24 hr of Le Mans Preview
Charlie Eastwood will be racing in arguably the most famous race in motorsport, the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) 24 hr of Le Mans on the 15-16 June.
Racing the number 90 Aston Martin Vantage for TF Sport alongside teammates Euan Alers-Hankey and Salih Yoluc, Charlie currently sits third in the LMGTE Am class with one round left to race in the super season.
With seven rounds completed, Charlie has scored four podiums, the most impressive being the second place at Spa in which the team had to deal with dramatically varying weather conditions - described as four seasons in one race.
The Belfast born driver will look to rectify the retirement he suffered in Le Mans 12 months ago after a driveshaft failed on lap 304. Before Charlie races in the 24 hrs, he had to take part in the official Le Mans 24 hr test, the test will allow the drivers to set their cars up for the 8.467-mile Circuit de la Sarthe.
The test gives Charlie the opportunity to understand the car however he admits it is not a true representation of the outright pace of the cars.
“The test went well, we got through all the things we needed to, it is a bit of an unknown at the test because everyone has their own programs and nobody is really pushing the car crazy heavy because we have of course the 24 hr race afterwards. We got through everything we needed to and it was a good test.”
The TF Sport team completed 78 laps, showing consistent long run pace.
The Le Mans 24hr is considered one of the biggest races in motorsport and Charlie believes that they have a chance of a class win:
“The 24hr is the biggest endurance race in the world, there are just crowds everywhere that you have never seen before. I am really looking forward to the build-up and just getting started, we have a really good chance of winning the event. There is a lot more to it than just lap times and the drivers, anything can happen. There is no reason why we can’t win the race. We will be racing against the best drivers in the world, I am looking forward to it.”
Charlie’s build-up to the 24hr of Le Mans begins on Wednesday 12 June at 3 pm UK with FP1. The race will start on Saturday 15 June at 2 pm UK time.
