Last week, we reported on Gray Newell—eldest son of Valve co-founder and gaming icon Gabe Newell—making his Le Mans debut at this year’s edition of the 24-hour race. After a strong showing at qualifying and an intense weekend of racing, the Heart of Racing rookie has earned a podium at the first time of asking at the historic circuit.
Along with teammates Jonny Adam and Eduardo Barrichello, Newell (pictured on the right, wearing glasses) piloted the number 23 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo to a third-place finish, succesfully fending off rival teams also vying for a spot on the podium.
Currently in his rookie season in the World Endurance Championsip, this result is yet another feather for his cap. Along with his points finish at the 6 Hours of Imola, he currently has 32 points in this season of the WEC.
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This podium is also a milestone for the Heart of Racing team as a whole. With the number 23 team taking their place on the rostrum, this is the Heart of Racing’s first podium at Le Mans.
Speaking on the past week of racing at the Circuit de la Sarthe, Newell commented: “More than anything, I just feel incredibly fortunate to be part of this team. These guys are the best. The culture at Heart of Racing is phenomenal and it's something that stood out to me from the moment I arrived.
“To come here for my first Le Mans and experience that environment, while standing on the podium at the end of it, is special. One of the biggest takeaways from this week is how encouraging it has been for me personally. To come here, compete at this level and feel comfortable gives me a lot of confidence. It shows me that the skill set is working and that I'm moving in the right direction.”
Newell picked up motorsport full-time in 2021 at age 23 after a brief stint in game development. To go from pro-am racing to the highest level of endurance racing—and bagging results to show for it—in just five years is an accomplishment in and of itself. Up next is the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo, the fourth round of the WEC.
