Earl Anderson Bamber Bio
Earl Anderson Bamber is a New Zealand professional racing driver and team owner who competes in the IMSA SportsCar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship for Cadillac Hertz Team Jota and Cadillac Whelen. He serves as a factory driver for Corvette Racing following his tenure with Porsche. Bamber has established himself as one of New Zealand’s most accomplished endurance racers, with major victories including the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Nürburgring 24 Hours.
His racing resume includes two victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship overall title, and the 2019 IMSA SportsCar Championship GTLM class championship. Bamber previously dominated Porsche’s one-make series, winning the Porsche Supercup in 2014 and back-to-back Porsche Carrera Cup Asia titles in 2013 and 2014.
Early Life and Background
Earl Bamber was born on July 9, 1990, in Whanganui, New Zealand, to parents Paul and Maureen Bamber (née Johnson). He grew up on a farm in the small settlement of Jerusalem along the Whanganui River, where he learned to drive at an early age. Bamber attended Wanganui Collegiate School alongside his younger brother, William.
His motorsport journey began in karting, where he secured his first title at age 12 in the North Island Sprint Championships (Junior 100cc Yamaha Restricted). The following year, Bamber claimed his first national championship at the 2004 Sprint Kart Championship meeting in Auckland. His early karting success included a podium finish at the Rotax Max Grand Final in Portugal after dominating the Junior class in the New Zealand Rotax Max Challenge.
Path to Professional Racing
Bamber progressed through single-seater racing, moving from karts to the New Zealand Formula Ford Championship at age 15. He later competed in Asia, winning the Asian Formula BMW title. Despite operating on a limited budget, Bamber achieved pole positions, fastest laps, and podium results in Formula Renault V6 and Australian Formula 3.
In 2008, he finished as runner-up in both Formula Renault V6 Asia and the Toyota Racing Series New Zealand. Bamber also represented New Zealand in several rounds of the A1 Grand Prix series in 2009, achieving three podium finishes. He continued his open-wheel success with a podium in GP2 Asia at age 19 and another runner-up finish in the 2010 New Zealand Toyota Racing Series.
Earl Anderson Bamber Career
Early Career (2013-2014)
Bamber transitioned to sportscar racing in 2013 with the Malaysian team Nexus Racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia. He battled Martin Ragginger throughout the season and ultimately secured the drivers championship. His versatility in endurance racing emerged early with a Class B victory at the Bathurst 12 Hour driving for Grove Racing alongside team owner Stephen Grove and Ben Barker.
His performance earned him a nomination for the Porsche Motorsport International Cup Scholarship shootout in Oschersleben, Germany, where he defeated seven other top drivers from Porsche one-make series worldwide. The scholarship provided 200,000 Euros for his 2014 Porsche Supercup campaign. That year, Bamber claimed the Porsche Supercup title with 155 points, becoming the first New Zealander and first rookie to win the championship. He also retained his Porsche Carrera Cup Asia title with eight wins in ten races.
Porsche Era Breakthrough (2015-2019)
Porsche signed Bamber as a works driver prior to the 2015 season. His breakthrough came at the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he partnered with Formula One driver Nico Hülkenberg and Nick Tandy in a Porsche 919 Hybrid. The trio secured a comfortable victory after qualifying third, marking Bamber’s first Le Mans win. Later that season, he claimed his first GT Le Mans pole at the Continental Tire Road Race Showcase at Road America, breaking the previous lap record by over one second.
In 2017, Bamber joined the Porsche LMP1 team full-time, co-driving the No. 2 car with Timo Bernhard and Brendon Hartley. The trio won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and clinched the FIA World Endurance Championship overall title. Bamber continued his success in IMSA, piloting the Porsche 911 RSR in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. His crowning achievement in American sportscar racing came in 2019, when he won the IMSA SportsCar Championship GTLM class title.
Cadillac Era (2023-Present)
Bamber transitioned to the Hypercar category for the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship, joining Alex Lynn and Richard Westbrook in a Cadillac V-Series.R fielded by Chip Ganassi Racing. The move marked his departure from Porsche after nearly a decade as a factory driver. His adaptability across different machinery and classes has been a hallmark of his career, demonstrating success in LMP1 prototypes, GTLM machinery, and now Hypercars.
Currently, Bamber competes with Cadillac Hertz Team Jota and Cadillac Whelen in both the IMSA SportsCar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship. His role as a Corvette Racing factory driver alongside his Cadillac commitments positions him as a versatile competitor at the highest level of endurance racing. The 2023 Nürburgring 24 Hours victory added another major endurance racing trophy to his collection.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bamber has built his reputation on exceptional versatility across different racing categories and vehicle types. His ability to transition between LMP1 prototypes, GTLM cars, and Hypercars demonstrates his adaptability as a driver. He excels in endurance racing conditions, maintaining consistent pace over long stints while managing tire wear and fuel efficiency effectively. His experience in both sprint and endurance formats allows him to contribute strategically to team success.
Notable Races and Milestones
The 24 Hours of Le Mans represents Bamber’s signature achievement with victories in 2015 and 2017. His 2015 win came as part of a Porsche LMP1 program that dominated qualifying with a 1-2-3 sweep. The 2017 victory alongside Hartley and Bernhard secured the World Endurance Championship title. The Nürburgring 24 Hours win in 2023 showcased his ability to compete successfully in different endurance racing formats beyond the FIA WEC and IMSA series.
Earl Anderson Bamber Career Wins
Earl Bamber has accumulated victories across multiple championships and prestigious endurance races. His win tally includes two 24 Hours of Le Mans triumphs, a FIA World Endurance Championship title, an IMSA SportsCar Championship GTLM championship, and the Nürburgring 24 Hours. His Porsche one-make series success includes the Porsche Supercup championship and consecutive Porsche Carrera Cup Asia titles.
Endurance Racing Highlights
Bamber’s first major international victory came at the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans driving the Porsche 919 Hybrid with Nico Hülkenberg and Nick Tandy. He returned to the top step of the Le Mans podium in 2017 with teammates Timo Bernhard and Brendon Hartley, also securing the FIA World Endurance Championship drivers title that season. The 2023 Nürburgring 24 Hours victory added another crown jewel to his endurance racing resume.
Championship and Series Wins
Before his endurance racing prominence, Bamber dominated Porsche one-make series. He won the Porsche Supercup in 2014 as a rookie, claiming the championship with 155 points. His back-to-back Porsche Carrera Cup Asia titles in 2013 and 2014 included eight wins in ten races during the 2014 season. In 2019, he captured the IMSA SportsCar Championship GTLM class title, cementing his status as a complete sportscar racing driver.
Earl Anderson Bamber Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Earl Bamber was born to Paul and Maureen Bamber (née Johnson) in Whanganui, New Zealand. He grew up on the family farm in Jerusalem, a small settlement along the Whanganui River. Bamber has one younger brother named William. His upbringing in rural New Zealand provided the foundation for his disciplined approach to racing and his connection to his homeland, which he honors with a silver fern design on his racing helmet.
2025 Season Performance
Earl Bamber enters the 2025 season as a key driver for Cadillac Hertz Team Jota and Cadillac Whelen in both the IMSA SportsCar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship. His dual role as a factory driver for Corvette Racing and Cadillac competitor places him at the forefront of the Hypercar era. The season presents opportunities to challenge for championships in both series while building on Cadillac’s growing presence in top-tier endurance racing.
The 2025 campaign will see Bamber continue developing the Cadillac V-Series.R Hypercar platform, competing against factory programs from Porsche, Ferrari, Toyota, and other manufacturers. His experience across different racing categories and his proven track record in endurance racing positions him as a strong contender for race victories and championship contention. The teamwork with Alex Lynn and Richard Westbrook in the WEC program provides continuity and established chemistry for the season ahead.
