Jonathan 'Jonny' Adam

Jonathan 'Jonny' Adam is a British racing driver who achieved the most in sports car racing, winning the British GT Championship four times (in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019) and Le Mans 24 Hours once, in 2017. He was also ProAm class champion in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup in 2017. He did all that driving Aston Martins.

Earlier in a career, he was successful touring car racer, winning three championship titles in national one-make competitions.

Jonathan 'Jonny' Adam

Early career in karting and open-wheel competitions

Born in September 1982 in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, the young Jonny Adam raced in karting competitions. He competed at national level and in 1999 won Scottish Kart TKM Challenge. Three years later Adam finished 5th in the British National Kart Championship what was his last success before switching to single-seaters.

In 2003, Jonny competed in the Scottish Formula Ford Zetec and finished third in the standings, with two race wins on his account. The same year he also appeared as a guest in the UK Formula Renault 2.0 and scored 13 points.

Jonathan won the UK Renault Clio Cup in 2005

Renault Clio Cup UK champion in 2005

After a short spell in single-seater, Adam switched to the touring car racing in 2004 when he made a debut in the Renault Clio Cup Great Britain. His performance was impressive, as he won 6 out of 20 races, scored a total of 14 podiums, had seven pole positions and six fastest laps before finishing 3rd overall.

The following season was even better, taking the championship title. Driving for TCR (Total Control Racing), he won 11 out of 20 races, had other six podium finishes, and amassed impressive 15 pole positions and 14 fastest laps before taking the title in the penultimate race of the season at Donington Park. That success helped Jonny to make further progress and he was ready for a new challenge.

Jonny was a Seat Cupra Cup GB champion twice

Two-time SEAT Cupra GB champion

In 2006, Adam stayed with Total Control Racing but switched to SEAT Cupra Great Britain Championship. Just like when he has competed in the Renault Clio Cup, Jonathan finished 3rd in his rookie season in the new series. He scored two wins and a total of 10 podiums out of 18 races, finishing behind Mat Jackson and Alan Blencowe.

The second attempt again was successful. Adam in great style won SEAT Cupra GB title in 2007, winning 9 out of 20 races and having a total of 17 podiums on his way to the top of the standings. He clinched the title at Knockhill, his home circuit, with three races to spare. He relatively easily defended the title in 2008, scoring 9 wins and other 5 podium places. That was a signal that he is prepared for a higher level.

Adam spent only one year in the BTCC

Short spell in the BTCC

In 2009, Adam joined popular and highly competitive British Touring Car Championship. He signed with Motorbase Performance to drive BMW 320si and did considerably well.

He had two podiums and amassed a total of 116 points before finishing 8th in the Drivers’ Championship. Unfortunately, at the end of the season, he had to leave the series after being unable to find a financial backing.

While waiting for a new opportunity, in 2010 the Scottish racer drove in selected rounds of Ginetta G50 Cup Great Britain and scored one victory.

Jonny Adam joined Beechdean AMR in 2011

Move to British GT Championship in 2011

The next stop in Jonny’s career was British GT Championship. In 2011, he signed with Beechdean Motorsport. Driving an Aston Martin DBRS9 alongside Andrew Howard, he had a very fine season. They won the races at Rockingham and Silverstone and had other two podiums before finishing 5th in the final standings.

In the following year, Adam and Howard were behind a wheel of Aston Martin Vantage and won the race at Nurburgring, finished 2nd at Brands Hatch, and 3rd at Snetterton what was enough only for the 8th place in the championship.

Adam and Howard remained co-drivers of Aston Martin Vantage for three more years. In 2013, they triumphed at Brands Hatch and were 2nd at Silverstone before taking the 4th position overall. Victory at Snetterton was the highlight of 2014 season. The same year they were 3rd in both races at Oulton Park and 2nd at Silverstone but after poor performances late in the season, they dropped to the 5th position.

Derek Johnston and Jonny Adam - British GT champions in 2016

Two consecutive British GT titles with Aston Martin

The season of 2015 was the last that the Kirkcaldy-born spent with Beechdean and finally was able to win the title. He and Howard triumphed in the second race at Oulton Park, Spa-Francorchamps, and Snetterton before taking the trophy in front of Ecurie Ecosse’s pair Alexander Sims and Marco Attard.

In 2016, Adam moved to TF Sport. In the new team, he was sharing an Aston Martin Vantage with Derek Johnston and they became the champions at the first attempt. They won the races at Brands Hatch and Rockingham and later finished 2nd at Snetterton and Donington what was enough for the title. He became the first racer in the British GT history who managed to defend the title.

Jonathan is one of the best British GT drivers

FIA WEC debut in 2015, first Le Mans attempt in 2016

While racing with Aston Martin teams in the British GT Championship, Jonny also made attempts in some other competitions. In 2014, he raced with Beechdean AMR in two rounds of the Blancpain Sprint Series. In 2015, he debuted in the FIA World Endurance Championship, driving an Aston Martin Vantage GTE in five rounds alongside Darren Turner and Stefan Mucke, The highlight of the season was a podium at Bahrain.

In 2016, Jonny appeared in three FIA WEC rounds, including his debut at 24 Hours of Le Mans. Sharing a car with Richie Stanaway and Fernando Rees, he was third in GTE Pro class at Le Mans.

Jonny Adam and Aston Martin crew celebrating victory at 2017 Le Mans 24 Hours

Le Mans 24h victory in 2017

After two national GT titles with Aston Martin, Jonny Adam became full-time driver of Aston Martin Racing in the 2017 FIA WEC season. Sharing the #97 Aston Martin Vantage GTE with Darren Turner and Daniel Serra, he scored sensational GTE Pro class victory at 24 Hours of Le Mans after overtaking a rival in a Corvette on the penultimate lap. Later in the season, Adam scored no more wins or podiums, finishing seventh in the championship.

In 2017, Jonny also participated in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, driving the #97 Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 for Oman Racing with TF Sport. He and Ahmad Al Harthy became ProAm class champions.

Third national championship title in 2018

In 2018, Jonny stayed with Aston Martin Racing in the FIA WEC and returned full-time to the British GT Championship with Optimum Motorsport, sharing the #75 Aston Martin with Flick Haigh.

They won two races during the season and entered the season's finale as championship leader. The fourth place in the last race was good enough for Jonny to take the third title in British GT Championship while Flick Haigh became the first ever female driver to win outright title.

Jonathan 'Jonny' Adam

British GT Championship title number four in 2019

For the 2019 British GT season, Adam rejoined TF Sport to share the #47 Aston Martin with Graham Davidson. They won two times during the year and enter season's finale as championship contenders. They finished fifth in the last race and secured the championship title, the fourth for Jonny.

Adam stayed with Aston Martin Racing for the 2019-2020 FIA World Endurance Championship season.

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