto-wins-sepang-night-race-thriller/|title=Haryanto Wins Sepang Night Race Thriller|website=sportscar365.com|date=24 November 2018|access-date=23 June 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/other-series/audi-r8-lms-cup/haryanto-crowned-audi-sport-r8-lms-cup-champion/|title=Haryanto Crowned Audi Sport R8 LMS Cup Champion|website=sportscar365.com|date=25 November 2018|access-date=23 June 2025}}
Berry transitioned over to Europe for 2019, joining Rinaldi Racing to compete in the Am class of the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup alongside Pierre Ehret, José Manuel Balbiani and Rory Penttinen.{{cite web|url=https://www.endurance-info.com/auto/article/83932-24h-spa-rory-penttinen-chez-rinaldi-racing|title=24H Spa : Rory Penttinen chez Rinaldi Racing|website=endurance-info.com|date=5 June 2019|access-date=23 June 2025}} In his only season in the championship, Berry scored a class podium at Paul Ricard and finished seventh in the Am standings. During 2019, Berry also returned to the 24H GT Series, competing for Rinaldi Racing in the Mugello and Spa rounds,{{cite web|url=https://www.endurance-info.com/auto/article/85526-12h-mugello-trois-ferrari-488-gt3-pour-rinaldi-racing|title=12H Mugello : trois Ferrari 488 GT3 pour Rinaldi Racing|website=endurance-info.com|date=9 February 2019|access-date=23 June 2025}} whilst also making one-off appearances for Car Collection Motorsport and Toksport WRT at Dubai and Circuit of the Americas respectively.{{cite web|url=https://www.endurance-info.com/auto/article/81772-24h-cota-qualifs-black-falcon-et-mercedes-en-pole|title=24H COTA, Qualifs : Black Falcon et Mercedes en pole|website=endurance-info.com|date=16 November 2019|access-date=23 June 2025}}
In 2020, Berry was set to compete with Optimum Motorsport in both the British GT Championship and GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup,{{cite web|url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2020/01/22/optimum-bring-mclaren-720s-gt3-to-british-gt-with-aussie-duo.html|title=Optimum Bring McLaren 720S GT3 To British GT With Aussie Duo|website=dailysportscar.com|date=22 January 2020|access-date=23 June 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/sro/world-challenge-europe/optimum-adds-second-mclaren-in-the-bend-partnership/|title=Optimum Adds Second McLaren in The Bend Partnership|website=sportscar365.com|date=18 February 2020|access-date=23 June 2025}} but both deals fell through, leaving Berry on the sidelines as he was stuck in Singapore.{{cite web|url=https://www.endurance-info.com/auto/article/79410-british-gt-une-nouvelle-livree-pour-optimum-motorsport|title=British GT : une nouvelle livrée pour Optimum Motorsport|website=endurance-info.com|date=7 July 2020|access-date=23 June 2025}}
After spending two years out of racing, Berry entered the ST-X class of the 2022 Super Taikyu Series with his team, Grid Motorsport alongside Haruki Kurosawa, Shinichi Takagi, Daisuke Yamawaki and later Shaun Thong.{{cite news|url=https://www.as-web.jp/domestic/780908?all|title=スーパー耐久ST-Xクラスに『Grid Motorsport』が新規参戦。メルセデスAMGパフォーマンスドライバーの起用も予定|date=2 February 2022|work=as-web.jp|access-date=23 June 2025}} Competing in all but one races for his team, Berry took pole for the Fuji 24 Hours on debut and finished second in the longest race of the season,{{cite news|url=https://www.as-web.jp/domestic/823096|title=2022年富士24時間の総合ポールはAドライバー予選でのタイム更新争いを制したGrid Motorsport AMG GT3が獲得|date=3 June 2022|work=as-web.jp|access-date=23 June 2025}}{{cite news|url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2022/06/05/helm-motor-sports-wins-their-first-fuji-24-hours.html|title=HELM Motor Sports Wins Their First Fuji 24 Hours|date=5 June 2022|work=dailysportscar.com|access-date=23 June 2025}} before winning at Sugo and Motegi on his way to second in the ST-X points.{{cite news|url=https://www.as-web.jp/domestic/836906?all|title=スーパー耐久第3戦SUGOでGrid Motorsport AMGがチーム初優勝「総合力」で勝てたと高木真一|date=10 July 2022|work=as-web.jp|access-date=23 June 2025}}{{cite news|url=https://www.as-web.jp/domestic/855898?all|title=Grid Motorsport AMGが勢いに乗る2勝目。2022スーパー耐久第5戦もてぎを制す|date=4 September 2022|work=as-web.jp|access-date=23 June 2025}}
Berry made his return to GT3 competition in 2023, joining Bullitt Racing to compete in the Asian Le Mans Series alongside Aston Martin juniors Jacob Riegel and Valentin Hasse-Clot.{{cite news|url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/asian-lms/aston-martin-squad-bullitt-confirms-drivers-for-asian-debut/|title=Aston Martin Squad Bullitt Confirms Drivers for Asian Debut|last=Euwema|first=Davey|date=15 December 2022|work=sportscar365|publisher=John Dagys Media|access-date=23 June 2025}} After taking a best result of 13th in the season-ending race at Yas Marina,{{cite news|url=https://www.dorstenerzeitung.de/lokalsport-dorsten/jacob-riegel-schwaermt-von-der-asian-le-mans-serie-w701483-4000725671/|title=Jacob Riegel schwärmt von der Asian Le Mans Serie Trotz Unfallpech|last=Lehr|first=Horst|date=2 March 2023|work=dorstenerzeitung.de|access-date=23 June 2025}} Berry joined JMW Motorsport to compete in the European Le Mans Series' LMGTE class alongside Lorcan Hanafin and Jon Lancaster, driving a Ferrari 488 GTE Evo on his European return.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/04/19/elms-barcelona-prologue-tuesday-paddock-notes.html|title=ELMS Barcelona Prologue: Wednesday Paddock Notes|website=Dailysportscar|date=19 April 2023|access-date=23 June 2025}} In the six-race season, Berry took pole on debut and finished third in Barcelona,{{cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/de-gerus-storms-to-barcelona-pole/|title=De Gerus Storms to Barcelona Pole|website=sportscar365.com|date=22 April 2023|access-date=23 June 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/04/23/racing-team-turkey-claims-dramatic-4h-barcelona-win.html|title=(Updated) Racing Team Turkey Claims Dramatic 4H Barcelona Win|website=dailysportscar.com|date=23 April 2023|access-date=23 June 2025}} before taking another pole at Aragón and finishing sixth in the standings with two more top fives to his name.{{cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/hanson-on-pole-for-4h-aragon-after-lopez-time-deleted/|title=Hanson on Pole for 4H Aragon After Lopez Time Deleted|website=sportscar365.com|date=26 August 2023|access-date=23 June 2025}}
Staying in the European Le Mans Series for 2024 in the rebranded GT3 class, Berry joined Grid Motorsport by TF alongside Hanafin and Jonathan Adam, switching to an Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo for his sophomore season in the series.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2024/03/05/adam-completes-grid-motorsport-by-tf-line-up.html|title=Adam Completes Grid Motorsport By TF Line-Up|website=Dailysportscar|date=5 March 2024|access-date=23 June 2025}} In the penultimate round at Mugello, Berry scored his lone podium of the season by finishing second, which contributed to his seventh place in the standings at season's end.{{cite web|url=https://www.endurance-info.com/auto/article/113736-elms-iron-lynx-proton-ouvre-son-compteur-au-mugello|title=ELMS - Iron Lynx-Proton ouvre son compteur au Mugello|website=endurance-info.com|date=29 September 2024|access-date=23 June 2025|lang=fr}} During 2024, Berry also competed in the Road to Le Mans alongside Hanafin in the GT3 class for Blackthorn. In the two races on the 24 Hours of Le Mans' support bill, Berry finished tenth in race one and won race two.{{Cite web|last2=O'Connell|first2=RJ|last=Zalavari|first=Michael|title=Rinaldi, MV2S Win Road to Le Mans Races|url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2024/06/15/rinaldi-mv2s-win-road-to-le-mans-races.html|website=dailysportscar.com|date=15 June 2025|access-date=23 June 2025}}
Berry remained in the now-LMGT3 class of the European Le Mans Series for 2025, switching to Iron Lynx for his third season in the series as the team switched from Lamborghini to Mercedes-AMG.{{Cite web|last=Rehman|first=Mo|title=Iron Lynx Brings Schiller Into Mercedes-AMG ELMS LMGT3 Line-Up|url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2025/03/08/iron-lynx-brings-schiller-into-mercedes-amg-elms-lmgt3-line-up.html|website=dailysportscar.com|date=8 March 2025|access-date=23 June 2025}} Alongside his ELMS commitments, Berry also joined EBM to race in GT World Challenge Asia.{{Cite web|last=O'Connell|first=RJ|title=Capacity 33 Car Grid For 2025 GT World Challenge Asia|url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2025/03/26/capacity-33-car-grid-for-2025-gt-world-challenge-asia.html|website=dailysportscar.com|date=26 March 2025|access-date=23 June 2025}} During 2025, Berry also made his debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship as he replaced Christian Ried ahead of the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.{{Cite web|last=Euwema|first=Davey|title=Berry to Make Series Debut With Iron Lynx LMGT3 Squad|url=https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/berry-to-make-series-debut-with-iron-lynx-lmgt3-squad/|website=sportscar365.com|date=2 May 2025|access-date=23 June 2025}}
Personal life
Berry is married to Gong Cha Korea co-founder Kim Yeo-jin,{{cite web|url=https://dealsite.co.kr/articles/15749/016072|title=김여진 전 대표, 끝나지 않은 ‘공차’ 투자금 회수|website=dealsite.co.kr|date=22 January 2019|access-date=23 June 2025}} with whom he has one son, Joshua, who currently competes in the Formula 4 South East Asia Championship for BlackArts Racing Team.{{Cite web|last=Intan|first=Maiya|title=F4 South East Asia: 2025 season guide|url=https://feederseries.net/2025/05/01/f4-south-east-asia-2025-season-guide/|website=Feeder Series|date=5 May 2025|access-date=23 June 2025}}
Racing record
=Racing career summary=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align:center"
! Season ! Series ! Team ! Races ! Wins ! Poles ! F/Laps ! Podiums ! Points ! Position |
| 2017
| align=left nowrap| Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific - Trofeo Pirelli 458 | align=left nowrap| | 13 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 242 | style="background:#FFFFBF;"|1st |
|---|
| rowspan="3"|2018
| align=left| Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific - Trofeo Pirelli Am | align=left| ItalAuto Singapore | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 92 | 5th |
| align=left| Audi R8 LMS Cup
| align=left| Absolute Racing | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14th |
| align=left| 24H GT Continental Series – A6 Am
| align=left| HB Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | NC |
| rowspan="5"|2019
| align=left| Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup | align=left rowspan="3"| Rinaldi Racing | rowspan="2"|5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| align=left| Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup – Am
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 58 | 7th |
| align=left| 24H GT European Series – A6 Am
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 11th |
| align=left rowspan="2"| 24H GT Continental Series – A6 Am
| align=left| Car Collection Motorsport | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | rowspan="2"|9 | rowspan="2"|NC |
| align=left| Toksport WRT
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| rowspan="2"|2022
| align=left| Super Taikyu - ST-X | align=left| Grid Motorsport | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 127‡ | style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2nd‡ |
| align=left| Prototype Cup Germany
| align=left| Rinaldi Racing | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 16th |
| rowspan="2" |2023
| align=left| Asian Le Mans Series – GT | align=left| Bullitt Racing | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21st |
| align=left| European Le Mans Series – LMGTE
| align=left| JMW Motorsport | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 47 | 6th |
| rowspan="2" |2024
| align=left| European Le Mans Series – GT3 | align=left| Grid Motorsport by TF | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 54 | 7th |
| align=left| Le Mans Cup – GT3
| align=left| Blackthorn | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16.5 | 10th |
| rowspan="4" |2025
| align=left| European Le Mans Series – LMGT3 | align=left rowspan="2"| Iron Lynx | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 19* | 6th* |
| align=left| FIA World Endurance Championship – LMGT3
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8th* | 19th* |
| align=left| GT World Challenge Asia
| align=left rowspan="2"| EBM | rowspan="2"|4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0* | NC* |
| align=left| GT World Challenge Asia – Am
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 58* | 6th* |
| colspan="10" |Sources:{{Cite web |title=Martin Berry Results |url=https://www.motorsportstats.com/driver/martin-berry/results |access-date=23 June 2025 |website=motorsportstats.com}}{{Cite web |title=Martin Berry {{!}} Racing career profile {{!}} Driver Database |url=https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/martin-berry|access-date=23 June 2025 |website=www.driverdb.com}} |
=Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%" |
| Year
! Team ! Co-Drivers ! Car ! Class ! Laps ! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Overall Position}} ! {{Tooltip|Class |
|---|
| 2025
|align="left"| {{flagicon|ITA}} Iron Lynx |align="left"| {{flagicon|NLD}} Lin Hodenius |align="left"| Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo | LMGT3 | 337 | 44th | 12th |
| colspan="20" |Source:{{cite web|url=https://www.24h-en-piste.com/fr/AfficherPilote.php?Pilote=4031|title=Pilote des 24 heures du Mans: Martin Berry|website=24h-en-piste.com|language=fr|access-date=23 June 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/track-record/driver/martin-berry-10878|title=Martin Berry|website=24h-lemans.com|language=en|access-date=23 June 2025|publisher=Automobile Club de l'Ouest}} |
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{DriverDB driver|martin-berry}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Berry, Martin}}
Category:Racing drivers from Melbourne
Category:Racing drivers from Victoria (state)
Category:Ferrari Challenge drivers
Category:GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup drivers
Category:Asian Le Mans Series drivers
Category:European Le Mans Series drivers