Williams F1 Boss James Vowles Returns to Racing with Class Win at Gulf 12 Hours
Williams F1 Team Principal James Vowles won his class in qualifying at the Gulf 12 Hours sports car race in Abu Dhabi. Driving a McLaren GT3, he marked a successful return to racing, which he had postponed until he felt the Williams F1 team was stable. The result highlights his ongoing commitment to hands-on competition.
Williams Racing Team Principal James Vowles marked his return to competitive motorsport with a class victory at the Gulf 12 Hours in Abu Dhabi. Driving the No. 8 McLaren 720S GT3 for Garage 59, Vowles and his co-drivers secured P1 in their class, P4 in the Pro-Am category, and 13th overall at the Yas Marina Circuit event.
Why it matters:
A team principal actively competing at a high level is a rarity in modern Formula 1. Vowles's success on track reinforces his deep-rooted passion for racing beyond the pit wall and demonstrates a hands-on engineering and competitive mindset he brings to leading the Williams F1 team's revival.
The details:
- Vowles, 46, last raced in the 2022 Asian Le Mans Series, making this a return after a focused period settling into his role at Williams.
- He qualified P2 in his driver group and was the fastest 'Bronze'-rated driver in his session, a strong personal performance.
- The British engineer stated he deliberately waited until he felt the Williams F1 team was "in a solid place" before committing to the racing return, indicating his primary focus remains on the Formula 1 operation.
- Williams recently concluded its best F1 season in years, finishing fifth in the constructors' championship with multiple podium finishes under Vowles's leadership.
What's next:
The Gulf 12 Hours event continues with a challenging format: an eight-hour race followed by a separate four-hour race. Vowles and the Garage 59 team will now focus on converting their strong qualifying performance into a solid race result, balancing speed with the endurance required for the long stints ahead.