Not how TF Sport wanted to see out the International GT Open season
Monday, November 07, 2016
TF Sport doubled up for the season finale of the International GT Open last weekend in Barcelona (5-6 November, 2016) with race regulars Salih Yoluc and Euan Hankey being joined by British GT race winners Mark Farmer and Jon Barnes in a second Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3. However, despite great promise from both camps in qualifying, the race results left the team wanting for more.
On the back of a GT Open win at Monza and securing TF Sport title success in the Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup, Yoluc and Hankey had high hopes of success in the season finale, but the race weekend proved to be a tough one with the duo taking the chequered flag in eighth position in race one and suffering electrical issues in the second race.
Hankey qualified the #34 Aston Martin a promising second for the first race but both he and Salih dropped back as the race progressed, losing seventh position on the very final lap. Farmer and Barnes meanwhile had a gearbox problem in qualifying which left them stranded at the back of the grid. Farmer then enjoyed a strong stint at the wheel of the #11 car, climbing quickly to 13th before being forced to retire with a holed radiator.
Qualifying for race two saw Barnes make best of the drying conditions to line up in second position following a great call to switch to slick tyres.
Hopes of a strong result were soon dashed however as he was hit on the first lap by a rival and spun down the order. A strong recovery drive from Barnes and teammate Farmer followed, taking the chequered flag in seventh.
Over in the #34 Aston Martin, an electrical issue ended race two at the outset to cap off a frustrating weekend for the team.
“It was a really disappointing race weekend,” stated TF Sport Director Tom Ferrier. “We qualified second with either car in both races and came away with a seventh and eighth. Nothing seemed to want to go right all weekend.
“We have had a great year, but we have to remember you are only as good as your last race, and having a weekend like this will give us extra motivation to improve into 2017.”
Despite the difficult season finale in Spain, Ferrier and TF Sport have had a fantastic season, claiming title success both in the UK and Europe.
“We have done 20 race weekends this year and I'm extremely proud of everyone involved and hope they can have some more time off in the winter months,” Ferrier said. “In saying that, we have plenty of work to do to prepare for a bigger and better year to come!”
Source material - TF Sport
Photo credit - Fotospeedy
