Harry doubles up on Japan win with stunning GTE Pro category win for Ford on China debut

Britain’s Harry Tincknell scored a superb FIA World Endurance Championship GTE Pro class victory for the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team today (6 Nov).

Tincknell along with Andy Priaulx swept their “factory” Ford GT to a comfortable 50secs win in the 6 Hours of Shanghai on Harry’s race debut in China. It was Harry’s third GTE Pro class rostrum and sixth top-six finish in the Ford GT from eight races, his fourth WEC career victory and comes on the back of him claiming the European Le Mans Series title.The Tincknell/Priaulx Ford GT started from pole-position on the GTE Pro grid – the duo’s maiden “pole” and their second consecutive front row class start. The Tincknell/Priaulx Ford led from start to finish apart from the pit-stop phases, Priaulx starting the race with Harry taking over the wheel in the second and fourth hours before taking the final stint to the chequered flag. The #67 Ford had led by 54secs at mid-distance staged in dry, warm weather conditions. The ninth and final round of the WEC is staged in Bahrain on 19 November, Harry having raced in Bahrain on just one previous occasion in a single-seater.

Harry Tincknell (GB): Age: 25. Born: Exeter, Devon, England. Lives: Sidmouth, Devon, England.“Three wins on the bounce is a dream and I’m delighted to have achieved a second consecutive WEC victory for Ford. The last month for me has been amazing. I sat at home in the summer knowing that I was driving well but that I was just not getting the breaks through sheer bad luck to achieve top results. I probably pushed a little too hard in my opening stint which caused me to have low grip in the closing stages. I really hooked up my last stint – I was totally in the zone. It was an amazing feeling, my times were fast and consistent. Our ‘sister’ car suffered a puncture so we were fully aware that could happen to us. The Ford GT ran like clockwork and the team did a fantastic job with the strategy and pit-stops.“I was very proud to achieve our car’s first ‘pole’ of the season with Andy – we just nailed it! Our crew made changes overnight and fine-tuned it further after the final practice session resulting in a fantastic car for us in a qually – it was a great job by them. Now it’s a case of focussing on the final round of the WEC in Bahrain and achieving my third Ford win of the season. I raced there supporting the WEC in the MRF championship three years ago and finished third. The track should be a strong one for us again with lots of long straights, heavy braking zones and quick corners. It will certainly be hot in the cockpit with the very high ambient temperatures so I’ll be preparing with extra fitness sessions in the coming days that could prove vital in the race.”