European Le Mans Series resumes at Red Bull Ring
Monday, July 17, 2017
After nearly an eight week break, the 2017 European Le Mans Series resumes for Round three this weekend from the Red Bull Ring in Austria.
Full season entries from Beechdean AMR and TF Sport again feature (quite prominently we hope) within the six car entry alongside three Ferrari 488's and a single Porsche 911 RSR that make up the GTE class entry, one entry down to last time out in Monza.
Of course, both the #99 Beechdean AMR and the #90 TF Sport participated within the 85th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June where the cars finished fourth and seventh respectively but without their usual Pro drivers - a great achievement by all.
Both Aston Martin Racing supported entries are listed as having their usual driver line ups with Andrew Howard, Ross Gunn being reunited with AMR works driver Darren Turner whilst Salih Yoluc, Euan Hankey again team up with fellow AMR works driver Nicki Thiim after the factory's WEC exploits in Germany last weekend.
Whilst we believe that the #99 car has been dormant since Le Mans we know that both Yoluc and Hankey tested their #90 car at Spa Francorchamps last week with both cars having undergone an extensive rebuild after Le Mans. Yoluc also took part in the 1000Km Blancpain GT race from Paul Ricard after Le Mans with Ahmad Al Harthy and Jonny Adam in their TF Sport entered V12 Vantage GT3 whilst Howard has raced in a Britcar event from Silverstone in one of his GT4 Vantages.
TF Sport continue to lead the GTE class going into Round three by virtue of a race win and a second in the opening rounds whereas Beechdean AMR lay third after a brace of third's from Silverstone and Monza. JMW Motorsport split the Astons with what will be their first event in the ELMS with their new 488 having raced their old 458 up until Le Mans. Unlike the WEC entries at Le Mans, no points were scored for those registered in the ELMS championship.
This weekend's timetable shall see the ELMS runners out for their first Free Practice session this Friday with another on Saturday morning before Qualifying in the afternoon.
The start of Sunday's four hour race will be at 13.00hrs local.
