TFSport Breaking news, exclusive interviews & reports - Motorsport Week https://www.motorsportweek.com/tag/tfsport/ Motorsport Week is an independent, FIA accredited motorsport website delivering the latest Formula 1, Formula E, GP2, GP3, WEC, IndyCar, Nascar, Formula 3, WRC, WRX, DTM, IMSA and MotoGP news and results. Fri, 28 Feb 2025 23:39:40 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/cropped-favicon-1-32x32.png TFSport Breaking news, exclusive interviews & reports - Motorsport Week https://www.motorsportweek.com/tag/tfsport/ 32 32 Daniel Juncadella fends off McLaren towards Corvette LMGT3 victory in Qatar https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/02/28/daniel-juncadella-fends-mclaren-towards-corvette-lmgt3-victory-in-qatar/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/02/28/daniel-juncadella-fends-mclaren-towards-corvette-lmgt3-victory-in-qatar/#respond Fri, 28 Feb 2025 22:19:59 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=199262 Daniel Juncadella fought all-throughout the closing stages of the Qatar 1812 km towards TF Sport's first LMGT3 victory

Daniel Juncadella fended his way towards maiden LMGT3 victory at the Qatar 1812 km, the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship season-opener.

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Daniel Juncadella fought all-throughout the closing stages of the Qatar 1812 km towards TF Sport's first LMGT3 victory

Daniel Juncadella fended his way towards maiden LMGT3 victory at the Qatar 1812 km, the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship season-opener.

TF Sport’s #33 co-driver Juncadella held off pressure from Gregoire Saucy’s #59 United Autosports McLaren 720S LMGT3 EVO towards victory after 287 laps completed.

For the first time in the 2025 season, the grid of 18 LMGT3 competitors fought around the Lusail International Circuit for a 10-hour endurance event.

Conditions were mildly warm if not noticeably humid, impacting the drivers from a physical aspect to contend with.

United Autosports were clear stars during qualifying and at the race start, they held 1-2 formation with #95 McLaren driver Darren Leung ahead of James Cottingham’s #59 McLaren.

Arnold Robin initially maintained third place in the #78 Akkodis ASP Lexus RC F LMGT3, ahead of both AF Corse Ferrari 296 LMGT3s, but exhibited a move on Cottingham on Lap 2.

In fact, Robin was soon able to claim the LMGT3 class lead from Leung. In the other #87 Lexus, their race ended early when Petru Umbarasecu attempted a move on the inside of the #21 Ferrari, of Francois Heriau, but misjudged his attack and spun the Ferrari as a result.

The #78 Lexus RC F LMGT3 wrestled its way into the lead
The #78 Lexus RC F LMGT3 wrestled its way into the lead – Credit: Charly Lopez / DPPI

He pitted soon after and the #87 continued back out and served an awarded drive-through (DT) penalty.

Whilst Robin went on to extend a prominent lead, the attention was on the fight for fourth place.

On Lap 13, Thomas Flohr (#54 Ferrari) defended Tom van Rompuy’s #81 TF Sport before Ahmed Al Harthy tried a move on the outside at Turn 7.

Van Rompuy soon became the second retirement due to a broken alternator shaft pulley.

Lexus falls back behind both McLarens

Robin’s prominent lead was diminished during the first round of pit stops, where the #78 Lexus driver emerged in third place behind the two McLarens.

Nevertheless, Robin continued his momentum as to challenge 2023 British GT champion Leung’s #95 in second place whilst his 2023 British GT vice-champion Cottingham led the charge at the front.

The top-four, to be exact, ensued in a tense battle as just two seconds covered the group.

Al Harthy showcased eager form again when he began chasing down Robin for third place, although managed to get into second during a pit stop sequence as Robin continued longer than the others before pitting.

Finn Gehrsitz took over from Arnold as the other Bronze-graded drivers continued going.

During the third hour, Christian Reid lost the rear end of his #61 Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 and got the rear wheels beached into a gravel trap at Turn 9.

Iron Lynx suffered a difficult first race with Mercedes
Iron Lynx suffered a difficult first race with Mercedes – Credit: Javier Jimenez / DPPI

This instigated the first virtual safety car of the race and brought the group of LMGT3s together again.

After the second SC period, declared when the two Cadillacs collided, Al Harthy continued to pressure the #78 Lexus even with Gehrsitz at the wheel.

The other #87 Lexus, meanwhile, became the second retirement of the race primarily induced from the damaging contact it had earlier.

During the fourth racing hour, Ben Tuck of the #77 Proton Ford Mustang LMGT3 fought amidst the leading back.

Sebastien Baud of the #59 McLaren duelled with Gehrisitz’s #78 Lexus, leaving Tuck to make a move for the lead on both of them.

Tuck then defended off the #78 Lexus, unfortunately losing the lead to Gehrisitz as Baud then overtook Tuck into second place.

United Autosports fends lead as Proton suffers heartbreak

The race surpassed the halfway mark with the United Autosports McLarens not in dominant form as they were during the opening stages of the race as the #78 Lexus kept them at bay in the lead.

With his hard work maintaining the top spot, Gehrsitz pitted from the lead to allow Robin.

Valentino Rossi undertook a fierce duel for fourth place in the #46 BMW M4 LMGT3 EVO with Francois Heriau’s #21 AF Corse Ferrari 296 LMGT3.

Rossi put a move on the inside at final corner but Heriau stuck with him on main straight, unable to return the favour.

Robin, a Bronze-graded driver, understandably fell to P5 after Sebastien Baud overtook him in the #59 McLaren.

The #95 McLaren crew fought to the end with a mistake-free, rapid drive before the penalty
The #95 McLaren crew fought to the end with a mistake-free, rapid drive before the penalty – Credit: Javier Jimenez / DPPI

With five hours remaining and the daylight well and truly gone, the humidity increased to 50%.

United Autosports regular Marino Sato fronted the LMGT3 class for the #95 McLaren on the restart and held off Heart of Racing’s Mattia Drudi and their #27 Aston Martin Vantage LMGT3 EVO.

A fourth safety car was deployed due to the #77 Ford which caught fire at the wheel of Bernado Sousa.

Smoke filled the cockpit as he drove down the main straight, prompting him to park the car at Turn 1– the team having previously suffered a fire during the Prologue with a new chassis to take on the season-opener as a result.

Sato and Gelael hold ground for the #95 McLaren

Marino Sato kept his form clean but strong in his defensive work which was relieved after Drudi faced a drive-through penalty for a previous unsafe pit stop release.

Juncadella piloted the #33 Corvette in third place but looked positive on virtual energy with more than those around him.

Ahead of the Spaniard, a fight for second ensued when Alessio Rovera (#21 Ferrari) chased Kelvin van der Linde’s #46 WRT BMW, before the #46 pitted and Rossi returned to the wheel.

Sean Gelael held a promising lead with smooth pace, having earned the Goodyear Wingfoot Award for his efforts during his driving time.

United Autosports’ controlled lead eventually came to a close at the beginning of the ninth racing hour; Gelael served a DT for an unsafe pit stop release in front of the #10 Racing Spirit of LeMan Aston Martin.

The #95 McLaren lost their winning chances with 1-hour and 26-minutes remaining, yet the fight for the lead continued with the #31 WRT BMW of Augusto Farfus ahead of Zach Robichon’s #27 Aston Martin, Jonny Edgar’s #33 TF Sport Corvette and Saucy in fifth place for the #59 McLaren entrant.

Quickly after Juncadella took over from Edgar, Saucy began his surging pressure on the Corvette in what would end up perpetuating right to the checkered flag.

Corvette battled against McLaren in the final hour
Corvette battled against McLaren in the final hour – Credit: Charly Lopez / DPPI

Juncadella resists Saucy’s pressure for first win pursuit

Both TF Sport and United Autosports had yet to claim victory in the fairly new LMGT3 era of the WEC.

It became a closely matched, intense fight between the #33 Corvette and the #59 McLaren – especially with the McLaren crucially in position to return a win after United claimed pole – even if it was with the #95 McLaren.

Timur Boguslavskiy of the #31 BMW held the lead by 20-seconds over the fighting duo behind, but was significantly lower on virtual energy in comparison to the #33 and #59, therefore was destined to pit.

Back to the lead fight, #33 Juncadella in front had 10% more virtual energy than #59 Saucy and so evidently fended off the McLaren.

The pair duelled just 0.2 seconds between them as Saucy numerously stuck on Juncadella’s tail, occasionally looking for a window of opportunity.

There was pressure to make a move whilst not throwing away 10-hours of hard work by the #59 crew, and so Saucy tried a move but could not make it stick.

(L to R) Daniel Juncadella, Jonny Edgar and Ben Keating won in the #33 Corvette at the Qatar season-opener
(L to R) Daniel Juncadella, Jonny Edgar and Ben Keating won in the #33 Corvette at the Qatar season-opener – Credit: Julien Delfosse / DPPI

TF Sport wins tense fight for maiden LMGT3 win

After 287 laps, Juncadella won the LMGT3 class for TF Sport and Covette with his co-drivers Jonny Edgar and Ben Keating.

Saucy claimed second place under half a second behind the #33 at the finishing line – with his #59 McLaren co-drivers Sebastien Baud and James Cottingham, followed by the #31 WRT BMW trio of Timur Boguslavskiy, Augusto Farfus and Yasser Shahin in third.

Ben Barnicoat took fourth position for the #78 Akkodis ASP Lexus crew along with Finn Gehrsitz and Arnold Robin.

Alessio Rovera finished fifth for the #21 AF Corse Ferrari crew including Simon Mann and Francois Heriau.

Heart of Racing took sixth with their #27 Aston Martin and co-drivers Mattia Drudi, Zach Robichon and team principal Ian James.

Marino Sato secured seventh place in the end for the #95 McLaren team along with team-mates Sean Gelael and Darren Leung.

The other AF Corse, the #54 Ferrari, finished eighth with Davide Rigon, Francesco Castellacci and Thomas Flohr.

Racing Spirit of Leman came home in ninth with Valentin Hasse Clot, Eduardo Barrichello and Derek Deboer as Proton Competition’s #88 Ford trio of Dennis Olsen, Giammarco Levorato and Stefano Gattuso rounded out the top-10 finishers.

See the full classification of results here.

READ MORE: Ferrari sweep podium with dominant 1-2-3 at Qatar

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TF Sport ‘really excited’ for Trackhouse-Daytona 24H effort https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/01/23/tf-sport-really-excited-for-trackhouse-daytona-24h-effort/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/01/23/tf-sport-really-excited-for-trackhouse-daytona-24h-effort/#respond Thu, 23 Jan 2025 18:18:54 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=195152 Trackhouse by TF Sport are competing in the GTD Pro category at the 63rd running of the 24 Hours of Daytona

TF Sport owner Tom Ferrier spoke about his excitement in a press conference on partnering with Trackhouse Racing for the 24 Hours of Daytona.

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Trackhouse by TF Sport are competing in the GTD Pro category at the 63rd running of the 24 Hours of Daytona

TF Sport owner Tom Ferrier was excited to partner with Trackhouse Racing for their upcoming one-off GTD Pro entry in the 24 Hours of Daytona.

Ferrier’s team are providing technical support for an entry at the Daytona 24 Hours on 25-26 January with NASCAR and MotoGP outfit Trackhouse Racing.

He said in a press conference: “We had a great year last year, it was getting stronger and stronger in WEC all year and I think we ended it really well in Bahrain with a double podium.

“So we definitely felt we were ready to kick off ’25 in a good, strong way… it’s just a lovely combination to have Ben [Keating] in WEC with us this year.

“The year’s coming and so it’s great to get going with Ben and then obviously these three guys are pretty special to work with as well, so yeah we’re really excited for this.”

Trackhouse drivers Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch will co-pilot the #91 Corvette Z06 GT3.R with Ben Keating and Penske IndyCar driver Scott McLaughlin.

Keating began his relationship with TF Sport began in the 2021 and 2022 seasons of the FIA World Endurance Championship having won his first GTE Am 24 Hours of Le Mans in the latter.

For 2023, he drove for Corvette Racing en route to Le Mans victory again and the final GTE Am title.

TF Sport continued their WEC presence last year in the debut LMGT3 season having concluded the season with a double podium at the 8 Hours of Bahrain.

The promisingly capable driver line-up in the #91 Corvette, combined with TF Sport’s experience with the Z06 GT3.R – which made its racing debut at Daytona last year – has now brought on the first GTD Pro Corvette competitor alongside the two Pratt and Miller-run factory cars.

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Ben Keating and Jonny Edgar sign with TF Sport for WEC 2025 https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/12/21/ben-keating-and-jonny-edgar-signs-with-tf-sport-for-wec-2025/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/12/21/ben-keating-and-jonny-edgar-signs-with-tf-sport-for-wec-2025/#respond Sat, 21 Dec 2024 08:30:00 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=192194 Ben Keating (right) will team up with Daniel Juncadella (left) and Jonny Edgar for the 2025 WEC season

Ben Keating and Jonny Edgar have joined TF Sport for the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship season in the #33 Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R.

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Ben Keating (right) will team up with Daniel Juncadella (left) and Jonny Edgar for the 2025 WEC season

Ben Keating and Jonny Edgar have joined TF Sport for the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship season in the #33 Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R.

Keating took the last GTE Am championship title with Corvette Racing in 2023 along with the Le Mans 24 Hours victory.

After a one-off return at the 2024 Lone Star Le Mans, Keating has returned to the WEC full-time in Corvette machinery again – albeit of the LMGT3 kind.

He has driven numerous machinery during his years of racing and competed with TF Sport for the 2021 and 2022 WEC seasons, gaining his first Le Mans class win in the latter campaign.

Edgar has a preexisting relationship with TF Sport having driven in their European Le Mans Series LMP2 campaign, where they partnered with AO Racing.

The 20-year-old became the 2024 ELMS LMP2 champion with co-drivers Robert Kubica and Louis Deletraz, and so will make his WEC debut next year.

“I am so excited to be back in the FIA World Endurance Championship family,” said Keating who will co-drive with Edgar and Daniel Juncadella.

Ben Keating is recognised as one of the most talented FIA Bronze-graded drivers in the market
Ben Keating is recognised as one of the most talented FIA Bronze-graded drivers in the market – Credit: © 2023 FIA WEC / FocusPackMedia – Harry Parvin

“I have missed all the people and places I have come to love.

“I am also thrilled to be back with TF Sport many of the same reasons.

“This will be a new car for me, but I am excited to race in the same Corvette that I sell at Keating Chevrolet.

“I am grateful to be able to come back.”

Edgar’s excitement for his WEC and Le Mans debuts

Edgar added: “… It is great to be racing with TF Sport again after the success we had together in the ELMS in 2024.

“Racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship and in the 24 Hours of Le Mans is an amazing opportunity for me and I am looking forward to my first GT3 racing season.

“My teammates are great too, with Ben having already won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championship with Corvette and Dani having had a lot of success in GT3 racing; I’m sure I can learn a lot from both of them.”

In the other #81 entrant, the driver lineup has remained the same with factory drivers Charlie Eastwood and Rui Andrade joining Tom van Rumpuy.

The team consistently fought towards the top end of the LMGT3 class and have made numerous Hyperpole appearances during the 2024 WEC season.

Next year’s Qatar 1812 km on 28 February will mark the second campaign for the LMGT3 category and crucially, for the Z06 LMGT3.R.

READ MORE: Trackhouse Racing partners with TF Sport for Daytona 24H entry

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Trackhouse Racing partners with TF Sport for Daytona 24H entry https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/12/12/trackhouse-racing-partners-with-tf-sport-for-daytona-24h-entry/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/12/12/trackhouse-racing-partners-with-tf-sport-for-daytona-24h-entry/#respond Thu, 12 Dec 2024 19:27:52 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=191410 Trackhouse Racing are partnering with TF Sport for the 2025 IMSA 24 Hours of Daytona

Trackhouse Racing has announced their entry into the 24 Hours of Daytona on 25-26 January in partnership with TF Sport in the GTD Pro class.

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Trackhouse Racing are partnering with TF Sport for the 2025 IMSA 24 Hours of Daytona

Trackhouse Racing has announced their entry into the 24 Hours of Daytona on 25-26 January in partnership with TF Sport in the GTD Pro class.

The ‘Trackhouse by TF Sport’ name will run on the #91 Corvette Z06 GT3.R in the professional Grand Touring Daytona category.

A talented driver lineup will consist of Trackhouse Racing NASCAR drivers Connor Zilisch and Shane Van Gisbergen, along with Penske IndyCar star Scott McLaughlin and 2023 WEC GTE Am champion Ben Keating.

Zilisch is competing in his second campaign next year in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

He is notably the reigning LMP2 class-winner having won on his Daytona 24 Hours debut at the start of 2024, and continued an IMSA SportsCar Championship Endurance Cup campaign with LMP2 team Era Motorsport.

Van Gisbergen won three Supercar Championships alike McLaughlin, though debuted into stock car racing in the past two years with three Xfinity victories from earlier this year.

“I can’t wait for the 24 Hours this year,” said Zilisch.

“This will be cool and I really think we can win this race.

“I love my Rolex and if I can get another one, I might wear one on each wrist.

“It takes so much to win this race and I think everyone in this group brings something to the table that will help get us to victory lane.

“I know our Corvette will be fast”.

Scott McLaughlin competed in the past two Daytona 24 Hours in Oreca 07 LMP2 machinery
Scott McLaughlin competed in the past two Daytona 24 Hours in Oreca 07 LMP2 machinery – Credit: LAT Images / Copyright: © 2023 Michael L. Levitt

McLaughlin on his anticipation for Daytona

McLaughlin, who drove in the previous two editions with Tower Motorsports, added: “When the opportunity came up from General Motors to run with Ben, Connor and Shane, I jumped at it straight away.

“I’ve always wanted to run an endurance race in a Chevrolet Corvette, and I could not imagine a better group to join.

“I am confident we have a real chance of winning a Rolex with this team.

“Shane and I have so much history racing against each other, including some time as teammates.

“He is one of the best racers I’ve ever competed against, so it’ll be great to be on his side again for Daytona.

“Connor is a young star who’s going to be around for a long time, and Ben has won Le Mans and a World Championship in a Corvette.

“We’re going to have some fun.”

Double IMSA LMP2 champion Keating will take on his 15th entry into the Daytona 24 Hours and his third combing two simultaneous racing duties – this time with Trackhouse/GTD Pro and PR1 Mathiasen in LMP2.

He previously won the Le Mans 24 Hours in GTE Am with TF Sport in 2022 and Corvette Racing in the following year, but has yet to win the coveted Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Pre-event testing in the Roar Before the 24 will take place on 16-19 January, followed by the main event including free practice, qualifying and the race itself.

READ MORE: Kakunoshin Ohta set for IMSA debut with Meyer Shank at Daytona

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Eastwood: WEC Fuji ‘frustrating’ after Alpine contact ended probable podium finish https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/09/17/eastwood-wec-fuji-frustrating-after-alpine-contact-ended-probable-podium-finish/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/09/17/eastwood-wec-fuji-frustrating-after-alpine-contact-ended-probable-podium-finish/#respond Tue, 17 Sep 2024 13:45:00 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=178743

TF Sport’s Charlie Eastwood described a “frustrating” FIA World Endurance Championship round at Fuji after falling away from an anticipated podium finish due to contact with an Alpine. After narrowly missing out on their second pole position this season, by just 0.082 seconds, the #81 Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R squad missed out on a likely podium […]

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TF Sport’s Charlie Eastwood described a “frustrating” FIA World Endurance Championship round at Fuji after falling away from an anticipated podium finish due to contact with an Alpine.

After narrowly missing out on their second pole position this season, by just 0.082 seconds, the #81 Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R squad missed out on a likely podium by the end of the 6 Hours of Fuji.

Into the final racing hour, after fighting at the sharp end of the LMGT3 class since the beginning, the top-three cars were covered by just one second.

The Northern Irishman resided in plausible podium contention before Alpine’s #35 A424 Hypercar of Charles Milesi tapped the rear of Eastwood’s Corvette into a spin at Turn 16.

Eastwood reflected on the seventh and penultimate WEC race of the year: “What could have been, once again.

“We were in a really good spot the whole race.

“The Corvette was really flying and we were in the podium spots.

“Unfortunately a Hypercar missed his braking into the last corner and spun us around.

He got a drive-through for it, but it was no real consolation to what it did to our race.

“The positive is that we came back from P11 to P4, chased down the podium cars and didn’t give up until the finish.

“The whole team at this point deserves a great result.

“A podium at a minimum and probably a win today got away through someone else’s mistake.

“It’s a frustrating one but we need to keep taking away the positives of the steps were making and how fast the Z06 GT3.R has become so we can close the season in Bahrain on a high.”

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Van Rompuy ‘going for top 3’ in LMGT3 qualifying https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/05/09/van-rompuy-going-for-top-3-in-lmgt3-qualifying/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/05/09/van-rompuy-going-for-top-3-in-lmgt3-qualifying/#respond Thu, 09 May 2024 19:05:00 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=163690

TF Sport #81 Corvette driver Tom van Rompuy is aiming for at least a top three result in qualifying for the 6 Hours of Spa-Franchorchamps, the third round of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship — although really he’s hoping for pole, to repeat his success earlier in the year at Qatar. “You always hope […]

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TF Sport #81 Corvette driver Tom van Rompuy is aiming for at least a top three result in qualifying for the 6 Hours of Spa-Franchorchamps, the third round of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship — although really he’s hoping for pole, to repeat his success earlier in the year at Qatar.

“You always hope for a pole position,” he told Motorsport Week ahead of his home race.

“If it’s the reality I will tell you on Friday evening. But we will try!

“We will try, for sure, to go for a top-three and maybe a pole, we will see.”

Despite his rookie status in the WEC, he took pole for the Qatar 1812 km season opener with a 1:54.372 lap time.

This was the largest gap in front of a competitor compared to any of the other LMGT3 cars at 0.807 seconds, prompting an impressive start to his maiden WEC season and an assertion of capable pace for the new Corvette Z06.R.

Qualifying in LMGT3, like in the former GTE Am category, puts the qualifying responsibility on the Bronze-graded driver which will designate his qualifying duties for the 2024 season.

“Well obviously it’s full focus,” he described the driving approach to qualifying.

“You also prepare that lap – so you go out with new tyres, you get the tyres in the right window to have one or two push laps and to use the peak of the tyre.

“So the beginning of the tyre [driving time] it’s all focus, all [about] the small details – not sliding, don’t miss your braking points so you have to put everything together.”

“It’s a great thing,” he said about his home race in the pre-race press conference as the Belgian is looking to secure his second WEC pole at Spa-Francorchamps.

“I’ve done a lot of races here but not on this level, so it’s – for sure – a highlight of my career.”

Along with his #81 teammates Rui Andrade and Charlie Eastwood, they have only scored eight points at Imola following their Qatar retirement towards the closing phase of the race.

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TF Sport unveils 2024 WEC liveries on new Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/01/16/tf-sport-unveils-2024-wec-liveries-on-new-corvette-z06-gt3-rs/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/01/16/tf-sport-unveils-2024-wec-liveries-on-new-corvette-z06-gt3-rs/#respond Tue, 16 Jan 2024 07:55:39 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=147237

TF Sport has unveiled the liveries its Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs will race in the FIA World Endurance Championship this year, as the team switches to Chevrolet Corvette machinery after many years with Aston Martin. The #81 car, driven by Tom Van Rompuy, Rui Andrade and Charlie Eastwood, will have a yellow front and black rear, […]

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TF Sport has unveiled the liveries its Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs will race in the FIA World Endurance Championship this year, as the team switches to Chevrolet Corvette machinery after many years with Aston Martin.

The #81 car, driven by Tom Van Rompuy, Rui Andrade and Charlie Eastwood, will have a yellow front and black rear, while the sister #82, of Hiroshi Koizumi, Sébastien Baud and Daniel Juncadella, will have reversed colours — black at the front, yellow at the rear.

The team will spend two days testing at Dubai Autodrome before the start of the WEC season. They will then make the short hop to Qatar’s Losail International Circuit, the location of the season opener and the official pre-season testing event, the Prologue.

The 1812km of Qatar takes place on Saturday 2nd March.

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Koizumi, Baud and Juncadella to race #82 TF Sport Corvette in WEC next year https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/12/18/koizumi-baud-and-juncadella-to-race-82-tf-sport-corvette-in-wec-next-year/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/12/18/koizumi-baud-and-juncadella-to-race-82-tf-sport-corvette-in-wec-next-year/#respond Mon, 18 Dec 2023 17:49:38 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=143137

Hiroshi Koizumi, Sébastien Baud and Daniel Juncadella will race the #82 TF Sport Corvette Z06 GT3.R in the FIA World Endurance Championship next year, the team has announced. All three drivers will be making their full season WEC debuts, with Koizumi the only one with any experience in the series, having raced in the 2023 […]

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Hiroshi Koizumi, Sébastien Baud and Daniel Juncadella will race the #82 TF Sport Corvette Z06 GT3.R in the FIA World Endurance Championship next year, the team has announced.

All three drivers will be making their full season WEC debuts, with Koizumi the only one with any experience in the series, having raced in the 2023 6 Hours of Fuji, in the #21 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE Evo entry. Also in 2023, he finished second in the Michelin Le Mans Cup, and won the Japanese Formula 3 championship in 2014.

“I am really proud to work with such experienced drivers like Daniel and Sébastien,” said Koizumi.

“I am looking forward to team up with Daniel Juncadella, winner of Macau and a successful DTM driver: it will definitely be a new opportunity for me. We will do our best to be the number one driver package in the GT3 class”.

Baud, meanwhile, will make his debut in the WEC. The 23-year-old returned to GT racing in 2022, racing in GT Open and the GT World Challenge Europe, and is now stepping up to the pinnacle of endurance and sportscar racing.

The young Frenchman said: “I am so excited to know that I am making a childhood dream come true! It is an honour to join a successful team like TF Sport in the WEC.

“I will be driving a Corvette Z06 GT3.R, a car that marked my inspiration in the 24 Hours of Le Mans! I am looking forward to work with my more experienced teammates, from whom I will be able to learn even more, especially from Dani. Thanks to the team for the trust!”

Finally, Juncadella will likely be a name known to many sportscar fans. After racing with Mercedes as a factory driver for many years, he’s now switched to Corvette and will also be making his WEC debut with the American manufacturer and TF Sport.

“It’s going to be an exciting season: it will be the first opportunity to race in the FIA WEC and to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which makes it all so special,” said the Spaniard.

“New team, new brand, new car, new teammates, everything is a new challenge and it’s really exciting. I am stoked to get to know the team well, to get to know Hiroshi during testing at the start of the season and also Seb, who I already know a little bit. I’m very keen to team up with them and get to work from day one: I hope we will have a strong season!”.

And finally, Tom Ferrier, TF Sport director, said: “We are very pleased to announce our full line-up for the 2024 season of the FIA World Endurance Championship. 

It’s time to welcome Hiroshi, Sébastien and Daniel to the team: we are convinced that, together with the new Corvette Z06 GT3.R, they are a squad capable of achieving great results”.

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TF Sport names first Corvette LMGT3 line up for 2024 https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/12/11/tf-sport-names-first-corvette-lmgt3-line-up-for-2024/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/12/11/tf-sport-names-first-corvette-lmgt3-line-up-for-2024/#respond Mon, 11 Dec 2023 17:25:37 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=141871

Charlie Eastwood, Tom Van Rompuy and Rui Andrade will drive the #81 TF Sport Corvette Z06 GT3.R in 2024, the team has announced. Van Rompuy is a 36-year-old Belgian who raced in the European Le Mans Series in 2023, in the LMP2 Pro/Am class, finishing 13th in the drivers standings in that class. He also […]

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Charlie Eastwood, Tom Van Rompuy and Rui Andrade will drive the #81 TF Sport Corvette Z06 GT3.R in 2024, the team has announced.

Van Rompuy is a 36-year-old Belgian who raced in the European Le Mans Series in 2023, in the LMP2 Pro/Am class, finishing 13th in the drivers standings in that class. He also competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, alongside alongside Maxime Martin and Ugo de Wilde, crossing the line 32nd overall and third in class.

Andrade, meanwhile, was crowned as the 2023 champion of the LMP2 class. The Angloan has a wealth of experience in sportscars, and his knowledge will surely help TF Sport get up to speed with its new GT3 machinery.

Eastwood is a TF Sport regular and new Corvette factory driver. He won the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans in GTE Am and was LMP2 pro/am champion in 2022, both for TF Sport.

“I am very happy and excited to join TF Sport for the upcoming World Endurance Championship,” said van Rompuy.

“I can’t wait to drive my first kilometres in the brand new Corvette, this car looks really amazing. The aim is to fight for podiums and I am convinced that we have a really strong package to fight for good results. I am looking forward to work with this highly professional team”.

Andrade, meanwhile, said: “I am very happy to be back racing in the World Endurance Championship again and to take on this new challenge! It will be my first time racing in GTs, but I couldn’t ask for better people around me to guide me on this journey. 

TF Sport is an experienced team with many titles and wins in multiple classes, so I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together”.

And finally, Eastwood, one of Corvette’s newest factory drivers, said: “I am very happy to be back on the World Endurance Championship grid. 2024 is a special year to be part of the series, with the introduction of the new GT3 class along with so many Hypercars. 

I can’t wait to start my new journey with the Corvette and I am happy to have the fantastic TF Sport team next to me, who have been so successful in the championship. By sharing the car with Tom and Rui I think we have all the tools for a really strong season”.

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Juncadella and Eastwood to front TF Sport’s Corvette LMGT3 programme https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/11/13/juncadella-and-eastwood-to-front-tf-sports-corvette-lmgt3-programme/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/11/13/juncadella-and-eastwood-to-front-tf-sports-corvette-lmgt3-programme/#respond Mon, 13 Nov 2023 14:59:44 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=136725

Daniel Juncadella and Charlie Eastwood have been signed by TF Sport for the team’s 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship campaign, their first as a Corvette Racing customer for the new Z06 GT3.R. The team, which has raced in WEC since the 2018-2019 season, has historically been partnered with Aston Martin. However, with the new LMGT3 […]

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Daniel Juncadella and Charlie Eastwood have been signed by TF Sport for the team’s 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship campaign, their first as a Corvette Racing customer for the new Z06 GT3.R.

The team, which has raced in WEC since the 2018-2019 season, has historically been partnered with Aston Martin. However, with the new LMGT3 regulations mandating two cars per manufacturer and Aston having chosen to go down a different route with The Heart of Racing and D’Station, TF Sport needed a new partner.

That ;partner became Corvette, who in January unveiled the Z06 GT3.R as a replacement for the Corvette C8.R, which raced in the now-defunct GTE class in WEC competition. The Z06 GT3.R will be the first GT3 from the factory and will also be the first Corvette Racing car to be globally available.

Eastwood has raced with TF Sport for a few years, winning the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans in the GTE Am class for the team and the 2022 LMP2 pro/am champion in the European Le Mans Series.

“I am delighted to join TF Sport’s WEC campaign in the brand new Corvette Z06 GT3.R,” said the Irishman.

“It is an absolute honour to be an official Corvette driver and even more to race with the team I have been with since my first endurance race. 

“As always the WEC will be super competitive, but I know we have all the tools to aim for the championship. Qatar can’t come soon enough.”

Juncadella, meanwhile, is a newcomer to both the WEC and TF Sport, having previously raced with Mercedes-AMG in a variety of championships.

Both drivers have joined the Corvette Racing factory driver roster, with Juncadella leaving the employ of Mercedes-AMG as a result.

“I am enormously excited for this new chapter in my career,” said the Spaniard.

“Joining TF Sport for the 2024 WEC season is a dream come true. It will be my first time competing in WEC and in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and I can’t wait to meet everyone in the team and get to work. The new Corvette Z06 GT3.R looks like a proper weapon, I look forward to get my hands on it!”

Finally, Tom Ferrier, TF Sport director, said: “It is an exciting new chapter for TF Sport with Corvette and we are very happy to welcome Daniel and Charlie to the team as our Pro drivers.”

Although he is new to us, Daniel needs no introduction: his results in GT3 speak for themselves. Charlie has been an integral part of TF Sport’s success and we are very happy to be able to continue this journey with him in our new challenge. 

“Both drivers bring speed and experience and know how to win and we couldn’t be happier with the choice of driver that GM has supplied us with”.

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