Driver Focus

James French is one of the most accomplished and versatile drivers in American sports car racing. The Asian Le Mans Series Champion has claimed victories at the sport’s most prestigious endurance events: the 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, and Petit Le Mans. With 11 career Motul Pole Awards, he holds the all-time record in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Born May 20, 1992, French grew up at Road America in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where his father Brian also races. He started karting at age five at the Road America Motorplex and was strapping into a 1997 Benetton F1 car by age 16. That early exposure to high-performance machinery shaped a driver who’s equally comfortable in an LMP2 prototype or behind the wheel of vintage Formula 1 machinery.

French is a regular on the historic racing circuit, competing in SVRA events with a Jordan 197 F1 car—where he’s won at the Spring Vintage Festival. Seeing him blast through Road America’s legendary Kink at 200+ mph in 90s-era F1 hardware is a reminder of what made that era so raw and spectacular.

Off the track, French is known throughout the paddock for his genuine character and willingness to help fellow competitors. He brings that same approach to the Rush SR series, where he’s quickly become one of the drivers to watch.