Biography

As one of the first sim racers to successfully transition into professional motorsport -

- with the ambition to become the first gamer to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans -

James Baldwin is a British racing driver and professional sim racer competing at the highest levels of both real-world and virtual racing.

James has competed in the British GT Championship, GT World Challenge Europe and the 24 Hours of Spa, while also establishing himself as one of the most successful and respected drivers in global sim racing.

A young male race car driver in a blue racing suit with various sponsor logos, standing outdoors against a cloudy sky and a distant landscape.
Race car driver wearing a blue and black racing suit with sponsors, a helmet, and a headset, standing in front of a blurred background and an orange sign.
Young man in black shirt with Simucube logo, wearing headphones, sitting in gaming chair, playing racing simulator game on dual monitors with racing wheel and pedal setup in a cluttered gaming room.

James’ Story

James began his racing journey in karting at just eight years old, quickly rising through the ranks to claim five national championships. Despite his early success, a lack of funding prevented him from progressing into car racing — a challenge that ultimately redirected his career rather than ending it.

Determined to continue racing, James turned to esports, where he rapidly established himself as one of the world’s top sim racing drivers, winning multiple prestigious championships.

In 2019, he was crowned ‘World’s Fastest Gamer’, earning the extraordinary prize of a full season in the British GT Championship.

Racing with Jenson Button’s race team in a McLaren 720S, James made an immediate impact — winning on debut, securing four pole positions, three podiums, and finishing 4th overall in the championship standings. His performances proved that his speed and racecraft translated seamlessly from sim racing to the real world.

A young race car driver in orange and white racing suit holding a large gold trophy, smiling and looking down.
Two race car drivers in white racing suits with sponsor patches, pointing upwards, standing in front of race team trailers.
Race cars competing on a track during a race, with a prominent racing car in the foreground and others following behind.

Returning to the Top Level

After budget constraints forced a return to esports, James continued to dominate, adding further titles to his name and being recognised as Autosport’s Esports Driver of the Year. This success led to him joining the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Esports Team, cementing his reputation as one of the best sim racers in the world.

In 2022, James returned to real-world racing at the highest level, securing a drive with Garage 59 for the 24 Hours of Spa, the world’s largest GT race. He delivered a standout performance — qualifying 7th overall in his session and producing consistently competitive lap times during the race. Garage 59 later stated they would have him “back in a heartbeat.”

GT World Challenge Europe & 2025 Highlights

James returned to the 24 Hours of Spa with Garage 59 in 2024, delivering an even stronger performance. In treacherous wet conditions, he was recognised as one of the fastest drivers on track during his stint, matching the pace of the race leaders throughout the morning.

Later in 2024, James continued in GT World Challenge Europe, producing strong results including competitive performances at Monza and a class podium at Jeddah, the world’s fastest street circuit.

In 2025, James competed with Garage 59 in GT World Challenge Europe, delivering standout Silver Cup performances:

Nürburgring:

Pole Position – Silver Cup
2nd Place – Silver Cup

Barcelona:

Pole Position – Silver Cup
Leading Silver Cup contender before an unfortunate DNF following contact on the final lap

These results further underlined James’ ability to qualify at the very front and race competitively against the strongest GT fields in the world.

Sim Racing at the Highest Level

In January 2026, James signed with Team Redline, widely regarded as the best sim racing team in the world, marking another major milestone in his esports career and reinforcing his unique position at the very top of both sim and real-world racing.

Partnership Opportunities

James continues to compete at the highest level of GT racing while maintaining a powerful presence in sim racing and digital media. This dual platform offers partners a rare opportunity to connect authentically with motorsport and gaming audiences through elite performance, compelling storytelling and premium brand integration.

If you’re interested in working with James and exploring what he can do for your business and customers, please get in touch.

Get in touch
  • Young man sitting on the floor beside a race car, wearing a black racing jacket and jeans, in a dimly lit garage or workshop.
  • A young go-kart racer sitting in a yellow go-kart with the number 12, wearing a racing helmet and bright yellow racing suit, being attended by an adult man at a go-kart racing event. There are other go-karts and a banner for Pirelli tires in the background.
  • Two race car drivers in racing suits and black masks standing on the podium holding trophies and bottles of champagne, celebrating a victory.
  • A person wearing a racing helmet and blue racing suit standing outdoors on a dirt track, holding a blue neck collar, with a race track and outdoor buildings in the background.
  • Young man smiling as he looks at his phone, seated in a vehicle with a racing screen in the background.
  • A young race car driver in a blue racing suit holding a large trophy, smiling as he receives congratulations from an older man in a white racing suit, with a third man in a black t-shirt and cap recording the moment, in a racing garage setting.
  • Young man in gaming chair wearing headphones and racing gloves, focused on a racing simulator game with bright blue neon lights overhead.
  • A race car driver celebrating with a trophy at a motorsports event, wearing a racing suit and a face mask, holding up his finger to signify first place.