When the 2025 Formula 1 season concludes with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Williams team principal James Vowles will not be packing up and heading home. Instead, he will remain at Yas Marina Circuit to compete in the Gulf 12 Hours on Sunday, December 14, marking his first return to competitive racing since becoming a team boss.
Vowles will drive a McLaren 720S GT3 Evo run by British outfit Garage 59, joining a line-up that includes 2024 Pro-Am Gulf 12 Hours winner Alexander West, along with GT Open regulars Mark Sansom and Marco Pulcini.
Since its launch in 2012, the Gulf 12 Hours has grown into one of the most respected events in international GT racing. It traditionally serves as the concluding milestone of the global GT calendar.
“Looking forward to experiencing racing as a driver again”
Vowles expressed his enthusiasm about returning to the cockpit rather than the pit wall.
“Garage 59 is a team I know well from our time together in 2022 and the Gulf 12 Hours is a fantastic, highly competitive event. I’m looking forward to sharing the car with Alex, Mark and Marco and experiencing racing as a driver again.”
This will not be Vowles’ first competitive outing. After a one-off touring car appearance in 2015, he competed with Garage 59 in the 2022 Asian Le Mans Series, scoring points at both Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
However, this marks his first official race entry since leaving his role as Mercedes’ head of strategy to become Williams team principal in early 2023.
Garage 59 co-founder Andrew Kirkaldy welcomed Vowles back to the operation.
“I really enjoyed working with James at the 2022 Asian Le Mans. His approach, professionalism and, of course, his knowledge of strategy made for a fruitful collaboration. I’m thrilled to have him back on board and can’t wait to see what we can achieve together in Abu Dhabi.”
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Who are Garage 59?
Garage 59 is a British GT team founded in 2016 with a long history of running McLaren, Ferrari and Aston Martin machinery. Their résumé includes campaigns in:
- GT World Challenge Europe
- Intercontinental GT Challenge
- Asian Le Mans Series (ALMS)
- British GT Championship
The team has competed in major endurance events such as the Spa 24 Hours, Bathurst 12 Hours, and past editions of the Gulf 12 Hours.
Garage 59 will expand further in 2026 as they shift their focus to the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). They plan to field two McLaren 720S GT3 entries, taking over the McLaren WEC programme from United Autosports, which will prioritise McLaren’s LMDh project.
