Ross Gunn

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    Ross Gunn Bio

    Ross Patrick Gunn, born on 1 January 1997, is a British professional racing driver and an Aston Martin Racing works driver. He currently competes in the IMSA SportsCar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship for The Heart of Racing, driving the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH. Over the course of his career, Gunn has earned multiple championships and podium finishes across GT3, GTE, and GT4 categories. He carries car number 23 in his current programs and is widely regarded as one of Aston Martin’s leading factory talents in sports car racing.

    Early Life and Background

    Ross Patrick Gunn was born on 1 January 1997 in High Wycombe, England. Growing up in the United Kingdom, he was introduced to motorsport at a young age, beginning in karting when he was eight years old. Karting became the foundation of his racing education, and he quickly proved his talent by winning national-level events in his junior years.

    Gunn’s early karting success included winning the British Super One Championship in 2011, followed by the British Super One Junior Rotax Championship title the following year in 2012. These championships demonstrated his consistent pace, race craft, and ability to handle pressure at a young age. His results in karting attracted attention from teams and paved the way for a smooth transition into car racing in 2013.

    Path to NASCAR

    Ross Gunn’s path to professional sports car racing is rooted in European motorsport rather than stock car racing. After two successful karting seasons, he graduated to single-seater competition in 2013, competing in the BRDC Formula 4 series. Although he scored two race victories during that season, a lack of funding forced him to miss the final two rounds of the championship, leaving him 11th overall in the final standings. He did not race competitively in 2014 as he worked to secure the financial backing needed to continue his career.

    Gunn’s breakthrough opportunity came in 2015 when he was selected for the Aston Martin Evolution Academy. That same year, he and co-driver Jamie Chadwick secured the British GT Championship GT4-class title with Beechdean-AMR. In December 2015, he was announced as the winner of the Evolution Academy, which directly led to his signing as an Aston Martin factory driver for 2016, beginning a long-term relationship with the British manufacturer.

    Ross Gunn Career

    Early Career (2013–2016)

    Ross Gunn’s early professional career began in 2013 with a partial BRDC Formula 4 campaign that produced two victories before funding issues cut his season short. The 2014 season was a gap year in which he did not race competitively, but his fortunes changed dramatically in 2015 when he entered the Aston Martin Evolution Academy and the British GT Championship. Partnering with Jamie Chadwick, he won the GT4-class title with Beechdean-AMR, a result that served as the launching pad for his factory career.

    At the end of 2015, Gunn was named the winner of the Aston Martin Evolution Academy, which led to his promotion to Aston Martin factory driver status for the 2016 season. He completed a year of GT3 competition in 2016 before stepping up to the GTE ranks with Beechdean-AMR in 2017, contesting the European Le Mans Series. These early years established him within the Aston Martin program and laid the groundwork for international endurance racing opportunities.

    IMSA SportsCar Championship Breakthrough (2021–Present)

    Gunn joined the Heart of Racing team in the IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2021, initially in the GTD class. Following the 12 Hours of Sebring, he was confirmed as the full-season partner for Roman de Angelis, with team boss Ian James limiting his own role to the endurance rounds at Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta. Together, Gunn and de Angelis claimed the WeatherTech Sprint Cup title that season, awarded to the highest-performing team across the sprint-format events.

    The 2021 season ended on a high note for Gunn, who was victorious in the final race of the year at Petit Le Mans, held at Road Atlanta. In 2022, he moved into the team’s GTD Pro class entry, paired for the full season with Alex Riberas. After retirements at both Daytona and Sebring early in the year, the duo rebounded strongly with class victories at Long Beach and Watkins Glen, finishing fourth in the GTD Pro championship. Gunn returned to the team the following year, continuing his progression within Heart of Racing.

    In 2023, Gunn balanced his IMSA factory drive with returns to the British GT Championship, reuniting with Andrew Howard at Beechdean AMR, and a part-season GT World Challenge America campaign with TRG alongside Derek DeBoer. As the team’s factory representative, he played a key role in helping TRG adapt to the Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 while coaching his co-driver. He has since continued as a core driver for Heart of Racing, now campaigning the new Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH as part of the team’s top-tier prototype program.

    FIA World Endurance Championship (2019–Present)

    Gunn secured his first full-time FIA World Endurance Championship ride in 2019 with Aston Martin Racing’s GTE Am class entry, sharing the car with Paul Dalla Lana and Darren Turner. The trio collected four podium finishes across the eight-race season, ending the year seventh in the championship. That campaign marked his arrival on the world endurance stage and established him as a regular in WEC competition.

    He has continued to feature in the WEC, with his role expanding alongside Heart of Racing as Aston Martin developed the Valkyrie AMR-LMH program. His transition into the Hypercar class represents the next major chapter in his endurance racing career.

    Heart of Racing Era (2021–Present)

    Since joining Heart of Racing in 2021, Ross Gunn has become one of the team’s central figures. The 2021 Sprint Cup title, the Petit Le Mans victory, and the team’s 2024 entry into the GTP class with the Valkyrie AMR-LMH have all shaped his tenure. He has balanced sprint-format races, endurance classics, and development work on Aston Martin’s flagship prototype.

    Heading into 2025, Gunn’s primary focus is the Valkyrie AMR-LMH program, competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship while continuing his IMSA SportsCar Championship duties with Heart of Racing. His dual WEC and IMSA schedule places him among the most active Aston Martin factory drivers in the global prototype arena.

    Driving Style and Strengths

    Ross Gunn is regarded as a versatile and technically precise GT and prototype driver. His strengths include consistent lap times over long stints, strong endurance race management, and the ability to adapt between sprint and long-distance formats. Working alongside engineers and co-drivers at Heart of Racing, he has built a reputation for clean race execution and effective tire and fuel management during endurance events.

    Notable Races and Milestones

    Among Gunn’s most notable results are his 2015 British GT Championship GT4 title with Jamie Chadwick, his four podium finishes during the 2019 FIA WEC GTE Am campaign, the 2021 WeatherTech Sprint Cup championship with Roman de Angelis at Heart of Racing, and his class victory at the 2021 Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. His transition to the Valkyrie AMR-LMH marks his biggest career milestone to date, positioning him at the top tier of global endurance racing.

    Ross Gunn Career Wins

    Ross Gunn has accumulated a strong record of race wins and championship titles across GT4, GT3, and prototype categories. His career highlights include a British GT Championship GT4 title, an IMSA WeatherTech Sprint Cup championship, and class victories at major North American sports car events.

    IMSA SportsCar Championship Highlights

    Gunn’s IMSA resume includes the 2021 WeatherTech Sprint Cup title with Heart of Racing, shared with Roman de Angelis. That same year, he won the season-ending Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. In 2022, he scored class victories at Long Beach and Watkins Glen in the GTD Pro class with Alex Riberas, finishing fourth in the championship.

    Other Wins and Performances

    Outside of IMSA, Gunn won the 2015 British GT Championship GT4 title with Jamie Chadwick at Beechdean-AMR and recorded four podium finishes in the 2019 FIA World Endurance Championship GTE Am class with Aston Martin Racing. He has also added wins and podiums in the British GT Championship, European Le Mans Series, and GT World Challenge America events during the 2023 season.

    Ross Gunn Family

    Family Background and Racing Lineage

    Public information about Ross Gunn’s family background is limited. He was raised in High Wycombe, England, where his early interest in motorsport began during childhood.

    Personal Life

    Details about Ross Gunn’s personal life beyond his racing career are not widely documented in public sources. He is known to be active on social media, where he shares updates from his racing programs with Aston Martin and Heart of Racing.

    2025 Season Performance

    The 2025 season places Ross Gunn at the center of Aston Martin’s Hypercar program with Heart of Racing, piloting the new Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH in both the FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA SportsCar Championship. As one of the lead factory drivers for the project, his role extends beyond results to include development feedback, setup direction, and integration with the broader Aston Martin performance group. The Valkyrie’s debut season is a learning year for the entire program, with consistent finishes and clean execution serving as key benchmarks.

    Across the WEC, Gunn is scheduled to contest the full Hypercar calendar, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, while in IMSA he continues in the team’s GTP-class effort. His dual WEC and IMSA commitments keep him among the busiest drivers in the Aston Martin stable, and his experience in both sprint and endurance formats is central to the team’s strategy. Strong qualifying pace and reliable stints will be the foundation of the Valkyrie’s first full season.

    Heading into the second half of 2025, the focus for Gunn and Heart of Racing is steady progress with the Valkyrie AMR-LMH, building toward a fully competitive 2026 campaign. Consistency, podium contention, and clean runs at the marquee endurance events remain the priorities as the program matures.