TINCKNELL FLAT OUT FOR ELMS SILVERWARE IN PORTUGUESE FINALÉ

British youngster aiming for sportscar championship title glory.

Harry Tincknell goes in search of his first sportscar championship title in Portugal on Sunday (18 Oct). The 23-year-old Briton, who only switched to the sportscar category 18 months ago, is looking to add the prestigious European Le Mans Series “crown” to his burgeoning portfolio that already includes winning last year’s Le Mans 24 Hours on his début.

Tincknell along with JOTA Sport co-drivers Simon Dolan and Filipe Albuquerque head to the ELMS finalé at Estoril with a slender one-point lead having posted podium finishes in all four races so far this year. One win (Red Bull Ring) plus second (Silverstone) and third (Imola/Paul Ricard) placings in their Gibson 015S-Nissan means a tense battle for title honours is in prospect this weekend.

Having lost out on last year’s championship title by a mere four-points, Harry is doubly determined to succeed this time around – a quest made more difficult after a post-race penalty following last month’s “win” at Paul Ricard. An unfortunate software glitch caused the team to breach the 90mins maximum driving time by less than two minutes turning celebrations in to commiserations in France last month. A somewhat harsh punishment of 45secs was given, hours after the post-race celebrations, for an innocent error that resulted in no gain or benefit to the leading and ultimately winning JOTA Gibson.

Two 90min Free Practice sessions are staged on Saturday (1030 & 1500). The following day features qualifying (0930) and the Four Hours of Estoril (1300).