Newell Gaining Confidence in WEC ‘Baptism By Fire’

Photo: Julien Delfosse/DPPI

Gray Newell says he’s been getting more comfortable in his foray into the FIA World Endurance Championship, in what’s been a meteoric rise through the sports car racing ranks.

The 28-year-old American, who only started racing only six years ago, has graduated to the world championship amid Heart of Racing Team’s expansion into a two-car Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo effort in the LMGT3 class.

While having previously taken part in Michelin 24H Series races, the opening two WEC rounds of the season marked the FIA Bronze-rated driver’s first full-time program on the global stage.

“It’s intimidating being here,” Newell admitted to Sportscar365. “I’m in very, very, very accomplished company here and I’m still trying to remind myself that I earned this spot and I belong here doing this.

“It’s frustrating that I don’t quite feel like I am where I know my capability is.

“I’ve been playing it a bit safe. It’s been a while since I’ve had to go and learn a bunch of new tracks in a car I haven’t driven.

“It’s tough to be two seconds off the Silver driver and be, ‘OK, we have to go find this. How are we going to do it in a way that doesn’t risk the car.’

“Dudu [Barrichello] and all of these guys are all amazing. I have to keep my head down.

“I have this mantra that if I get 1 percent better every time I get in the car, [things are going in the right direction.]”

Newell, who just two years ago was competing in Pirelli GT4 America, made the step up to GT3 last year in GT World Challenge America powered by AWS, finishing fourth in the Pro-Am class championship alongside co-driver Darren Turner.

While expecting to to have spent at least a few more years racing Stateside, team principal Ian James promoted Newell to the WEC when it secured Aston Martin’s second LMGT3 berth.

“Ian does a very good job of keeping my feet to the fire,” said Newell. “Just when I think I’m getting comfortable, he throws something new at me.

“I thought I was going to do another year, at least, of SRO [America], and I was not expecting to get the tap to come and do this so soon.

“I’m incredibly humbled and honored by the fact that the team thinks that I’m ready for this. I just need to show up and keep chipping away at it.”

Newell said his five years in SRO America “helped a ton” to prepare him for the WEC, especially in going through the ranks from GT4 to GT3 competition.

“Moving up from a GT4 car to a GT3 car, they look similar but man they drive differently,” he said. “That’s not just that the car is lighter, it has more power and more aero.

“The sophistication of all the of the systems and having to learn and grow comfortable with leaning on the electronics, using your two different TC settings, acknowledging the fact that the ABS is there actually as a tool.

“It was really, really good to have that year. SRO [America] is really competitive. I had the fortune to drive against a lot of those guys for multiple years and that was super fun.

“I miss the paddock, to be honest. I really miss driving with those guys because we had a great group camaraderie going on. Obviously I’m not complaining [being in the WEC] but it’s bitter-sweet I guess.”

Newell is now setting his focus on his highly anticipated debut in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, although has previous experience of Circuit de la Sarthe in a Road to Le Mans outing in a SPS automotive performance-run Mercedes-AMG GT3 in 2024.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back,” he said. “I still can’t actually believe I’m going to get to do that race.

“I’m thinking of it like any other race: Just do my prep work, show up and keep chipping away at it.”

Newell Amazed by Global Growth of Team

Gray, the son of team co-owner Gabe Newell, said he’s still shocked to see how far Heart of Racing has come since its humble beginnings, which started as a single-car IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD program in 2020.

“Ian and I joked,” said Newell. “Our decision to go with Aston Martin happened at a dinner six-and-a-half years ago.

“We had a couple of different prospective brands. We brought up Aston Martin, and at the time, I don’t think any of us had any conception of what this would turn out to be.

“It was like, ‘Oh yeah, we’re going to do a cool GTD program. But things just kept going. Ian’s the man. It’s kind of unbelievable the amount of work that guy can do in a day.

“He is just a machine, just the way he’s been able to put this program together is amazing. I love this team. I love all of our crew and our drivers; everyone is fantastic.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John