TF Sport is facing a challenge within a challenge as it debuts the all-new Corvette in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
The English team went to the Dubai Autodrome this week to carry out tests with the two Z06 GT3.Rs entered in the LMGT3 Class, but the weather was not the best.
The rain in fact blocked everyone for a couple of days and therefore it was necessary to reschedule the week's activities, with the pilots trying to work on theory before moving on to… practice!
Charlie Eastwood, who will share the wheel of the #81 car together with Tom Van Rompuy and Rui Andrade, told the journalists – including Motorsport.com – what happened in Arabia.
Charlie Eastwood, TF Sport, Corvette Z06 GT3.R
Photo by: TF Sport
“Our program is relatively new, although I already know the staff of the TF Sport team, but unfortunately we didn't start as we would have liked,” explains the Irishman.
“We went straight to Dubai from the UK, but there were some downpours on Monday and Tuesday which flooded the runway.”
“There were three different impassable spots, so we couldn't complete a single lap over the two days.”
“It's a shame because it was the first opportunity to get together as a team, start to understand the car by collaborating with the guys from Corvette who had come from America to give us a hand.”
TF Sport, Corvette Z06 GT3.R
Photo by: TF Sport
Having to learn various things, both from a management point of view for the team and in driving for the drivers, the hours lost actually became precious for training on other things.
“We took the opportunity to see other things, such as general procedures, how the pit stops work and so on. The team is used to working on the Aston Martin and this is a great challenge for everyone.”
“Personally I already had the opportunity to work with the guys from Pratt Miller Motorsports and race at Daytona, so I learned something.”
TF Sport, Corvette Z06 GT3.R
Photo by: TF Sport
In a week the Prologue tests will begin, a starter to the 1812 Km of Qatar which will open the 2024 season for Eastwood and his teammates in the #81, as well as the boys in the #82, namely Daniel Juncadella, Sébastien Baud and Hiroshi Koizumi, all very busy therefore to try to take advantage of the little time available to try to be ready for Lusail.
“We hope to be able to use the days that separate us from the Prologue to get used to the car, in order to get an idea of what can await us in the first event of the year in Qatar”, concludes Eastwood.
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