GT3 Regulars Al Harthy, De Haan Make GTE Step with TF Sport

GT3 competitors Ahmad Al Harthy and Sam De Haan will make their GTE debuts together in the European Le Mans Series this year, sharing a TF Sport Aston Martin Vantage GTE with Marco Sorensen.

TF has confirmed that Al Harthy, a TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa class winner, and 2020 British GT runner-up De Haan will run the full six-round ELMS campaign under the Oman Racing banner.

The pair will contest the Asian Le Mans Series together this month, sharing a GT3-spec Vantage with Charlie Eastwood, as part of their preparations for a maiden campaign in the GTE formula.

2019-20 FIA World Endurance GT champion Sorensen is set for his first full season in ELMS, for a program that will run parallel to his WEC drive in the No. 33 TF Sport-run Aston Martin Vantage GTE alongside Ben Keating and Florian Latorre.

“We have an incredibly strong lineup in Ahmad, Sam and Marco and I have no doubt that they will be pushing for the championship title,” said TF Sport team principal Tom Ferrier.

“Ahmad and Sam will have the Asian Le Mans Series under their belts to gel together as teammates, and despite them both being new to the GTE, they have claimed successes in the Vantage GT3.

“So by having two-time WEC champion Marco on hand, the transition to the GTE will be seamless, I’m sure.”

Al Harthy is set for his first full-length European season since 2019, although the Omani racer contested several races across different championships with TF last year.

De Haan most recently drove for Mercedes-AMG customer team RAM Racing in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup.

“This next step in my racing journey will be the biggest yet, but it is also the most exciting,” said De Haan.

“GTE competition is what I have been working towards, with the ultimate goal to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“The team we have around us for this new program is truly world-class, and it is great to be competing with Oman Racing with TF Sport alongside Ahmad and the hugely experienced and talented Marco.”

Al Harthy, who is the designated Bronze driver in the crew, added: “I’m delighted to finally be stepping up to the GTE class with Oman Racing with TF Sport.

“It is great to have a full-season program in place and I’m really looking forward to be racing alongside Sam and Marco.

“I’m very proud to be able to represent Oman on the European Le Mans Series stage and our aim, as always, is to get as many strong results as possible, in view to challenging for the title at the end of the season.”

TF Sport has now announced two ELMS entries for 2022, after confirming the return of Bronze driver John Hartshorne with new co-drivers Jonny Adam and Henrique Chaves.