Harry Tincknell was instrumental in Jota Sport’s victory in the LM P2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2014.  It was there that he caught the eye of Nissan who took him on for their 2015 LM P1 programme and the World Endurance Championship (WEC). When Nissan’s project came to an end, Tincknell was free again but his performance had impressed Ford, who were looking for drivers for their official return to endurance racing.

The only problem was that the British driver had little experience in the GT classes. Ford thus signed a deal for the first three rounds of the 2016 WEC season. Tincknell soon proved what he was capable of, taking the second step on the podium with teammates Marino Franchitti and Andy Priaulx at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. Unfortunately the trio trailed in last in the LM GTE Pro class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, after the #67 Ford GT had to be removed from the grid and pushed back to its garage before the green flag went down to start the race, putting paid to all hopes of a respectable finish.

Ford is however satisfied with Tincknell’s performance and has thus extended his contract. The British driver will now take to the start of the 6 Hours of Nürburgring alongside Franchitti and Priaulx. Before that, he will compete at the 4 Hours of Red Bull Ring with Jota Sport, which now goes under the name G-Drive Racing, having remained loyal to the British outfit where he shares a car with former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde and team co-owner Simon Dolan. They took victory at the opening round of the ELMS at Silverstone, followed by a second place at Imola. Last year, Tincknell drove in the full European Le Mans Series for Jota Sport, claiming a win at Red Bull Ring and finishing the season third in LM P2 (he was second in 2014).

Photo: Harry Tincknell, who competed in the first three rounds of the World Endurance Championship (WEC), has signed a deal to complete the season with Ford.

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