John Edwards

John Edwards is an American racing driver who currently competes in the IMSA SportsCar Championship as a driver of BMW Team RLL. Edwards is the regular BMW driver since 2013.

Earlier in a career, he captured two championship titles in open-wheel competitions (2008 Star Mazda Championship and 2009 IMSA Atlantic Championship) and competed in sports car championships with Mazda RX-8 and Chevrolet Camaro.

John Edwards

The youngest ever FIA-licensed driver

Born in March 1991 in Louisville, Kentucky, John Michael Edwards started to race very early, entering the Formula Dodge Series as the 12-year old kid, participating in different regional competitions (Southern, Western, Eastern) and scoring several victories. In 2004, he raced in the Formula Dodge National Championship and then went to Europe in 2005, competing first in karting and progressing to the Formula Renault 2.0 during the season.

At the age 14, he became the youngest ever FIA-licensed racing driver. He was driving for Motopark Academy in the Formula Renault Eurocup and German championship. In 2006, he scored first Formula Renault victory in North European Cup race at Anderstorp.

John Edwards captured two championship titles in 2008 and 2009

Two championship titles after a return to the US

In 2007, Edwards returned to the United States and competed in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship with Forsythe Championship Racing, finishing best in the second place at Toronto and ending a season ninth in the points.

In 2008, he scored four wins in the Star Mazda Championship and won the title despite missing one race. In 2009, Edwards returned to the Atlantic Championship, which was for the first time under IMSA, and became the series' youngest champion. He was tied in points with Jonathan Summerton after both scored four wins but Edwards collected more second-place finishes.

John Edwards in 2010

Transition to sports car racing in 2010

Edwards has won the Atlantic Championship with Newman/Wachs Racing and the team recruited him next season for a participation in the Rolex Sports Car Series with Speedsource Mazda RX-8 GT. His co-driver was Adam Christodoulou. They won a race at Lime Rock Park, finishing third in GT class standings.

In 2010, Edwards also made one start in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge with Mazdaspeed 3 and scored two wins with Schubert Motorsport in the VLN Endurance Series at Nürburgring Nordschleife.

John Edwards in Stevenson Motorsports' Chevrolet Camaro

Three seasons with Stevenson Motorsports

In 2011, Edwards continued to race with Mazda RX-8 GT in the Grand-Am Rolex Series but also joined Stevenson Motorsports to drive a Chevrolet Camaro in the Grand-Am Continental GS series. In 2012, he was driving for Stevenson Motorsports in both championships, using different versions of Chevrolet Camaro.

His best season with Stevenson Motorsports was 2013 when he finished as vice-champion in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, together with Matt Bell, but also in the third place in GT class of the Rolex Sports Car Series, together with Robin Liddell.

John Edwards and Bobby Rahal

Racing with BMW Team RLL since 2013

Among commitments with Stevenson Motorsports, Edwards also joined BMW Team RLL (Rahal Letterman Lanigan) in the American Le Mans Series. He was sharing the #56 BMW Z4 GTE with Dirk Müller in six races, scoring a victory at Lime Rock Park and three more podiums.

In 2014, Edwards became a full-time driver for BMW Team RLL in the IMSA United Sports Car Championship, sharing the #56 BMW Z4 GTE with Dirk Müller. Scoring three podiums, he finished 7th in the points. In 2014, Edwards was also driving the #46 BMW M3 in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge for Fall-Line Motorsports, scoring two wins together with Trent Hindman to finish second in the points.

John Edwards is racing with BMW since 2013

Two IMSA wins at Laguna Seca

In 2015, Edwards focused solely on the IMSA Championship with BMW Team RLL, driving occasionally for other BMW teams in the US and Europe. His new partner in the #24 BMW Z4 GTE was Lucas Luhr. They were race winners in GTLM class at Laguna Seca, ending a season fifth in the points.

In 2016, Edwards and Luhr were sharing a new  BMW M6 GTLM, scoring just one podium to finish ninth in the GTLM points. Next year, his partner in a BMW M6 GTLM was Martin Tomczyk. They were winners at Laguna Seca, finishing seventh in the points.

John Edwards (second right) celebrates Daytona victory with teammates

Victory at 2020 Daytona 24 Hours

For the 2018 IMSA SportsCar Championship season, Edwards teamed up with Jesse Krohn in all new BMW M8 GTE. They were on a podium two times, finishing eighth in the final standings. They stay together in the 2019 IMSA season, finishing seventh in the points of the GTLM class.

In 2020, Edwadrs and Krohn stayed together in the #24 BMW M8 GTE, having a perfect start of the season with a victory at Daytona 24 Hours. Their co-drivers were Augusto Farfus and Chaz Mostert.

Photos: John Edwards Racing,