Celebrities who raced

[RACECAR]

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Pink Floyd manager Steve O'Rourke raced at Le Mans eight times between 1979 and 1998.

I'm kinda curious as to who talked who into racing, Was it Nick or was it Steve? Just think its fascinating.

 

[Jimlaad43]

I'm trying to rack my brains for various celebs I have seen racing during my times marshalling in the last few years.

Guy Berryman from Coldplay did a few races in the Caterham championships.

Singer Chris Rea has been seen racing historics a few times.

Goalkeeper Fabien Barthez raced GTs and at Le Mans a few times too.

 

[Har1MAS1415]

I'm trying to rack my brains for various celebs I have seen racing during my times marshalling in the last few years.

Guy Berryman from Coldplay did a few races in the Caterham championships.
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Singer Chris Rea has been seen racing historics a few times.
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Goalkeeper Fabien Barthez raced GTs and at Le Mans a few times too.
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Chris Rea also drove a Team Dynamics BMW in the 1993 TOCA Shoot-Out at Donington Park.

 

[TheCracker]

Singer Chris Rea has been seen racing historics a few times.
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Goalkeeper Fabien Barthez raced GTs and at Le Mans a few times too.

Beat me to these ones!

Chris Rea was a regular in the Ferrari Owner's Club GB, in the late 80's and 90's in a 308 GT4.

 

[Har1MAS1415]

Something different.

Refers to celebrities who took part in any form of Motorsport.
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This is former world featherweight boxing champion Barry McGuigan competing in the 1987 ESSO MG Metro Turbo Challenge.

(Currently watching the celeb in question on "I'm A Celebrity! Get Me Out of Here!" at the time of writing.)

Barry McGuigan also tried his luck in Rallycross and rolled spectacularly at Mondello Park.

Team Top Gear in the 2007 Britcar 24 Hours at Silverstone.

Feel free to branch out and include test drives.

I'm going to.

David Ginola tested a BTCC Renault Laguna in December 1996.

Ex-Watford striker Luther Blissett racing Alfa Romeos.

The late Paul Walker of "Fast and Furious" fame.

 

[05XR8]

Good stuff.

Other than Paul Newman, James Brolin raced a Z as well.

Gene Hackman participated in the 1983 Daytona 24H.

 

[ScottPuss20]

Grant Denyer

He's been a TV personality for the last 20 years alongside his racing exploits. He still competes on a regular basis, and he's still finding success if this is anything to go by:

I might actually be able to see him at Sandown when the GT World Challenge comes down in August next year.

 

[TheCracker]

British TV chef, James Martin, has raced a Mini in historic touring cars on a number of occasions.

 

[Har1MAS1415]

Peruvian TV presenter Jorge Koechlin briefly drove a Williams FW07 in the short-lived British F1 Championship in 1982. Officially or not, this makes him the only Peruvian F1 driver.

Andrew Flintoff contested the GT Cup in a Team Hard-entered G55 GT4 at Snetterton in 2021.

 

[GranTurNismo]

Stormy Daniels' lawyer Michael Avenatti. Raced in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2013 and 2014 (Porsche 911 GT3) and in 2015 (Ferrari 458 Italia).

 

[05XR8]

Grant Denyer
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He's been a TV personality for the last 20 years alongside his racing exploits. He still competes on a regular basis, and he's still finding success if this is anything to go by:
View attachment 1408310
I might actually be able to see him at Sandown when the GT World Challenge comes down in August next year.

Not to mention, he has a house on the Mount Panorama circuit.

 

[Har1MAS1415]

Indian actor Ajith Kumar raced in the 2010 Season of the Jonathan Palmer/Motorsport Vision-run FIA Formula 2 Series.

He also contested the 2003 Formula BMW Asia season.

Yes, I've decided even Royalty counts, besides Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh of Siam (or "B Bira") was also an Olympic sailer and contested four Summer Olympics between 1956 and 1972 in said discipline. He was also the only Thai F1 driver until Alexander Albon in 2019.

If one calls the son of a former British Prime Minister a celeb...

... Mark Thatcher raced in the 1979 Bathurst 1000.

He also, infamously, entered the 1982 Paris-Dakar Rally and got lost for 5 days.

 

[Obelisk]

This one probably goes without saying but the GT overlord Kazunori Yamauchi has had a fairly successful and recent motorsport career.

2011 Nurb 24hr, Nissan GT-R GT3

2009 Nurb 4hr, SP8 Lexus IS-F

2009 25 hours of Thunderhill, Spoon Civic Type R

He ended up driving the Schulze GT-R GT3 on and off until 2014, then switched to the #101 BMW M6 in 2016.

 

[Har1MAS1415]

Perry McCarthy and Ben Collins would later go on to have stints as The Stig on Top Gear.

Yes, I know the racing came before the extracurricular fame, but, as far as I am concerned, they still count.

 

[Liquid]

Perry McCarthy and Ben Collins

were racing drivers before they gained extracurricular fame.

 

[Har1MAS1415]

I don’t think you’re being a pain. These are only minor concerns in the grand scheme of things. There are certainly more people that appreciate and learn from your posts than have an issue with them.

Thank you.

From the 2010 BSM Centenary Abarth 500 Celebrity Challenge at Silverstone.

Competitors included Heston Blumenthal, Tom Chambers, Brendon Cole and Lord Charlie Brockett.

 

[Har1MAS1415]

Actor James Garner and his entry for the 1970 Mint 400.

 

[Har1MAS1415]

were racing drivers before they gained extracurricular fame.

I know

Still count

 

[Nexus]

Grant Denyer
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He's been a TV personality for the last 20 years alongside his racing exploits. He still competes on a regular basis, and he's still finding success if this is anything to go by:
View attachment 1408310
I might actually be able to see him at Sandown when the GT World Challenge comes down in August next year.

I always thought he was a racing driver before becoming a TV presenter.

 

[Har1MAS1415]

Larry Wilcox at the 1986 Mint 400.