Ross Gunn (racing driver) explained

Ross Gunn
Nationality: United Kingdom
Birth Date:1 January 1997
Birth Place:High Wycombe, England
Racing Licence: FIA Platinum
Current Series:IMSA SportsCar Championship
First Year:2020
Current Team:Heart of Racing Team
Car Number:23
Former Teams:Aston Martin Racing
Starts:40
Wins:8
Podiums:16
Poles:6
Fastest Laps:5
Prev Series:British GT Championship
Prev Series Years:2015–2016, '19
Titles:British GT Championship – GT4
Title Years:2015

Ross Gunn (born 1 January 1997) is a British professional racing driver, and Aston Martin Racing works driver who currently competes in the IMSA SportsCar Championship.[1]

Career

Gunn began his racing career in karting at the age of eight, winning the British Super One MiniMax Championship in 2011 before taking the British Super One Junior Rotax Championship title the following year.[2] In 2013, he graduated to single-seater formula competition, competing in the BRDC Formula 4 series. However, he was forced to miss the final two rounds of the season due to a lack of funding.[3] Scoring two race victories, Gunn finished 11th in the championship.

As a result of his lack of funding, Gunn wouldn't race competitively in 2014, but would return in 2015 by taking part in the Aston Martin Evolution Academy.[4] That season, Gunn and co-driver Jamie Chadwick secured the British GT Championship GT4-class title, driving for Beechdean-AMR.[5] In December, Gunn was announced as the winner of the Aston Martin Evolution Academy, which lead to his signing as an Aston Martin factory driver for 2016.[6] After a year of GT3 competition in 2016, Gunn stepped up to the GTE ranks with Beechdean-AMR, competing in the 2017 European Le Mans Series.[7] In 2019, Gunn secured his first full-time FIA World Endurance Championship ride with Aston Martin Racing's GTE Am class entry, driving alongside Paul Dalla Lana and Darren Turner.[8] [9] The team would collect four podium finishes in eight races, finishing 7th in the championship.

2021 saw Gunn join Aston Martin customer team Heart of Racing in the IMSA SportsCar Championship.[10] Following the 12 Hours of Sebring, Gunn was confirmed as the full-season partner for Roman de Angelis, with team boss Ian James set to step back to the series' endurance events at Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta.[11] That season, the duo claimed the WeatherTech Sprint Cup title, awarded to the highest performing team throughout the season's sprint events.[12] [13] Gunn was victorious in the final race of the season at Petit Le Mans, held at Road Atlanta. 2022 saw Gunn join the team's GTD Pro class entry, paired for the season with Alex Riberas.[14] After a difficult start to the season, featuring retirements at both Daytona and Sebring, the duo scored class victories at Long Beach and Watkins Glen, rebounding to finish fourth in the GTD Pro championship. Gunn returned to the team for the following season.[15]

In 2023, Gunn returned to the British GT Championship, reuniting with Andrew Howard and the Beechdean AMR team.[16] He would make it three full-time programs for 2023 following the announcement of TRG's GT World Challenge America entry, where he partnered with Derek DeBoer.[17] As the team's factory representative, Gunn primarily played the role of initially bringing the team to terms with the Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 and coaching DeBoer.[18] Furthermore, he cited his IMSA factory drive as taking the highest priority, as his three-pronged program encountered several conflicting race dates.[18] One of those conflicting dates included the round at NOLA Motorsports Park, during which Gunn was conducting simulator work with the Mercedes-AMG Formula One team.[19]

Racing record

Career summary

SeasonSeriesTeamRacesWinsPolesF/LapsPodiumsPointsPosition
2013BRDC Formula 4 ChampionshipMotionsport18201224211th
2015British GT Championship - GT4Beechdean-AMR92116164.51st
2016British GT Championship - GT4Beechdean-AMR310025510th
British GT Championship - GT35000148.510th
2017European Le Mans Series - LMGTEBeechdean-AMR50003637th
24H Series - A6De La Torre Racing100000NC
2018Blancpain GT Series Endurance CupOman Racing with TF Sport100000NC
VLN SeriesAMR Performance Centre200006.67?
2019Le Mans Cup - GT3Beechdean-AMR70133803rd
British GT Championship - GT3100001219th
China GT Championship - GT4?31??26716th
Blancpain GT Series Endurance CupGarage 59100000NC
Michelin Pilot Challenge - GSAutomatic Racing AMR100102561st
2020FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE AmAston Martin Racing80124100.57th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD100001458th
European Le Mans Series - LMGTE100000NC
Asian Le Mans Series - GTD'station Racing AMR310113311th
2021IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTDHeart of Racing Team13311631113rd
British GT Championship - GT3Beechdean AMR100001812th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance CupGarage 59 AMR100112213th
European Le Mans Series - LMGTETF Sport602102617th
Le Mans Cup - GT3100000NC
2022IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD ProHeart of Racing Team10211431034th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD1000135248th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance CupHeart of Racing with TF Sport100000NC
2022-23Middle East Trophy - GT3Heart of Racing Team by SPS
2023Asian Le Mans Series - GTTF Sport000000NC
Beechdean Motorsport60101646th*
GT World Challenge America - Pro/AmTRG-AMR400003615th
IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD ProHeart of Racing Team11223334275th
2024IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD ProHeart of Racing Team10000300*4th*
Intercontinental GT ChallengeHeart of Racing by SPS
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance CupWalkenhorst Racing

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

YearTeamClassMakeEngine123456789 101112RankPoints
2020Aston Martin RacingGTDAston Martin Vantage AMR GT3Mercedes-Benz M177 4.0L Turbo V8DAY
DAY
SEB
ELK
VIR
ATL
MDO
CLT
PET
LGA
SEB
58th14
2021Heart of Racing TeamGTDAston Martin Vantage AMR GT3Mercedes-Benz M177 4.0L Turbo V8DAY
SEB
MDO
DET
WGL
WGL
LIM
ELK
LGA
LBH
VIR
PET
3rd3111
2022Heart of Racing TeamGTD ProAston Martin Vantage AMR GT3Aston Martin 4.0 L Turbo V8DAY
SEB
LBH
LGA
WGL
MOS
LIM
ELK
VIR
PET
4th3103
GTDDAYSEBLBHLGAMDODET
WGLMOS
LIM
ELK
VIR
PET
48th352
2023Heart of Racing TeamGTD ProAston Martin Vantage AMR GT3Aston Martin 4.0 L Turbo V8DAY
SEB
LBH
LGA
WGL
MOS
LIM
ELK
VIR
IMS
ATL
5th3427
2024Heart of Racing TeamGTD ProAston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EvoAston Martin M177 4.0 L Turbo V8DAY
SEB
LGA
DET
WGLMOSELKVIRIMSATL300*4th*
Source:[20]

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

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

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

YearTeamCo-DriversCarClassLaps
2017 Beechdean AMR Andrew Howard
Oliver Bryant
Aston Martin Vantage GTELMGTE Am33130th4th
2020 Aston Martin Racing Paul Dalla Lana
Augusto Farfus
Aston Martin Vantage AMRLMGTE Am33330th8th
2021 TF Sport Ollie Hancock
John Hartshorne
Aston Martin Vantage AMRLMGTE Am33235th8th

Complete British GT Championship results

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

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ross Gunn - IMSA. imsa.com. 13 July 2021.
  2. Web site: About Ross - Ross Gunn Motorsport. rossgunnmotorsport.com. 14 July 2021.
  3. Web site: Gunn Forced To Miss Remainder Of F4 Campaign. Paice. Simon. thecheckeredflag.co.uk. 5 September 2013. 14 July 2021.
  4. Web site: Catching Up With Andrew Howard & Ross Gunn, Beechdean's 2016 Double Scoop!. dailysportscar.com. 26 December 2015. 14 July 2021.
  5. Web site: Beechdean AMR retains British GT class title and breaks two championship records. astonmartin.com. 24 August 2015. 14 July 2021.
  6. Web site: Ross Gunn Wins 2015 Aston Martin Racing Evolution Academy. dailysportscar.com. 21 December 2015. 14 July 2021.
  7. Web site: Beechdean AMR to Defend ELMS title with Howard, Turner and Gunn. europeanlemansseries.com. 6 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170207112729/http://www.europeanlemansseries.com/en/news/beechdean-amr-to-defend-elms-title-with-howard-turner-and-gunn/4640. 14 July 2021. 2017-02-07.
  8. Web site: Aston Martin refreshes WEC GTE Am line-up. motorsport.com. Klein. Jamie. 13 August 2019. 14 July 2021.
  9. Web site: WEC - Ross Gunn, racing to the top. fia.com. 26 August 2019. 14 July 2021.
  10. Web site: Heart of Racing Confirms 2021 Return; Gunn Joins Team. sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. 8 January 2021. 14 July 2021.
  11. Web site: The Heart of Racing Confirms Full Season Driver Lineup. speedwaydigest.com. 6 May 2021. 14 July 2021.
  12. Web site: Gunn: Heart of Racing Was Focused on Clinching Sprint Title. Dagys. John. sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. 9 October 2021. 10 October 2021.
  13. Web site: Driver Ross Gunn secures his first international title in USA. Ashton. Zoe. The Bucks Herald. 14 October 2021. 5 February 2023.
  14. Web site: Heart of Racing Confirms Aston Martin in GTD Pro. Dagys. John. sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. 22 December 2021. 5 February 2023.
  15. Web site: Heart Of Racing Add Marco Sorensen For Full IMSA Season. Goodwin. Graham. December 13, 2022. Dailysportscar. December 13, 2022.
  16. Web site: Beechdean AMR Return For Full 2023 British GT Season. Graham. Goodwin. dailysportscar.com. 1 February 2023. 1 February 2023.
  17. Web site: The Racers Group Returns To GT3 Racing With Aston Martin. R.J.. O'Connell. Dailysportscar. 2 February 2023. 5 February 2023.
  18. Web site: Gunn Aiming to Get TRG, DeBoer Up To Speed With Vantage GT3. Euwema. Davey. Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. 22 February 2023. 22 February 2023.
  19. Web site: NOLA Friday Notebook. Dagys. John. Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. 28 April 2023. 29 April 2023. Valentin Hasse Clot is making his GTWC America debut in place of Ross Gunn, who is on Formula 1 simulator duty for Mercedes-AMG this weekend..
  20. Web site: Ross Gunn Results . November 11, 2023 . motorsportstats.com.