Matt Bell (British racing driver)
British racing driver (born 1989)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Matthew Thomas Dagg Bell (born 5 November 1989) is a British racing driver who competes in the GTD class of the IMSA SportsCar Championship for 13 Autosport and for Nielsen Racing in the Le Mans Cup.
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British5 November 1989
FIA Silver (until 2022)
FIA Gold (2023–)[1]| Matt Bell | |
|---|---|
Bell in 2018 | |
| Nationality | British |
| Born | Matthew Thomas Dagg Bell 5 November 1989 Peterborough, United Kingdom |
| Relatives | Rob Bell (brother) |
| Categorisation | FIA Silver (until 2022) FIA Gold (2023–)[1] |
| Championship titles | |
| 2022 2020 | Asian Le Mans Series – LMP2 IMSA Prototype Challenge |
A long-time sports car racer, Bell is a class winner at the 24 Hours of Daytona, an IMSA Prototype Challenge and Asian Le Mans Series champion and a race winner in the European Le Mans Series and the Le Mans Cup.
Career
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Bell began karting at 11 years old.[2] During his time in karting, Bell won the 2004 ABkC 'O' Plate in the Junior TKM Intermediate class, before winning the 2005 Super 1 National Series and British Karting Championship in ICA.[3][4]
After ending his karting career in 2006, Bell spent two years in Rugby, competing with Newcastle Falcons Academy and Blaydon RFC before a back injury forced him to retire from Rugby competition. Bell then made his car racing debut in 2009, racing in the Ginetta G20 Eurocup Trophy, finishing third in points.[5]
Bell made his GT3 debut in 2010, joining United Autosports alongside Zak Brown to race in the FIA GT3 European Championship, driving an Audi R8.[6] In his maiden season of GT3 competition, Bell took his maiden podium by finishing third at Algarve as he finished 24th in points.[7] During 2010, Bell also competed in the Silverstone round in the British GT Championship alongside his brother Rob Bell.[8] Racing a Ginetta G50 in the G4 class, the brothers won in their class.[9] Also in 2010, Bell raced in the Formula Renault UK Winter Series with Atech GP.[10]
Bell remained with United Autosports as he competed full-time in both the British GT Championship and the FIA GT3 European Championships as he drove an Audi R8 in both.[11] While he was not able to replicate his success in the European championship, scoring only two points, Bell took his maiden overall win in the British championship at Snetterton on his way to sixth in points.[12]
Staying with United Autosports in 2012, Bell mainly competed in the British GT Championship alongside Charles Bateman.[13] Driving the first four races with the Audi R8, the duo went winless before switching to a McLaren MP4-12C for the final three rounds.[14] In those three rounds, the pair won all but one race as they jumped to third in the GT3 standings.[15] During 2012, Bell also made a one-off appearance in the LMGTE Am class of the FIA World Endurance Championship season finale at Shanghai for JWA-Avila.[5]
Remaining with United Autosports for a third consecutive season in the British GT Championship, Bell drove an Audi R8 once again, this time alongside Mark Patterson.[16] After taking three podiums in the first four rounds of the season, the duo won the season-ending race at Donington Park to finish runner-up in the standings by one point.[17]
Bell and Patterson remained with United Autosports for 2014 as the team retained their Audi R8.[18] In his fourth season in the series, Bell scored a lone podium at the season-ending Donington Park round by finishing third.[19] During 2014, Bell also competed in the endurance rounds of the United SportsCar Championship for Paul Miller Racing, winning the season-ending Petit Le Mans in GTD.[20]
At the start of 2015, Bell competed in the Bathurst 12 Hour for Bentley Team M-Sport. Despite suffering from dehydration and fatigue and being taken to the medical center mid-race, Bell led the final stages before losing the lead and falling to fourth and third in class.[21] For the rest of the year, Bell competed in the British GT Championship for Aston Martin-linked TF Sport.[22] In his maiden season with the team, Bell scored a lone win at the season-ending round at Donington Park to end the year fifth in points.[23]
After finishing third overall at the Bathurst 12 Hour to start off 2016,[24] Bell reunited with United Autosports to compete in the LMP3 class of the European Le Mans Series.[25] Scoring three podiums all season, with a best result of second at both Silverstone and Estoril,[26] Bell finished fifth in points in his maiden season in prototypes.[27]
Bell remained in LMP3 competition in 2017, staying with United Autosports to race in both the Michelin Le Mans Cup and the British LMP3 Cup.[28][29] Scoring just one podium in the former, a third place at Algarve, Bell ended his maiden full season in the series seventh in points.[30] Whereas in the British LMP3 Cup, Bell took four wins and ended the year runner-up in points.[31]
The following year, Bell remained with United Autosports to race in the LMP3 class of both the European Le Mans Series and the Michelin Le Mans Cup.[32][33] While he was not able to replicate his previous year's form in the former, scoring only five points, Bell scored his maiden series win in the latter at Silverstone, en route to a third place points finish.[34]
At the end of the year, Bell raced in the 2018–19 Asian Le Mans Series with the same team, alongside Jim McGuire and Kay van Berlo.[35] In the four-race season, the trio won at Fuji and scored two more podiums to finish runner-up in the LMP3 standings.[36] Bell stayed with United Autosports for the rest of 2019 as he returned to the Michelin Le Mans Cup, but endured another podium-less season as he scored 12 points across the season.[37]
Having raced part-time with K2R Motorsports in the IMSA Prototype Challenge the year prior,[38] Bell returned to the team and series on a full-time basis for 2020. In his only season in the series, Bell won two races and clinched the title at season's end.[39] During 2020, Bell also raced for Cool Racing in the Michelin Le Mans Cup,[40] with whom he won at Le Castellet,[41] while also making his LMP2 debut in the IMSA SportsCar Championship with Performance Tech Motorsports.[42]
In early 2021, Bell joined Nielsen Racing to compete in the LMP3 class of the Asian Le Mans Series.[43] After scoring two podiums in the four-race winter series, Bell returned to Cool Racing to race in both the European Le Mans Series and Michelin Le Mans Cup.[44][45] In the former, Bell won at Barcelona and Red Bull Ring and took two more podiums to end the season runner-up to Laurents Hörr by one point.[46][47][48] In the latter, Bell took three podiums in the seven-race season, on his way to runner-up honours in the LMP3 standings by four points at season's end.[49]
Bell remained with Nielsen Racing for 2022, competing with them in the LMP2 class of the Asian and European Le Mans Series,[50][51] whilst also competing in LMP3 in the Michelin Le Mans Cup.[52] In Asia, at the start of the year, Bell took two overall wins en route to the LMP2 title as he scored the maximum amount of points available.[53] In Europe meanwhile, Bell was fourth in the LMP2 Pro-Am standings with a win at Monza in the former, and finishing a lowly 25th in points in the latter.[54] During 2022, Bell also took part in the 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans with Nielsen Racing, in which he finished second in the LMP2 Pro-Am class on his debut.[55]
Remaining with Nielsen Racing for 2023, Bell raced with them in the LMP3 class of the Asian Le Mans Series and Michelin Le Mans Cup,[56][57] and with AWA in the IMSA SportsCar Championship.[58] In Asia, Bell won the penultimate race of the season at Abu Dhabi to finish third in points,[59] whereas in Le Mans Cup, Bell won race one at Le Mans and Aragón to finish fourth in the standings.[60][61] In IMSA meanwhile, Bell took three podiums on his way to third in points in his first full-season in the series.[62]
After racing in the second half of the 2023–24 Asian Le Mans Series with Nielsen Racing in the LMP2 class,[63] Bell reunited with AWA for his second full season in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, driving in a Corvette in the GTD class.[64] Alongside Orey Fidani for the full season and Lars Kern for the endurance races, Bell scored a best result of fifth at Road America as he ended the year tenth in GTD points.[65] Bell also raced in the LMP2 Pro-Am class of the European Le Mans Series for Team Virage, but was left on the sidelines after three races as the team shuffled its lineup.[66] During 2024, Bell also made his second appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, racing for Cool Racing and finishing fifth in the LMP2 Pro-Am class.[67]
Bell went back to LMP2 competition with Nielsen Racing for the 2024–25 Asian Le Mans Series,[68] scoring a lone podium at the season-ending race at Abu Dhabi on his way to sixth in the LMP2 standings.[69] For the rest of 2025, Bell switched back to GT3 competition by returning to AWA for his sophomore season in GTD,[70] whilst also joining Corvette-fielding DXDT Racing in GT World Challenge America.[71] In GTD, Bell won in class at the 24 Hours of Daytona but finished no higher than sixth in the following nine races to end the year ninth in points.[72] In GTWC America meanwhile, Bell scored five Pro-Am wins and six more podiums to end the season runner-up in the class standings.[73] During 2025, Bell also raced at the 24 Hours of Spa for AF Corse and the 24 Hours of Le Mans for AWA.[74][75] At the end of the year, Bell joined TF Sport to race in the 2025–26 Asian Le Mans Series, taking a best result of ninth at Sepang en route to 24th in the GT standings.[76]
For the rest of the year, Bell returned to the newly-renamed 13 Autosport for a third season in GTD,[77] as well as returning to Nielsen Racing to compete in the LMP3 class of the Le Mans Cup.[78]
Karting record
Karting career summary
| Season | Series | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Super 1 National Series – ICA Junior | 4th | |
| ABkC 'O' Plate – Junior TKM Intermediate | 1st | ||
| 2005 | South Garda Winter Cup – ICA | 12th | |
| Karting European Championship – ICA | Team Simpson Int. | 26th | |
| Super 1 National Series – ICA | 1st | ||
| British Karting Championship – ICA | 1st | ||
| 2006 | Super 1 Series – Formula A | 25th | |
| Sources:[79] | |||
Racing record
Racing career summary
Complete FIA GT3 European Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Pos. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | United Autosports | Audi R8 LMS | Audi 5.2 L V10 | SIL 1 16 |
SIL 2 15 |
BRN 1 25 |
BRN 2 21 |
JAR 1 13 |
JAR 2 DNS |
LEC 1 13 |
LEC 2 23 |
ALG 1 21 |
ALG 2 3 |
ZOL 1 17 |
ZOL 2 8 |
24th | 19 |
| 2011 | United Autosports | Audi R8 LMS | Audi 5.2 L V10 | ALG 1 10 |
ALG 2 10 |
SIL 1 21 |
SIL 2 16 |
NAV 1 19 |
NAV 2 20 |
LEC 1 Ret |
LEC 2 11 |
SLO 1 12 |
SLO 2 Ret |
ZAN 1 20 |
ZAN 2 20 |
37th | 2 |
Complete British GT Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | United Autosports | Ginetta G50 | G4 | OUL 1 |
OUL 2 |
KNO 1 |
KNO 2 |
SPA |
ROC 1 |
ROC 2 |
SIL 15 |
SNE 1 |
SNE 2 |
BRH 1 |
BRH 2 |
DON |
12th | 20 |
| 2011 | United Autosports | Audi R8 LMS | GT3 | OUL 1 2 |
OUL 2 3 |
SNE 1 |
BRH Ret |
SPA 1 6 |
SPA 2 5 |
ROC 1 10 |
ROC 2 5 |
DON 7 |
SIL 22 |
6th | 110.5 | |||
| 2012 | United Autosports | Audi R8 LMS Ultra | GT3 | OUL 1 15† |
OUL 2 5 |
NUR 1 13† |
NUR 2 6 |
ROC 1 9 |
BRH 1 11 |
3rd | 121 | |||||||
| McLaren MP4-12C GT3 | SNE 1 1 |
SNE 2 Ret |
SIL 1 |
DON 3 |
||||||||||||||
| 2013 | United Autosports | Audi R8 LMS Ultra | GT3 | OUL 1 9 |
OUL 2 2 |
ROC 3 |
SIL 17 |
SNE 1 5 |
SNE 2 3 |
BRH 6 |
ZAN 1 7 |
ZAN 2 10 |
DON 1 |
2nd | 124 | |||
| 2014 | United Autosports | Audi R8 LMS Ultra | GT3 | OUL 1 4 |
OUL 2 Ret |
ROC Ret |
SIL Ret |
SNE 1 7 |
SNE 2 6 |
SPA 1 5 |
SPA 2 22 |
BRH 17 |
DON 3 |
8th | 58.5 | |||
| 2015 | TF Sport | Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 | GT3 | OUL 1 Ret |
OUL 2 DNS |
ROC 5 |
SIL Ret |
SPA 7 |
BRH 3 |
SNE 1 3 |
SNE 2 6 |
DON 1 |
5th | 107 | ||||
† Bell did not finish, but was classified as he completed 90% race distance.
Complete GT World Challenge Europe results
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Pos. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | United Autosports | Audi R8 LMS | Pro-Am | MNZ |
NAV |
SPA 6H ? |
SPA 12H ? |
SPA 24H Ret |
MAG |
SIL |
NC | 0 | |
| 2012 | United Autosports | McLaren MP4-12C GT3 | Pro | MNZ Ret |
SIL 23 |
LEC 27 |
SPA 6H |
SPA 12H |
SPA 24H |
NÜR |
NAV |
23rd | 6 |
| 2013 | JRM Racing | Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 | Pro-Am | MNZ 31 |
SIL 19 |
LEC 25 |
SPA 6H ? |
SPA 12H ? |
SPA 24H Ret |
NÜR |
26th | 13 | |
| 2023 | Haupt Racing Team | Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo | Pro-Am | MNZ | LEC | SPA 6H 50 |
SPA 12H 47 |
SPA 24H Ret |
NÜR | CAT | 18th | 11 | |
| 2024 | Kessel Racing | Ferrari 296 GT3 | Bronze | LEC 26 |
SPA 6H 54 |
SPA 12H 49 |
SPA 24H 45† |
NÜR |
MNZ |
JED |
28th | 10 | |
| 2025 | AF Corse | Ferrari 296 GT3 | Pro-Am | LEC | MNZ | SPA 6H 72† |
SPA 12H 72† |
SPA 24H Ret |
NÜR | CAT | NC | 0 | |
Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
24 Hours of Daytona results
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 |  Paul Miller Racing |
 Christopher Haase Bryce Miller René Rast |
Audi R8 LMS ultra | GTD | 626 | 36th | 14th |
| 2021 | WIN Autosport |
Thomas Merrill Tristan Nunez Steven Thomas |
Oreca 07 | LMP2 | 764 | 16th | 5th |
| 2022 |  AWA |
Orey Fidani Lars Kern Kuno Wittmer |
Duqueine M30 - D-08 | LMP3 | 695 | 32nd | 5th |
| 2023 | AWA |
Orey Fidani Lars Kern Moritz Kranz |
Duqueine M30 - D-08 | LMP3 | 717 | 35th | 4th |
| 2024 | AWA |
Orey Fidani Lars Kern Alex Lynn |
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R | GTD | 308 | DNF | DNF |
| 2025 | AWA |
Orey Fidani Lars Kern Marvin Kirchhöfer |
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R | GTD | 719 | 21st | 1st |
Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
* Season still in progress.
† Points only counted towards the Michelin Endurance Cup, and not the overall LMP2 Championship.
Complete European Le Mans Series results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | United Autosports | LMP3 | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0 L V8 | SIL 2 |
IMO 7 |
RBR 14 |
LEC 11 |
SPA 3 |
EST 2 |
5th | 59 |
| 2018 | United Autosports | LMP3 | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50VE 5.0 L V8 | LEC 7 |
MNZ 3 |
RBR 12 |
SIL 1 |
SPA 4 |
ALG 7 |
3rd | 58.5 |
| 2021 | Cool Racing | LMP3 | Ligier JS P320 | Nissan VK56DE 5.6L V8 | CAT 1 |
RBR 1 |
LEC 2 |
MNZ 4 |
SPA 2 |
ALG 8 |
2nd | 104 |
| 2022 | Nielsen Racing | LMP2 Pro-Am | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | LEC 4 |
IMO 3 |
MNZ 1 |
CAT 2 |
SPA 4 |
ALG 3 |
4th | 97 |
| 2024 | Team Virage | LMP2 Pro-Am | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | CAT NC |
LEC 7 |
IMO 4 |
SPA | MUG | ALG | 13th | 18 |
Complete Le Mans Cup results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | FFF Racing Team by ACM | GT3 | Lamborghini Huracán GT3 | IMO |
LMS 11 |
RBR |
LEC |
SPA |
EST |
23rd | 0.5 | |
| 2017 | United Autosports | LMP3 | Ligier JS P3 | MNZ 10 |
LMS 1 7 |
LMS 2 16 |
RBR 8 |
LEC 13 |
SPA 6 |
POR 3 |
7th | 32 |
| 2018 | United Autosports | LMP3 | Ligier JS P3 | LEC 11 |
MNZ 16 |
LMS 1 36 |
LMS 2 22 |
RBR 9 |
SPA 13 |
ALG 12 |
26th | 5 |
| 2019 | United Autosports | LMP3 | Ligier JS P3 | LEC 10 |
MNZ 8 |
LMS 1 19 |
LMS 2 6 |
CAT Ret |
SPA 11 |
ALG 10 |
21st | 12 |
| 2020 | Cool Racing | LMP3 | Ligier JS P320 | LEC1 5 |
SPA 7 |
LEC2 1 |
LMS 1 3 |
LMS 2 3 |
MNZ 8 |
ALG Ret |
4th | 59 |
| 2021 | Cool Racing | LMP3 | Ligier JS P320 | BAR 3 |
LEC 2 |
MNZ 12 |
LMS 1 3 |
LMS 2 14 |
SPA 2 |
POR 4 |
2nd | 71 |
| 2022 | Nielsen Racing | LMP3 | Duqueine M30 - D-08 | LEC 8 |
IMO Ret |
LMS 1 Ret |
LMS 2 8 |
MNZ 22 |
SPA 27 |
ALG 15 |
25th | 7 |
| 2023 | Nielsen Racing | LMP3 | Duqueine M30 - D-08 | CAT Ret |
LMS 1 1 |
LMS 2 7 |
LEC 11 |
ARA 1 |
SPA Ret |
ALG Ret |
4th | 45 |
Complete Asian Le Mans Series results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Class | Car | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Pos. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–17 | FFF Racing by ACM | GT | Lamborghini Huracán GT3 | Lamborghini 5.2 L V10 | ZHU Ret |
FUJ 11 |
CHA 7 |
SEP | 16th | 6.5 | ||
| 2018–19 | United Autosports | LMP3 | Ligier JS P3 | Nissan VK50 5.0 L V8 | SHA 6 |
FUJ 1 |
CHA 5 |
SEP 5 |
4th | 53 | ||
| 2021 | Nielsen Racing | LMP3 | Ligier JS P320 | Nissan VK50 5.0 L V8 | DUB 1 Ret |
DUB 2 3 |
ABU 1 2 |
ABU 2 7 |
5th | 39 | ||
| 2022 | Nielsen Racing | LMP2 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | DUB 1 1 |
DUB 2 1 |
ABU 1 2 |
ABU 2 2 |
1st | 104 | ||
| 2023 | Nielsen Racing | LMP3 | Ligier JS P320 | Nissan VK56DE 5.6L V8 | DUB 1 13 |
DUB 2 6 |
ABU 1 1 |
ABU 2 4 |
3rd | 45 | ||
| 2023–24 | Nielsen Racing | LMP2 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | SEP 1 |
SEP 2 |
DUB 1 Ret |
ABU 1 8 |
ABU 2 9 |
16th | 6 | |
| 2024–25 | Nielsen Racing | LMP2 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | SEP 1 5 |
SEP 2 5 |
DUB 1 7 |
DUB 2 7 |
ABU 1 4 |
ABU 2 2 |
6th | 62 |
| 2025–26 | TF Sport | GT | Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R | Chevrolet LT6.R 5.5 L V8 | SEP 1 15 |
SEP 2 9 |
DUB 1 Ret |
DUB 2 13 |
ABU 1 10 |
ABU 2 13 |
24th | 4 |
Complete Prototype Cup Germany results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Car | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Nielsen Racing | Duqueine M30 - D08 | Nissan VK56DE 5.6L V8 | SPA 1 Ret |
SPA 2 9 |
NÜR 1 |
NÜR 2 |
LAU 1 |
LAU 2 |
HOC 1 |
HOC 2 |
NC† | 0 |
† As Bell was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Nielsen Racing |
Ben Hanley Rodrigo Sales |
Oreca 07-Gibson | LMP2 | 362 | 20th | 16th | ||||||||||||
| LMP2 Pro-Am | 2nd | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 |  Cool Racing |
Naveen Rao Frederik Vesti |
Oreca 07-Gibson | LMP2 | 291 | 24th | 10th | ||||||||||||
| LMP2 Pro-Am | 5th | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | AWA Racing |
Orey Fidani Lars Kern |
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R | LMGT3 | 338 | 42nd | 10th | ||||||||||||
| 2026 | 13 Autosport |
Orey Fidani Lars Kern |
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R | LMGT3 | 61 | DNF | DNF | ||||||||||||
| Source:[80][81] | |||||||||||||||||||