Author

Gary Watkins

London, UK

Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 32nd as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 75 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 Autoweek, Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.

Read more

Latest articles by Gary Watkins

Ford steps up WEC preparations with second test car

WEC

WEC 4 d

Ford steps up WEC preparations with second test car

How Ford is “hitting milestones” ahead of its WEC Hypercar push

WEC

How Ford is “hitting milestones” ahead of its WEC Hypercar push

Why there’s no perfect solution to the WEC safety car conundrum

WEC

Fuji

Why there’s no perfect solution to the WEC safety car conundrum

How an “informed gamble” enabled Toyota to beat Alpine in the Fuji 6 Hours

WEC

Fuji

How an “informed gamble” enabled Toyota to beat Alpine in the Fuji 6 Hours

The hope for Lola’s comeback and what it could mean

General

The hope for Lola’s comeback and what it could mean

Why Lola has got big ideas for its future

General

Why Lola has got big ideas for its future

The debate on whether WEC prioritised 'entertainment' over 'sport' in Austin

WEC

COTA

The debate on whether WEC prioritised 'entertainment' over 'sport' in Austin

Robert Shwartzman joins Peugeot for WEC 2027

WEC

WEC

COTA

1 mo

Robert Shwartzman joins Peugeot for WEC 2027

How Ferrari profited from late Toyota pain in Austin

WEC

COTA

How Ferrari profited from late Toyota pain in Austin

WEC Austin: Ferrari takes pole from Cadillac after identical qualifying times

WEC

WEC

COTA

1 mo

WEC Austin: Ferrari takes pole from Cadillac after identical qualifying times

McLaren has already completed a 30-hour endurance test with LMDh challenger

WEC

WEC 1 mo

McLaren has already completed a 30-hour endurance test with LMDh challenger

Is GT3 entering ‘the danger zone’?

GT3

Is GT3 entering ‘the danger zone’?

How the McLaren MP4/8B's engine blow-up changed F1 history

Formula 1

How the McLaren MP4/8B's engine blow-up changed F1 history

Is the MP4/8B McLaren’s greatest what-might-have-been?

Formula 1

Is the MP4/8B McLaren’s greatest what-might-have-been?

Why strategic variation makes WEC 2026 a fascinating watch

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

Interlagos

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

FIA president sets timeline to announce new WRC commercial rights holder

WRC

WRC

Rally Greece

3 mo

FIA president sets timeline to announce new WRC commercial rights holder

Peugeot to upgrade 9X8 Hypercar for 2027 WEC

WEC

WEC

24 Hours of Le Mans

3 mo

Peugeot to upgrade 9X8 Hypercar for 2027 WEC

Why a classic Le Mans 24 Hours should have delivered more

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

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

24 Hours of Le Mans

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

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

WEC

WEC

24 Hours of Le Mans

4 mo

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

Why Cadillac lost pole position for 2026 Le Mans 24 Hours

WEC

WEC

24 Hours of Le Mans

4 mo

Why Cadillac lost pole position for 2026 Le Mans 24 Hours

How a Le Mans powerhouse grew from humble origins

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

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

24 Hours of Le Mans

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

Ferrari planning overhaul of upgrades to 499P for WEC 2027

WEC

WEC

24 Hours of Le Mans

4 mo

Ferrari planning overhaul of upgrades to 499P for WEC 2027

What we learned from the Le Mans 24 Hours Test Day

WEC

24 Hours of Le Mans

What we learned from the Le Mans 24 Hours Test Day

Le Mans 24 Hours: Aston Martin fastest at test day

WEC

WEC

24 Hours of Le Mans

4 mo

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

24 Hours of Le Mans

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

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

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

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

Spa

The strategic gamble that ended BMW's WEC winless streak

The 10 best GT3 cars since group debut in 2006

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

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

Imola

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

WEC Imola: Ferrari snatches pole from Toyota

WEC

WEC

Imola

5 mo

WEC Imola: Ferrari snatches pole from Toyota

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

WEC

Imola

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

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

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

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

Why the Ferrari 333SP is an unsung sportscar hero

General

Why the Ferrari 333SP is an unsung sportscar hero

Scott McLaughlin set for Penske Porsche drive at 2026 Daytona 24 Hours

IMSA

IMSA 10 mo

Scott McLaughlin set for Penske Porsche drive at 2026 Daytona 24 Hours

Manufacturers split over WEC success handicap proposal

WEC

WEC

Bahrain

10 mo

Manufacturers split over WEC success handicap proposal

Ferrari commits to WEC Hypercar class until end of 2029 season

WEC

WEC

Bahrain

11 mo

Ferrari commits to WEC Hypercar class until end of 2029 season

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

WEC

WEC

Bahrain

11 mo

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

Ferrari's title bid boosted by BoP for WEC's Bahrain 8 Hours

WEC

WEC

Bahrain

11 mo

Ferrari's title bid boosted by BoP for WEC's Bahrain 8 Hours

How Aston Martin transformed its season to become a genuine WEC & IMSA contender

WEC

WEC

Bahrain

11 mo

How Aston Martin transformed its season to become a genuine WEC & IMSA contender

Le Mans winner James Calado signs new Ferrari WEC contract

WEC

WEC

Bahrain

11 mo

Le Mans winner James Calado signs new Ferrari WEC contract

Mercedes’ possible AMG GT3 successor hits the test track

GT

GT 11 mo

Mercedes’ possible AMG GT3 successor hits the test track

Colton Herta announces partial 2026 IMSA campaign with Cadillac

IMSA

IMSA

Petit Le Mans

11 mo

Colton Herta announces partial 2026 IMSA campaign with Cadillac

Hypercar potentially set for success handicaps in WEC 2026

WEC

WEC 11 mo

Hypercar potentially set for success handicaps in WEC 2026

Garage 59 takes over from United Autosports as McLaren WEC partner from 2026

WEC

WEC

Bahrain

11 mo

Garage 59 takes over from United Autosports as McLaren WEC partner from 2026

Cadillac wins dramatic 2025 Petit Le Mans as Porsche claims IMSA GTP title

IMSA

IMSA

Petit Le Mans

1 y

Cadillac wins dramatic 2025 Petit Le Mans as Porsche claims IMSA GTP title

Porsche confirms exit from WEC at the end of the 2025 season

WEC

WEC 1 y

Porsche confirms exit from WEC at the end of the 2025 season

Toyota to update Le Mans Hypercar for 2026 WEC campaign

WEC

WEC

Fuji

1 y

Toyota to update Le Mans Hypercar for 2026 WEC campaign

Mick Schumacher 'still burns' for single-seaters despite WEC switch

WEC

WEC

Fuji

1 y

Mick Schumacher 'still burns' for single-seaters despite WEC switch

WEC Fuji: Alpine grabs first win with LMDh car in chaotic race

WEC

WEC

Fuji

1 y

WEC Fuji: Alpine grabs first win with LMDh car in chaotic race

WEC Fuji: Cadillac locks out front row, Aston Martin shines

WEC

WEC

Fuji

1 y

WEC Fuji: Cadillac locks out front row, Aston Martin shines

Jenson Button reveals next career path ahead of WEC exit

WEC

WEC 1 y

Jenson Button reveals next career path ahead of WEC exit

Ford’s WEC Hypercar programme will be run in-house

WEC

WEC

Fuji

1 y

Ford’s WEC Hypercar programme will be run in-house

Trending

1.

F1 signs historic 10-year Rwanda deal to host African Grand Prix

Formula 1

Formula 1 2 h

F1 signs historic 10-year Rwanda deal to host African Grand Prix

2.

Kimi Antonelli’s title hopes boosted by proposed F1 calendar overhaul

Formula 1

Formula 1

Singapore GP

23 h

Kimi Antonelli’s title hopes boosted by proposed F1 calendar overhaul

3.

WSJ Report: NASCAR is building 80+ race cars for Days of Thunder sequel

NASCAR Cup

NASCAR Cup 5 h

WSJ Report: NASCAR is building 80+ race cars for Days of Thunder sequel

4.

Christian Horner blames Dietrich Mateschitz’s death for the “painful” end of his F1 reign

Formula 1

Formula 1

Singapore GP

2 h

Christian Horner blames Dietrich Mateschitz’s death for the “painful” end of his F1 reign

5.

Toto Wolff spotted cruising Monaco in a $10million Mercedes Unicorn

Formula 1

Formula 1

Singapore GP

35 min

Toto Wolff spotted cruising Monaco in a $10million Mercedes Unicorn

Latest news

MotoGP riders could get what they want, and fast, if only they would stand together

MotoGP

Indonesian GP

MotoGP riders could get what they want, and fast, if only they would stand together

Toyota: BMW has advantage in Barcelona WEC after private test

WEC

WEC WEC

Barcelona

53 min

Toyota: BMW has advantage in Barcelona WEC after private test

Preining jokes about why he let team-mate Feller through

DTM

DTM DTM

Hockenheim

1 h

Preining jokes about why he let team-mate Feller through