Early UK win adds to TF Sports European desires
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
A winning start to 2016 on UK shores has only intensified TF Sport’s desire to chase glory in the first round of the International GT Open at Circuito do Estoril in Portugal (23-24 April).
TF Sport opened the British GT season with a convincing victory at Brands Hatch and the Redhill-based team swaps one historic racetrack for another as it turns its attention to the opening instalment of the International GT Open on the evocative Estoril circuit.
Britain’s Euan Hankey and Turkey’s Salih Yoluc spent last year getting acquainted with the championship and extend their successful partnership into 2016, with dovetailed campaigns in GT Open and the newly inaugurated Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup.
Reports from pre-season testing have been very positive, as an outing at Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona and another in Portugal confirmed the excellent form of the TF Sport-prepared Aston Martin V12 Vantage that Hankey and Yoluc will share in 2016.
Yoluc said: “I'm really happy that we're finally starting the season. We worked really hard during the winter and I can’t wait to see the results at Circuito do Estoril. Of course, we're all set and ready to go, and I expect to be in a much stronger position compared to the start of last season now we have a year of experience under our belts.
“The first aim is to enjoy it, but a solid result will obviously help us enjoy the weekend a lot more, so that is what we are aiming for. Looking at the whole season, the fact we’re competing in two different championships means we have two different targets. I expect the International GT Open to be a bit tougher and I truly believe we can aim for the top step of the podium during each and every race in the Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup. But only time will tell what we’re actually capable of.”
TF Sport Director, Tom Ferrier, added: “Euan Hankey and Salih Yoluc have been very strong throughout pre-season testing and the outcome of our race and qualifying simulations is very positive indeed. We are particularly pleased with Salih’s progress and he has done a lot of fruitful setup work over the winter, so I’m expecting to be fighting for solid results from the outset.”
Source material - TF Sport
Photo credits - Fotospeedy / Adrenal Media