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Gary Watkins
Author

Gary Watkins

Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 33rd as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 80 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.

Gary, who also writes for Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton close to the former workshops of the Cooper Formula 1 team but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.

Latest articles by Gary Watkins

Why strategic variation makes WEC 2026 a fascinating watch

WEC
WEC
Interlagos
Why strategic variation makes WEC 2026 a fascinating watch

How BMW adapted its Spa trick to win the Sao Paulo 6 Hours

WEC
WEC
Interlagos
How BMW adapted its Spa trick to win the Sao Paulo 6 Hours

Obituary: Motorsport engine pioneer Bill Gibson

WEC
WEC
Obituary: Motorsport engine pioneer Bill Gibson

Obituary: Ferrari’s first monocoque maker John Thompson

General
General
Obituary: Ferrari’s first monocoque maker John Thompson

FIA president sets timeline on new WRC commercial rights holder

WRC
WRC
Rally Greece
FIA president sets timeline on new WRC commercial rights holder

Peugeot to upgrade 9X8 Hypercar for 2027 WEC

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Peugeot to upgrade 9X8 Hypercar for 2027 WEC

Obituary: Dick Barbour, the team boss who ran Paul Newman at Le Mans

General
General
Obituary: Dick Barbour, the team boss who ran Paul Newman at Le Mans

Why a classic Le Mans 24 Hours should have delivered more

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Why a classic Le Mans 24 Hours should have delivered more

How Toyota pulled off its most significant Le Mans victory

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
How Toyota pulled off its most significant Le Mans victory

The car that gave Renault the Le Mans 24 Hours victory it so craved

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
The car that gave Renault the Le Mans 24 Hours victory it so craved

Hypercar manufacturers free to develop chassis and hybrid systems as WEC outlines 2030 rules

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Hypercar manufacturers free to develop chassis and hybrid systems as WEC outlines 2030 rules

Why Cadillac lost pole position for Le Mans 24 Hours

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Why Cadillac lost pole position for Le Mans 24 Hours

How a Le Mans powerhouse grew from humble origins

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
How a Le Mans powerhouse grew from humble origins

What it is like to have a dad who raced at Le Mans

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
What it is like to have a dad who raced at Le Mans

What’s new for 2026 at the Le Mans 24 Hours

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
What’s new for 2026 at the Le Mans 24 Hours

Ferrari expects overhaul of 499P for WEC 2027

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Ferrari expects overhaul of 499P for WEC 2027

What we learned from the Le Mans 24 Hours Test Day

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
What we learned from the Le Mans 24 Hours Test Day

The wager that brought a Le Mans legend to the fore

WEC
WEC
The wager that brought a Le Mans legend to the fore

Le Mans 24 Hours: Aston Martin fastest at test day

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Le Mans 24 Hours: Aston Martin fastest at test day

Why the anticipation in the run-up to the Le Mans 24 Hours feels a bit different this year

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Why the anticipation in the run-up to the Le Mans 24 Hours feels a bit different this year

When Nissan should have won Le Mans

WEC
WEC
When Nissan should have won Le Mans

Why the 2026 Le Mans 24 Hours looks like the hardest race to call

WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Why the 2026 Le Mans 24 Hours looks like the hardest race to call

Why WEC is in a great place heading into the Le Mans 24 Hours

WEC
WEC
Spa
Why WEC is in a great place heading into the Le Mans 24 Hours

The strategic gamble that ended BMW's WEC winless streak

WEC
WEC
Spa
The strategic gamble that ended BMW's WEC winless streak

The 10 best GT3 cars since group debut in 2006

GT
GT
The 10 best GT3 cars since group debut in 2006

How over the course of two decades GT3 became modern motorsport’s greatest success

GT
GT
How over the course of two decades GT3 became modern motorsport’s greatest success

Why the WEC's BoP blackout is a bad call for all parties

WEC
WEC
Imola
Why the WEC's BoP blackout is a bad call for all parties

How "making no mistakes" was pivotal in Toyota pipping Ferrari at WEC 2026 opener

WEC
WEC
Imola
How "making no mistakes" was pivotal in Toyota pipping Ferrari at WEC 2026 opener

WEC Imola: Giovinazzi snatches pole for Ferrari

WEC
WEC
Imola
WEC Imola: Giovinazzi snatches pole for Ferrari

Obituary: Sportscar pioneer Bob Tullius

General
General
Obituary: Sportscar pioneer Bob Tullius

How Porsche continued its IMSA dominance at Sebring but with intra-team drama

IMSA
IMSA
Sebring 12 Hours
How Porsche continued its IMSA dominance at Sebring but with intra-team drama

How Genesis is building up to a long-term future in the WEC

WEC
WEC
Imola
How Genesis is building up to a long-term future in the WEC

How finances and distractions stunted the true capabilities of Shadow's DN5

Formula 1
Formula 1
How finances and distractions stunted the true capabilities of Shadow's DN5

Why Mikkel Jensen wants ‘to win Le Mans so bad’

WEC
WEC
Why Mikkel Jensen wants ‘to win Le Mans so bad’

Why Alpine's WEC exit isn't a body blow but a warning sign

WEC
WEC
Why Alpine's WEC exit isn't a body blow but a warning sign

Why the Ferrari 333SP is an unsung sportscar hero

General
General
Why the Ferrari 333SP is an unsung sportscar hero

Obituary: Legendary Porsche engineer Peter Falk

General
General
Obituary: Legendary Porsche engineer Peter Falk

Should the Daytona 24 Hours have been red-flagged in the fog?

IMSA
IMSA
Rolex 24 Hours
Should the Daytona 24 Hours have been red-flagged in the fog?

How fog nullified Cadillac’s advantage and aided Porsche’s Daytona 24 Hours hat-trick

IMSA
IMSA
Rolex 24 Hours
How fog nullified Cadillac’s advantage and aided Porsche’s Daytona 24 Hours hat-trick

What makes the Daytona 24 Hours so special

IMSA
IMSA
Rolex 24 Hours
What makes the Daytona 24 Hours so special

The threat the new Toyota GR and Mercedes GT3s pose to the category

GT
GT
The threat the new Toyota GR and Mercedes GT3s pose to the category

Ranking the top 10 Hypercar drivers of the 2025 WEC

WEC
WEC
Ranking the top 10 Hypercar drivers of the 2025 WEC

Porsche's magic moments in the WEC

WEC
WEC
Porsche's magic moments in the WEC

Autosport Top 50 of 2025: #43 Kelvin van der Linde

General
General
Autosport Top 50 of 2025: #43 Kelvin van der Linde

Autosport Top 50 of 2025: #42 Mathieu Jaminet

General
General
Autosport Top 50 of 2025: #42 Mathieu Jaminet

Autosport Top 50 of 2025: #40 Alessandro Pier Guidi

General
General
Autosport Top 50 of 2025: #40 Alessandro Pier Guidi

Autosport Top 50 of 2025: #36 Nicklas Nielsen

General
General
Autosport Top 50 of 2025: #36 Nicklas Nielsen

Autosport Top 50 of 2025: #33 Antonio Fuoco

General
General
Autosport Top 50 of 2025: #33 Antonio Fuoco

Autosport Top 50 of 2025: #22 Felipe Nasr

General
General
Autosport Top 50 of 2025: #22 Felipe Nasr

Autosport Top 50 of 2025: #21 Kevin Estre

General
General
Autosport Top 50 of 2025: #21 Kevin Estre

Autosport Top 50 of 2025: #14 Alex Lynn

General
General
Autosport Top 50 of 2025: #14 Alex Lynn

Autosport Top 50 of 2025: #8 Robert Kubica

General
General
Autosport Top 50 of 2025: #8 Robert Kubica

How a Porsche champion plotted an unusual route to the top

IMSA
IMSA
How a Porsche champion plotted an unusual route to the top

McLaughlin lined up to join Penske Porsche ranks for 2026 Daytona 24 Hours

IMSA
IMSA
McLaughlin lined up to join Penske Porsche ranks for 2026 Daytona 24 Hours

Manufacturers split over potential WEC success handicaps introduction

WEC
WEC
Bahrain
Manufacturers split over potential WEC success handicaps introduction

What WEC needs to get right amid success handicaps debate

WEC
WEC
Bahrain
What WEC needs to get right amid success handicaps debate

Ferrari extends WEC contract to move in line with Hypercar cycle

WEC
WEC
Bahrain
Ferrari extends WEC contract to move in line with Hypercar cycle

How Ferrari played the championship game with Toyota just out of reach

WEC
WEC
Bahrain
How Ferrari played the championship game with Toyota just out of reach

“No regrets at all” – Why Button is happy with his decision to retire from racing

WEC
WEC
Bahrain
“No regrets at all” – Why Button is happy with his decision to retire from racing

WEC Bahrain: Toyota takes first pole in 2025 with 1-2 in qualifying

WEC
WEC
Bahrain
WEC Bahrain: Toyota takes first pole in 2025 with 1-2 in qualifying