Earl Bamber
A driver from a small New Zealand town who conquered the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice, becoming a cornerstone of Porsche's endurance racing dynasty.
Born 1990 (age 36)·New Zealand racing driver·Birthday: July 9·Millennials
Biography
Earl Bamber won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2015 on his debut with the Porsche LMP1 team. He repeated the victory in 2017. Born in Wanganui, New Zealand, in 1990, he developed his craft in domestic touring car and GT series rather than European karting. Winning the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia championship in 2013 earned him a factory drive. Bamber combines fierce speed with mechanical sympathy, traits that made him a valued driver for Porsche and later Corvette. He co-owns Bamber Motorsport, a successful GT team that nurtures Antipodean talent. The New Zealander's path to motorsport glory was unconventional, but his endurance racing achievements rank among the sport's finest.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Earl was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Earl Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Earl's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 24 Hours of Le Mans overall in 2015 and 2017 as a factory driver for Porsche.
- Secured the FIA World Endurance Championship LMP1 Drivers' title in 2015 with Porsche teammate Nick Tandy.
- Claimed victory in the prestigious Bathurst 12 Hour race in 2017.
- Became a factory driver for Corvette Racing in the GTE Pro category, contesting the FIA WEC and IMSA championships.
Did You Know?
He is the only New Zealander to have won the 24 Hours of Le Mans overall more than once.
Before his Porsche factory role, he won the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia championship, which served as his springboard to international racing.
He co-owns and manages Bamber Motorsport, a team competing in GT racing series.
“You learn car control where the tracks bite back.”
