23/2/1968
Record updated 23-Feb-07
Son of Le Mans and sportscar racing legend, Derek Bell, Justin has proved a competent driver in touring cars and sports cars, winning the GT2 Championship in 1997 followed by a class win at Le Mans in 1998.
Justin Bell was born in Rustington, England, the son of Le Mans and sportscar racing legend, Derek Bell.
Justin started racing in 1988. Between then and 1993 he competed in British FF 1600, Vauxhall Lotus, the Nissan Touring Car Series in New Zealand, the Barber Saab series and Indy Lights. He also raced with his father from 1992 to 1996 in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
In 1993, he was co-host of the motor sports television program 555 Performance World, which ran on Asia's largest satellite network. This led to him hosting a six part series, The International Young Driver of the Year on BBC television.
He finished fourth in Asia Pacific Touring Car Championship in 1994 driving a BMW. He also drove a Porsche 968 Turbo development car in the International GT Cup and a Dodge Viper at Le Mans, finishing third in class.
In 1995 he raced the Harrods-sponsored McLaren GTR-F1 in the Karcher BPR GT Series snf finished 3rd Overall (2nd in Class) at Le Mans 24 Hours with co-drivers Andy Wallace and father. He also raced in the Japanese Touring Car Championship with HKS racing.
He drove the Oreca Viper in European GT2 racing and, after testing in America, he failed to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 in a 4 year old Lola chassis.
He won the GT2 world championship in 1997 with four victories driving Team Oreca Viper, followed by victory in GT2 at Le Mans in 1998.
Justin finished second in GT2 class at Le Mans in 1999.
In 2000 Justin signed with General Motors as a driver for the factory Corvette Racing team, finishing second in the Daytona 24 Hours, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Petit Le Mans. Bell also launched his own racing school, the Justin Bell GT Motorsports Experience.
In 2001 he finished second in the SGS class in his only Grand-Am Cup start at the Daytona season finale. In Trans-Am, Justin raced for Derhaag Motorsports driving a Corvette. He finished on the podium in four out of eleven races, including back-to-back wins at Laguna Seca and Houston, and finished fifth in the championship and took the AmerSuites Rookie of the Year title.
Sticking with Trans-Am in 2002 he finished on the podium five times but his season was hampered by lack of funds and mechanical setbacks and only raced in eight rounds. He finished 12th in the championship with four top-five and six top-10 finishes. He also finished third in the AGT class in his lone Rolex Series start at the Daytona season finale.
In 2003 he made seven Rolex Series starts, started the season by taking Pole Position for the Daytona 24 Hour race. He then raced in the World Touring Car Challenge for Audi, Grand-Am for Mosler and Trans-Am for Corvette. Winning at the Barber Motorsports Park and the Grand-Am Finale at Daytona in the Corvette. He also made one start in the Grand-Am Cup Series GS I class.
He finished 14th in the Daytona Prototype class at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and made three Grand-Am Cup Series starts, earning a best result of eighth in ST class at Daytona.
In 2005 he ran a partial Grand Am Cup Program.
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