TF Sport picks up the mantel for the Oman Racing Team
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
With Oman Racing and Motorbase parting company last year, all seemed lost of having the Aston Martin Racing brand represented within the pinnacle of GT3 racing - the Blancpain GT Series.
Today however, saw the announcement that Ahmad Al Harthy was taking his Oman Racing Team over to the Tom Ferrier team - TF Sport to continue the Omani's blue and white #46 car's quest within the Pro-AM category of the Blancpain Endurance Cup in 2017.
TF Sport are very much the team of the moment having secured not only the British GT GT3 Championship with Jonny Adam and Derek Johnston but also the GT3 Le Mans Cup GT3 Team title in 2016 with Salih Yoluc and Euan Hankey and securing themselves a European Le Mans Series GTE and Le Mans 24Hr entry to boot.
Rejoining Al Harthy in the #46 car for 2017 will be AMR WEC squad member Jonny Adam who partnered the Omani (and Devon Modell) in 2016 to finish in the seventh overall in Pro-Am.
“I’m thrilled to be racing with Jonny as my team-mate again and, of course, with Aston Martin,” Ahmad said. “Our new partnership with TF Sport is the start of a fresh chapter and we’re determined to mount a very strong challenge in Blancpain this year. I am also extremely excited to be taking part in the Le Mans 24 Hours support race and to be returning to the Gulf 12 Hours.”
The last sentence above we assume means that Al Harthy will also be entering the Le Mans Cup Series showcase event at Le Mans on the weekend of the 24Hr but that is yet to be officially confirmed by the series.
Oman Racing will make their first ‘official’ appearance of the year during the pre-season Blancpain Endurance Cup test days at Paul Ricard in France on 13th/14th March. The championship gets underway one month later, over the weekend 22nd/23rd April at Monza in Italy.
Blancpain Endurance Cup Calendar
Rd1 Monza, Italy – 22/23 April
Rd2 Silverstone, UK – 13/14 May
Rd3 Paul Ricard, France – 23/24 June
Rd4 Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium – 29/30 July
Rd5 Barcelona, Spain – 30 September/1 October
Pre-Season Test: Paul Ricard, France – 13/14 March
Total 24 Hours Test: Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium – 4 July
Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup - Le Mans 24 Hours Support Race
Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France – 17 June
Gulf 12 Hours
Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi – 16 December
Oman Racing will make their first ‘official’ appearance of the year during the pre-season Blancpain Endurance Cup test days at Paul Ricard in France on 13th/14th March. The championship gets underway one month later, over the weekend 22nd/23rd April at Monza in Italy.
Blancpain Endurance Cup Calendar
Rd1 Monza, Italy – 22/23 April
Rd2 Silverstone, UK – 13/14 May
Rd3 Paul Ricard, France – 23/24 June
Rd4 Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium – 29/30 July
Rd5 Barcelona, Spain – 30 September/1 October
Pre-Season Test: Paul Ricard, France – 13/14 March
Total 24 Hours Test: Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium – 4 July
Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup - Le Mans 24 Hours Support Race
Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France – 17 June
Gulf 12 Hours
Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi – 16 December
Since both former Motorbase V12 Vantage GT3 chassis remain listed for sale we are trying to find out whether this car is a new platform or one they already have as one thing is for certain - TF Sport are going to have another VERY busy year!!!!
Photo credits - Oman Racing Team
