Williams Boss James Vowles Claims GT3 Class Win at Gulf 12 Hours

Williams Formula 1 Team Principal James Vowles has secured a major personal motorsport victory, winning the AM class at the 2025 Gulf 12 Hours endurance race. Driving a Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, Vowles and his co-drivers finished 10th overall in the grueling event, placing one spot ahead of a car from Max Verstappen's racing team.

Why it matters:

While F1 team principals are typically seen orchestrating strategy from the pit wall, Vowles' on-track success highlights a direct, hands-on connection to the racing craft that defines their profession. This victory, following Max Verstappen's own high-profile GT3 exploits earlier in the year, reinforces a growing trend of top-tier F1 figures actively competing in other series, blending management with genuine driver skill and passion.

The details:

• Vowles shared the #8 McLaren with drivers Marco Pulcini, Mark Samson, and Alexander West for Garage 59, triumphing in the amateur (AM) category after 12 hours of racing at the Yas Marina Circuit.
• The result continues a successful streak for the Garage 59 team, which has now won its class at the Gulf 12 Hours for two consecutive years.
• In a social media post, Vowles celebrated the "tough" race and thanked his teammates and the team, noting he was "really happy with my progress" and calling it "a weekend I won’t forget."
• The car from Verstappen.com Racing, featuring driver Thierry Vermeulen, finished directly behind Vowles' winning entry in 11th place overall.

The big picture:

Vowles' win adds a new chapter to the narrative of F1 leaders who remain active competitors. It showcases a level of commitment to driving that goes beyond the corporate demands of running an F1 team, offering a unique perspective on car performance and racecraft. For Williams, having a team boss with recent, successful racing experience could provide intangible benefits in driver communication and technical feedback, as the team continues its rebuilding process in Formula 1.