While most of his friends were learning to drive, Alex Bowen, 16, was piloting raced-tuned Lamborghinis at over 170 mph and standing atop winner’s podiums in Italy.
The St. Petersburg native began karting at 6 but didn’t take racing seriously until 12 when the pandemic disrupted traditional youth sports. Alex is now the world’s youngest driver in GT3 – an extremely competitive classification featuring heavily modified production cars.
The Belizean government sponsored the second-generation American’s 2024 season in the Italian Gran Turismo Endurance Championship. His father, Kris, said the goal is to add the five-country GT World Challenge to the youngster’s slate in 2025.
“I’m open to everything – I’ll drive anything, do anything,” Alex said. “My big thing within this or the next season is just to earn my respect.”
Alex has earned on-track respect since graduating from karting races. At 15, he received his first opportunity to test open-wheel Lamborghini Super Trofeo series cars at Sebring International Raceway – and beat his new coach, professional racer Loris Spinelli, on the second day.
“This was from never doing it ever,” Kris said of his son’s experience. “And his coach was a multiple world champion in Super Trofeo.”
Kris said the buzz started the following day when Spinelli, a Team Lamborghini driver, flew back to Italy. Spinelli subsequently offered Alex a spot racing GT3 cars, a classification well above Super Trofeo.
The team helped Alex “enroll” in a private Italian school to receive his residency, a requirement for his driver’s license and ability to race. Kris called watching his son’s first walk through a tunnel and onto a track as a GT3 driver the “most surreal thing you could ever imagine.”
“We should have podiumed in our very first race,” he added. “We podiumed in our second race.”
The Italian GT Championship’s final event holds a special place in their hearts. In October 2024, Alex, competing against seasoned drivers twice his age, secured pole position for his team by finishing with the fastest qualifying time on the Monza Circuit, a track near Milan.
Kris said he “was a mess” when Alex crossed the rain-soaked finish line. “I teared up hugely.”
The experience showed Alex that he belonged among the racing elite. “You have to believe in yourself because if you don’t, there’s no point to be out there,” he said. “But how I performed in that last race … gave me even more of a want for this next season.”
Kris hopes to see his son in the prestigious Indianapolis 8 Hour at Indianapolis Motor Speedway or 12 Hours of Sebring – less than two hours from home. “I just need to worry about training and being ready to get in the car whenever I can get in a car,” Alex said.
The Bowens once thought they would race on their home turf at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (Feb. 28-March 2). However, IndyCar, which has previously featured GT3 racing in the Sunshine City, decided not to include the classification in the event.
Kris said Alex racing in front of family and friends would be “massive” for sponsorships and the city. That remains a goal, and the elder Bowen pledged to “throw the biggest parties in the world” when the dream becomes reality.
Alex will instead head to Austin Feb. 28 for the NASCAR races at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). The St. Pete teen will return to Italy in May for the GT endurance championship.
Alex now has a management group that allows Kris to “be dad.” He also has a nation’s support, as his grandparents were born in Belize, and Alex is the country’s first representative in motorsports.
The former St. Petersburg High School student now takes classes virtually. Dad said he trusted his son not to attempt track maneuvers on local roads when he officially received his driver’s license.
Alex spends his free time practicing on a simulator and preparing his body for the gravitational forces (g-force) experienced by racing. Breathing exercises are a focus, as strapped-in drivers cannot utilize their full lung capacity.
The average temperature inside a race car is between 120 and 130 degrees. Alex, also in fire suppressant gear, sheds seven to 10 pounds during each race.
“No matter how much you watch it (racing) as a fan, you can never understand the physical and mental aspects,” Alex said. “If you start worrying about doing bad, you’re going to do bad.”
While Alex hopes to achieve the success needed to split time between multiple locales, he said St. Pete would remain home. “That will never change.”
Kris expressed gratitude for the Lamborghini team, Spinelli, family and friends who have helped his son achieve a shared dream. “Just a big thanks for all the support and supporters who have helped us get this far,” he said.
