Podcast Podcast, Season 4, Episode 5: Justin Bell

Welcome to Season 4 of The Edge, a podcast by TAG Heuer. Our fifth guest this season is former world champion race car driver turned TV and web host Justin Bell. In this episode, we speak to Justin about the significance of motorsports’ famous Triple Crown and some of his favorite memories from the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He also talks about the Indy 500 and the stories and traditions behind the legendary race, and of course, his relationship with us. Presented by your host Naomi Schiff, this is The Edge, a podcast by TAG Heuer. 

Here are a few snippets to put you on the starting line and get the adrenaline pumping. But don’t forget to subscribe to our Podcast so you can listen to the full, unfiltered episode later. The Edge is a series of conversations with extraordinary people operating at the edge of possibility. It’s about the thin line between taking part and tipping into victory; it’s about what gives us our edge and what we can do to go beyond it.

When I went to big races, like SPA-Francorchamps or Nürburgring with my dad (Derek Bell) for the 1000 kilometer races, I remember thinking : “This is like a circus on the road.” And how do I become part of that? I love the fact that everybody was friends off track. You have 10,000 friends in a way but my dad definitely tried to distract me from becoming a racing driver. I did motocross instead, rather poorly, but that’s what I did. Never touched a go kart, because he was still racing so much. And then I went to the Formula Ford Festival with my best friend James and his dad and I was like : “Oh my God, these are kids my age now !” Now I get it and I’d never been to a small race. 

Special moments for me at Le Mans really came at the most unlikely times. And I had childhood memories that then dovetailed to my adult memories. The childhood memory for me was when the pit lane was very small and intimate and actually horrific. It was like in the film Le Mans. I remember being within touching distance of the drivers as they would go across the wall to get in the car, which was six feet away. 

I got an engraved Monaco and I really love it. When you wear a TAG Heuer Monaco, I don’t care who you are. It does again, transport you back to feeling cooler than you actually really are. And it’s one of those watches that even the big collectors, if they see you with it, they’ll say : “Oh I love your watch !” you know?  It’s just an incredible, incredible timepiece. Absolutely. And it sounds like they’re all attached to fantastic stories as well.