Sean Gelael was just ten years old when he raced through the tropical rainforest of Sumatra at breakneck speed in the passenger seat. Sean's father was a professional rally driver at the time and occasionally took him along for a ride over mean off-road tracks through the Indonesian jungle. That way, he was primed for motorsport early on and started to follow in the footsteps of his father when he was just a young teenager.
A GIANT LEAP.
In karting, Sean, like so many racers during their early days, found the incentive and spirit of competition that he needed to make great strides in improving his skills as a racer. And improve he did. Only four years later, at just 16, he left Indonesia for the hotspot of motorsports: Europe.
He made his debut in European Formula 3 and British Formula 3 to conclude his first season away from home with three third places and eighth overall. From then on, Sean looked for new challenges and competed in different classes in order to gain as much motorsport experience as possible.
Sean Gelael: Career MIlestones.
2013 British Formula 3 (8th place overall)
2013/14 European Formula 3
2015 Formula Renault 3.5
2016 Asian Le Mans Series (LMP2, 3rd place overall)
2016 FIA World Endurance Championship
2017 – 2020 Formula 2
2020 – ongoing FIA World Endurance Championship
2024 24 Hours of Le Mans (LMGT3, 2nd place)
Before finally focusing on endurance racing, Sean Gelael had an extensive career in formula racing, including stints in Formula 2 and as a test driver in Formula 1. After his departure from Formula 2 in 2020, he discovered endurance racing for himself and has since secured several podium finishes, including a second place in the FIA World Endurance Championship in the LMP2 overall standings in 2021.
FINDING A NEW HOME AT BMW M.
Since 2021 Sean competes behind the wheel of a BMW M4 GT3 for BMW M Team WRT, racing for the fastest laps and the best positions on the most exciting and famous circuits in the world, including the Qatar 1812 km (6th place), the 6 Hours of Imola (1.), and the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2.). Sean Gelael is an absolute team player and attributes his recent successes not least to his teammates. He especially regards his fellow racer Augusto Farfus as a friend, mentor and role model.
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boasts the BMW M4 GT3 piloted by Sean Gelael and his teammates Augusto Farfus and Darren Leung (above: at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps).
It’s my third year with Team WRT and it is an honour to be part of this great family and also the BMW M family. I am super-excited. I have been LMP2 vice-champion twice in the WEC; I hope I can get over the hump and there is one clear goal , to get the championship and Le Mans. There is no better team and teammates to go for it.
Race car driver
MORE THAN A DREAM.
It is every racing driver's wish to win the championship, naturally, and Sean is no different. He is passionate and all about winning the FIA World Endurance Championship in the BMW M4 GT3. And one day, he might even compete in Formula 1.
But Sean dreams so big that there is room for more than just one dream.
NEXT PIT STOP INDONESIA.
In his home country of Indonesia motorsport leads a niche existence, much to Sean's regret. It is the reason why he spends so much time outside Indonesia and his home city of Jakarta, to be where the great races are held. His biggest dream is to change this and bring a race or two to Indonesia. If he just tried hard enough and brought in enough rankings his compatriots, so he hopes, might discover their love and passion for motorsport, enough to include Indonesia in future racing calendars.
This would not only give him the welcome opportunity to race at home, but also to be at home more often. To Jakarta, where his parents live and his girlfriend, the actress Hana Malasan (‘The Shadow Strays’). And not forgetting his large community of old friends, with whom Sean enjoys a very special hobby that also has to do with engines, but only requires two wheels instead of four: cruising through Jakarta in a motorcade on classic, mint Vespa scooters.
