RISING BRITISH SPORTSCAR STAR TINCKNELL FACING HECTIC MONTH OF MAY
Races in Belgium and Italy for JOTA Sport plus testing in North America and France for Nissan NISMO
Britain's Harry Tincknell embarks on what is likely to be a memorable, if very hectic, month of May by competing in the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday (2 May).
Tincknell will be racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship and European Le Mans Series for JOTA Sport in Belgium and Italy respectively while combining his Nissan NISMO LM P1 factory commitments, testing Stateside then contesting the Le Mans 24 Hour race's 'official Test Day (31 May) in France.
The 23-year-old from Devon, a Formula Three multi-race winner and in only his second year of sportscar racing, partners Simon Dolan (GB) and sportscar race and WEC debutant, Mitch Evans (NZ), at Spa. Harry achieved second in LM P2 in the corresponding race around the magnificent 4.352-mile Spa circuit 12 months ago with Dolan and Marc Gené only Tincknell's second sportscar race.
Having just missed out on victory in the opening ELMS race at Silverstone earlier this month (11 Apr) by a mere 0.370secs after four hours of racing, Tincknell heads to Spa in a confident frame of mind. As well as trying to earn JOTA a top result in the team's first of two WEC appearances in 2015, Harry will be trying to help GP2 race winner Evans become acclimatised with sportscar racing as quickly as possible.
Harry Tincknell (GB). Age: 23. Born: Exeter, Devon, England. Lives: Sidmouth, Devon, England:
"I'm so excited as to what's in prospect for me in May. Racing the JOTA Sport Gibson at Spa in the WEC, which I wasn't expecting to do until a couple of weeks ago. Then more Nissan NISMO testing Stateside, going to Imola for the second ELMS race, then closing the month out in the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO at Le Mans awesome!
"My season was 'expanded' when JOTA offered me the chance to go back to Spa for the next WEC race. It's the team's traditional 'warm-up' race for Le Mans. I'm of course racing at Le Mans with Nissan NISMO but hopefully I can play a role at Spa in helping JOTA prepare for a successful Le Mans LM P2 title defence. I'll never ever forget walking out on to the rostrum at Le Mans last year. As well as attempting to earn JOTA a top result at Spa, I'll try my best to acclimatize Mitch [Evans] to sportscar racing as quickly as possible as he's part of JOTA's team for Le Mans. He's an extremely fast single-seater driver, a proven GP3 & GP2 race winner, and I'm certain that he'll adapt quickly and without a problem.
"The WEC LM P2 field looks stronger than last year but I'm confident we'll be able to fight with the best of them. I reckon the new Gibson upgrades will bring about improvements from last season's Spa performance when we [Dolan & Gené] finished second in LM P2."
Harry's Spa fact file:
Debut: 2011 British F3 Championship.
Others: 2012 British F3 Championship. 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship (finished 2nd on WEC debut in a JOTA Sport Zytek-Nissan).
Most recent: 2014 WEC.
Comments: "I really enjoy Spa. It's not a particularly physical track as there are many straights but it's one of the best circuits due to the many overtaking opportunities the undulating track offers. Eau Rouge is the most famous corner in motorsport and it's special every time you go through it even though it is flat out. The best corner is Pouhon because it's incredibly fast and challenging. The weather is very changeable and that always keeps you on your toes!"
