| Sean Gelael | |
|---|---|
 Gelael in 2023 | |
| Nationality |  Indonesian |
| Born | Muhammad Sean Ricardo Gelael (1996-11-01)1 November 1996 (age 29) Jakarta, Indonesia |
| Racing licence |  FIA Silver |
| FIA World Endurance Championship career | |
| Debut season | 2016 |
| Current team | United Autosports |
| Car number | 95 |
| Former teams | Extreme Speed Motorsports,Jota Sport,WRT |
| Starts | 38 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 5 |
| Podiums | 15 |
| Poles | 4 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| Best finish | 2nd in2021,2022 |
| Previous series | |
| 2017–20 2015–16 2015 2013–14 2013–14 2012 2012 | FIA Formula 2 Championship GP2 Series Formula Renault 3.5 Series FIA European Formula 3 British Formula 3 Formula Pilota China Formula Abarth |
Muhammad Sean Ricardo Gelael (born 1 November 1996) is anIndonesian racing driver who is currently competing withUnited Autosports in theFIA World Endurance Championship. He has scored two Le Mans class podiums as his respective teams' silver-ranked driver, finishing second withJota in theLMP2 class in2021 and second again with WRT in2024'sLMGT3 category.[1]
Gelael started racing in 2005, where he became the navigator of his dadRicardo Gelael [id] inRally of Indonesia. In 2007, he set a record fromMURI for being the youngest racing navigator at the age of 10.[2]
In 2011, he competed in the Asian Karting Open Championship – Formula 125 Senior Open 2011, finishing third in the overall standings.[3]
Gelael began his car racing career in his native continent, competing in theFormula Pilota China in 2012. He finished his debut season fourth in the overall standings and second in the "Best Asian Trophy" standings.[4] He raced for theBVM team in the last round of the2012 Formula Abarth season atMonza.[5]
In 2013, Gelael participated in the2013 FIA European Formula 3 Championship season, joining theDouble R Racing team.[6] During the same year, the Indonesian driver made an appearance in theMasters of Formula 3, although he was forced to retire from the race.[7]
In 2014, Gelael signed withCarlin for the2014 season.[8] On 10 May 2014, he scored his first ever point in the championship, finishing 10th and therefore scoring one point in thePau Grand Prix.[9] He finished the season in 18th position with 25 points.[10]
Gelael competed in the2013 British Formula 3 International Series alongsideAntonio Giovinazzi, driving forDouble R Racing.[11] He claimed his first podium in atSilverstone by finishing 3rd in the second race.[12] He finished eight in the final overall standings.[13]
On 20 January 2015, it was announced that Gelael will compete in the2015 Formula Renault 3.5 Series with Carlin partnering withTom Dillmann.[14] He finished 19th in the overall standings.[15]
Gelael made hisGP2 Series debut withCarlin Motorsport in theHungaroring in the2015 season. He finished 18th in the feature race and 20th in the sprint race.[16]
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In2016, Gelael competed full-time in the GP2 Series withCampos Racing, partneringMitch Evans.[17] AtCatalunya, he finished 19th in the feature race having started from 22nd on the grid. He scored his first podium at theRed Bull Ring, where he finished second behind his teammate Evans, who won the race.[18]
With the championship rebranded to theFIA Formula 2 Championship, Gelael moved to thePertamina Arden team for the2017 season, joiningNorman Nato.[19] Gelael lost the team battle, finishing in points-paying positions just in four races.
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Gelael raced forPrema Racing in the2018 season, joiningDutch driverNyck de Vries.[20] In theMonaco, he scored his only podium for the season, finishing second in the feature race. He failed to score points for the rest of the season following his podium finish. He placed 15th with 29 points in the overall standings.
For the2019 season, Gelael remained with Prema, partnered by2018 FIA Formula 3 European Championship winnerMick Schumacher. He lost the team battle, finishing in 17th position in the drivers' standings by scoring points in just five races.
Gelael left Prema to join reigning FIA Formula 2 teams' championDAMS for the2020 season, replacingSérgio Sette Câmara. He was joined by two-timeMacau Grand Prix winner andWilliams Driver Academy memberDan Ticktum.[21] He scored points in both races ofthe second round at the Red Bull Ring, finishing tenth and seventh. He broke avertebra from an impact with a kerb during theBarcelona feature race, and was unable to start the sprint race.[22] He was replaced at DAMS byRed Bull Junior Team driverJüri Vips for the next four rounds. At the time of his injury he had scored three points, compared to 61 points for teammate Ticktum.
Due to a string of accidents and technical failures, followed by Gelael's seldom points-scoring performances in FIA Formula 2 Championship that contributed to poor seasons, Gelael's father Ricardo Gelael announced that his son will no longer continue racing in Formula 2 after the2020 season.[23]
Gelael had his first experience of Formula One machinery, driving theToro Rosso STR12 at the in-season test after the2017 Bahrain Grand Prix, completing 78 laps.[24] He continued to drive forToro Rosso in a testing capacity throughout the2017 season, including tests at theHungaroring andYas Marina Circuit as well as Friday practice appearances inSingapore,Malaysia, theUnited States andMexico.[25] He continued his association with Toro Rosso during the2018 season, appearing at testing days inSpain, Hungary and Abu Dhabi, and at the Friday practice session of theUnited States Grand Prix.[26][27][28] In 2019, Gelael again took part in the post-season tyre test for Toro Rosso in Abu Dhabi.[29]
Gelael stepped into theAsian Le Mans Series during the second half of2015–16 season to gather his first experience inendurance racing. Competing for Jagonya Ayam with Eurasia alongsideAntonio Giovinazzi, the pair won both races they drove in and finished third in the standings.[30][31]
During the same year, he would also make hisFIA World Endurance Championship debut withExtreme Speed Motorsports, competing in the last three rounds of the season.[32]
Following the conclusion to his time inFormula 2, Gelael returned to the ALMS for the entirety of the2021 campaign, driving forJota Sport alongsideFormula E driversStoffel Vandoorne andTom Blomqvist in theLMP2 category. He finished second and fifth in Dubai and won both races in Abu Dhabi, which placed him second in the standings.[33]
The Indonesian's main focus for 2021 would lie in theWorld Endurance Championship, where he once again partnered Vandoorne and Blomqvist at Jota Sport.[34] Following a pair of podiums at the beginning of the season, a strong performance from the team would see the trio finish second in class at the24 Hours of Le Mans.[35][36] Despite rounding off the season with two further appearances on the rostrum, Gelael and his teammates would miss out on the title toTeam WRT, who had managed to win the final three races, which left Jota second in the LMP2 results.[36] Following the end of the season, Gelael described the season as having been "really good", whilst equally ruing the team's missed opportunities to win races.[37]
He would make a guest appearance during the4 Hours of Monza with Jota, finishing third alongsideMalaysian driverJazeman Jaafar.[38]
In 2022 Gelael continued to race in theWorld Endurance Championship, switching teams to previous year's championsWRT to drive alongsideRobin Frijns andRené Rast.[39][40] After starting the season with a strong second place at a rain-shortened race inSebring, the Indonesian took his maiden win in the category at the6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.[41][42] Dramatic scenes would occur at the24 Hours of Le Mans, as, having started from pole due to an impressive lap from Frijns, the team was forced to retire with hours to go after the Dutchman had made an error and collided with the barriers.[43] The outfit was set back further inMonza, where a twelfth place following a radiator issue made them miss out on points for the second race in a row. At the penultimate race inFuji, Gelael, Frijns and substitute teammateDries Vanthoor managed to win the race, having held off advances from the Nr. 38 Jota car in the dying embers of the event.[44] Another victory at the8 Hours of Bahrain would not be enough to take the title, as the team lost out to Jota by 21 points.[45]
At the start of 2023, Gelael teamed up withValentino Rossi and three other drivers to compete in theDubai 24 Hour event, driving aBMW M4 GT3 forWRT.[46] The lineup experienced a positive weekend, completing a double-podium for the team by finishing third.[47][48]
For a third year running, theWorld Endurance Championship would be the main destination for the Indonesian, who, along withRobin Frijns, remained at Team WRT to be partnered byFerdinand Habsburg.[49] The season proved to be a disappointment, as the #31 crew finished fourth in the teams' standings with a suspension problem denying them from aLe Mans podium and an engine failure costing them victory atMonza.[50][51][52]
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With the removal of LMP2 from the WEC, Gelael and WRT moved to the newly-formedLMGT3 class for the2024 season. Alongside BMW factory driverAugusto Farfus and bronze-ranked Darren Leung, Gelael was able to take his first win in the category atImola, before experiencing a hefty shunt caused byEarl Bamber on the Kemmel straight atSpa-Francorchamps from which the Indonesian escaped unharmed.[53][54] Redemption came at theLe Mans 24 Hours, where the #31 turned out to be the only BMW entry to escape troubles, finishing second in class.[55]
On 3 January 2025,United Autosports confirmed that Gelael and his former WRT teammateDarren Leung will join the team for the2025 season. They are set to partnerMarino Sato in the No. 95McLaren 720S GT3 Evo.[56]
Gelael is the only son of the owner ofKentucky Fried Chicken's Indonesian franchise and former rally driverRicardo Gelael [id] and the youngest child of actressRini S. Bono [id].[57] He is the cousin of Indonesian tennis playerJustin Barki. His late grandfatherDick Gelael is the founder ofGelael Supermarket [id] andMulti Food Indonesia.
| Season | Series | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | CIK-FIA Asia-Pacific Championship —KF2 | Sean GP | 19th |
| Bridgestone Cup European Final —KF2 | 26th | ||
| 2011 | Trofeo Grifone —KF2 | Sean GP | 4th |
| Trofeo Andrea Margutti —KF2 | 32nd | ||
| Coppa Del Vesuvio —KF2 | 8th | ||
| WSK Euro Series —KF2 | 49th | ||
| CIK-FIA European Championship —KF2 | 7th | ||
| CIK-FIA World Championship —KF2 | NC | ||
| WSK Master Series —KF2 | NC | ||
| Asian Karting Open Championship — Formula 125 Senior | 3rd | ||
| Bridgestone Cup European Final —KF2 | NC | ||
| CIK-FIA Asia-Pacific Championship —KF1 | 14th | ||
| 2012 | Indonesia Kart Prix —KF2 | Sean GP | 16th |
| WSK Master Series —KF2 | 70th | ||
| Trofeo Andrea Margutti —KF2 | 50th | ||
| WSK Euro Series —KF2 | 82nd | ||
| CIK-FIA World Karting Championship —KF1 | 43rd | ||
| Sources:[58][59] | |||
† As Gelael was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points.
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position) (Races initalics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Eurasia Motorsport | SHI 1 7 | SHI 2 5 | SHI 3 7 | ORD1 1 4 | ORD1 2 7 | ORD1 3 3 | ORD2 1 2 | ORD2 2 2 | ORD2 3 Ret | GUA 1 4 | GUA 2 4 | GUA 3 3 | SEP1 1 7 | SEP1 2 4 | SEP1 3 9 | SEP2 1 Ret | SEP2 2 3 | SEP2 3 1 | 4th | 132 |
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position) (Races initalics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Double R Racing | SIL 1 4 | SIL 2 3 | SIL 3 8 | SPA 1 3 | SPA 2 5 | SPA 3 8 | BRH 1 Ret | BRH 2 6 | BRH 3 6 | NÜR 1 7 | NÜR 2 7 | NÜR 3 11 | 8th | 78 | |||||||||
| 2014 | Carlin | ROC 1 | ROC 2 | ROC 3 | SIL 1 | SIL 2 | SIL 3 | SNE 1 | SNE 2 | SNE 3 | SPA 1 2 | SPA 2 3 | SPA 3 2 | THR 1 | THR 2 | THR 3 | BRH 1 | BRH 2 | BRH 3 | DON 1 | DON 2 | DON 3 | NC† | 0 |
† As Gelael was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points.
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position) (Races initalics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Double R Racing | MNZ 1 14 | MNZ 2 16 | MNZ 3 17 | SIL 1 24 | SIL 2 16 | SIL 3 18† | HOC 1 21 | HOC 2 27 | HOC 3 Ret | BRH 1 23 | BRH 2 22 | BRH 3 Ret | RBR 1 22 | RBR 2 17 | RBR 3 20† | NOR 1 Ret | NOR 2 21 | NOR 3 15 | NÜR 1 20 | NÜR 2 18 | NÜR 3 13 | ZAN 1 17 | ZAN 2 20 | ZAN 3 20 | VAL 1 Ret | VAL 2 21 | VAL 3 Ret | HOC 1 25 | HOC 2 24 | HOC 3 13 | 28th | 0 | |||
| 2014 | Jagonya Ayam with Carlin | SIL 1 15 | SIL 2 20 | SIL 3 NC | HOC 1 13 | HOC 2 20 | HOC 3 22 | PAU 1 10 | PAU 2 Ret | PAU 3 Ret | HUN 1 10 | HUN 2 21 | HUN 3 13 | SPA 1 18 | SPA 2 13 | SPA 3 13 | NOR 1 9 | NOR 2 17 | NOR 3 6 | MSC 1 17 | MSC 2 17 | MSC 3 11 | RBR 1 12 | RBR 2 7 | RBR 3 10 | NÜR 1 16 | NÜR 2 21† | NÜR 3 11 | IMO 1 10 | IMO 2 16 | IMO 3 Ret | HOC 1 10 | HOC 2 18 | HOC 3 8 | 18th | 25 |
† Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position) (Races initalics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Pos | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Jagonya Ayam with Carlin | ALC 1 Ret | ALC 2 15 | MON 1 8 | SPA 1 15 | SPA 2 12 | HUN 1 15 | HUN 2 Ret | RBR 1 Ret | RBR 2 Ret | SIL 1 Ret | SIL 2 10 | NÜR 1 15 | NÜR 2 16 | BUG 1 16 | BUG 2 17 | JER 1 16 | JER 2 9 | 19th | 7 |
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position) (Races initalics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | SMP Racing | LMP2 | BR Engineering BR01 | Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 | SIL 5 | IMO | RBR | LEC | SPA | EST | 24th | 10 |
| 2021 | Jota Sport | LMP2 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | CAT | RBR | LEC | MNZ 3 | SPA | ALG | NC† | 0† |
† As Gelael was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.
| Year | Entrant | Class | Car | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Extreme Speed Motorsports | LMP2 | Ligier JS P2 | Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 | SIL | SPA | LMS | NÜR | MEX | COA | FUJ 4 | SHA 2 | BHR 5 | 12th | 40 |
| 2021 | Jota Sport | LMP2 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | SPA 3 | ALG 2 | MNZ 5 | LMS 2 | BHR 2 | BHR 3 | 2nd | 131 | |||
| 2022 | WRT | LMP2 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | SEB 2 | SPA 1 | LMS Ret | MNZ 12 | FUJ 1 | BHR 1 | 2nd | 116 | |||
| 2023 | Team WRT | LMP2 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | SEB 6 | ALG 6 | SPA 6 | LMS 4 | MNZ Ret | FUJ 3 | BHR 2 | 4th | 94 | ||
| 2024 | Team WRT | LMGT3 | BMW M4 GT3 | BMW P58 3.0 L I6 t | QAT 6 | IMO 1 | SPA Ret | LMS 2 | SÃO 10 | COA 5 | FUJ 10 | BHR 13 | 4th | 85 | |
| 2025 | United Autosports | LMGT3 | McLaren 720S GT3 Evo | McLaren M40T 4.0 L Turbo V8 | QAT 7 | IMO 9 | SPA Ret | LMS Ret | SÃO 9 | COA 1 | FUJ 10 | BHR 9 | 11th | 43 | |
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position; races initalics indicates fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Scuderia Toro Rosso | Toro RossoSTR12 | Toro Rosso 1.6V6t | AUS | CHN | BHR | RUS | ESP | MON | CAN | AZE | AUT | GBR | HUN | BEL | ITA | SIN TD | MAL TD | JPN | USA TD | MEX TD | BRA | ABU | – | – | |
| 2018 | Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda | Toro RossoSTR13 | Honda RA618H 1.6V6 t | AUS | BHR | CHN | AZE | ESP | MON | CAN | FRA | AUT | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | SIN | RUS | JPN | USA TD | MEX | BRA | ABU | – | – |
| Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Jota | LMP2 | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 | DUB 1 2 | DUB 2 5 | YMC 1 1 | YMC 2 1 | 2nd | 78 | |
| 2023–24 | Team Project 1 | GT | BMW M4 GT3 | BMWS58B30T0 3.0 L TurboI6 | MYS 1 20 | MYS 2 18 | 19th | 12 | |||
| Saintéloc Racing | Audi R8 LMS Evo II | Audi DAR 5.2 LV10 | DUB 1 4 | YMC 1 | YMC 2 | ||||||
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 |  Jota | Tom Blomqvist Stoffel Vandoorne | Oreca 07-Gibson | LMP2 | 363 | 7th | 2nd |
| 2022 | Team WRT |  Robin Frijns René Rast | Oreca 07-Gibson | LMP2 | 285 | DNF | DNF |
| 2023 | Team WRT | Robin Frijns Ferdinand Habsburg | Oreca 07-Gibson | LMP2 | 327 | 13th | 5th |
| 2024 | Team WRT |  Augusto FarfusDarren Leung | BMW M4 GT3 | LMGT3 | 280 | 28th | 2nd |
| 2025 | United Autosports | Darren Leung Marino Sato | McLaren 720S GT3 Evo | LMGT3 | 80 | DNF | DNF |
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 |  KFCVR46 with Team WRT | Maxime MartinValentino Rossi Tim Whale Max Hesse | BMW M4 GT3 | Pro | DUB 3 | ABU | MUG | SPA | MON | EST 1 | EST 2 | BAR | KUW | 3rd | 3rd |
| Year | Team | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Pos. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Team WRT | BMW M4 GT3 | Silver | BRH 1 | BRH 2 | MIS 1 | MIS 2 | HOC 1 | HOC 2 | MAG 1 | MAG 2 | CAT 1 15 | CAT 2 14 | 14th | 18 |
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