20-Time IMSA Winner Recognized Among a Who’s Who of Racing Greats
By John Oreovicz
LONG BEACH, Calif. – There’s much more to the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach than racing – though there is certainly plenty of that, with the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship joined by IndyCar, Porsche Carrera Cup North America, Formula Drift, Stadium Super Trucks, and a collection of vintage sports cars, several of which competed in IMSA’s GTO and GTU classes in the 1980s and ‘90s (Bill Riley even drove one during the weekend).
In fact, the entire Long Beach weekend had a distinct sports car flavor this year, starting with the Road Racing Driver’s Club’s annual Thursday evening event celebrating Derek Bell. Now 84 and still sharp as a tack, Bell’s accomplishments include three Rolex 24 At Daytona victories, five overall victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and a pair of FIA World Sports Car championships.
Bell co-drove with a who’s-who of racing stars, including Stefan Bellof, Henri Pescarolo, Hans Stuck, and Mike Hailwood. But he was best-known for his partnership with Jacky Ickx; they won Le Mans together four times, in a Mirage-Ford in 1975, and with the factory Porsche team in 1981, ’82, and ’86.
In America, Bell shared the iconic Lowenbrau Porsche 962 (photos right and left, below via Porsche Newsroom) with Al Holbert. Bell won a total of 20 IMSA races in his career and he played a key role in Holbert winning three consecutive Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class championships from 1985-87.
“I so loved racing in America,” Bell remarked to the audience of around 400 gathered at the Westin hotel as RRDC raised funds for its ‘Safe is Fast’ campaign.
“It was a big part of my life; I don’t know what percentage, but it was massive and I met so many wonderful people here, many of whom are here tonight. It shows just how deep-rooted motorsport is here in this country.”
The Long Beach RRDC dinner is an annual highlight for many, because the relaxed environment always produces a raft of memorable stories from the honoree. This year was especially poignant as RRDC President Bobby Rahal graciously stepped aside from many of his usual emcee duties to share the stage with Bell’s son Justin, an accomplished racer in his own right.
“I remember the first time I raced Derek he was partnered with Al Holbert, who I thought the world of,” Rahal said in his opening remarks. “I was in a 962, and of course they were also in a 962 Porsche. Derek seemed to be the quintessential English racing driver – nice guy, obviously very quick, and he went about his business in a first-class manner.
“He won Le Mans five times, he’s a three-time Daytona 24 Hours winner, and here’s a little factoid that will amuse you,” Rahal continued. “In the last 15 24-hour races that he ran, he won seven. He finished second six times, and third once. Now, if you add that up, that’s 14 times he was in the top three, and half the time, he was on the top step of the podium.”
Bell also reflected on his relationship with Holbert and the late driver/engineer/team owner’s pious tendencies.
“Al was a major part of my racing career, and he certainly was my American career,” Bell related. “Why did he ever choose me? I don’t know, actually. He was so great to work with – a great engineer, a very intelligent guy. He didn’t suffer fools. He wasn’t happy with me on Sundays because I wouldn’t go to church with him, because I just didn’t think going to church was right for me on a Sunday before a race when I was risking my life a few hours later.
“But then he came to Europe and we won Le Mans twice,” he added. “It was just an amazing period to race with such a guy who I think was never given the accolades for what he did for American motorsport. There are lots of super drivers out there I would have loved to have driven with, but I was just lucky to get to know the ones I did. And when you’ve got that close relationship, it’s a bond you can’t take away.”
IMSA President John Doonan, a lifelong sports car racing fan, also expressed his admiration for Bell.
“I spent a lot of my summers at Road America, Mid-Ohio, and Brainerd watching Derek and Bobby in those 962s,” Doonan reminisced. “For me that was absolutely the golden era of sports car racing. I think they set the bar quite high for us to achieve what I now like to call the ‘platinum era.’ They blazed a trail for us when the manufacturers were committed to the top category and we’re so fortunate now to be able to try to rewrite a very similar history.”
The name Derek Bell even resonates with the current crop of WeatherTech Championship drivers, including Felipe Nasr, who leads the 2026 Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) standings with Julien Andlauer in the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963.
Nasr said he always looks forward to his interactions with Bell when they are together at events for Porsche, for which Bell serves as an ambassador.
“I’m a big fan of Derek,” Nasr said. “The moment you join Porsche, you start recognizing more those legends. To me, it’s just big respect for what those guys did back in the day. Back in those days, it was a lot more risky to have a job as a race car driver. I really appreciate what they did back then.
“I always try to talk with him when I can, because the approach they had back then is just so different to nowadays. That’s how the sport evolves.”
Main and Bell/Doonan Photos by IMSA Photo; Additional Bell Photos Courtesy of Porsche Newsroom