Tincknell: COTA Showing Gives “Huge Optimism” Despite DNF

Harry Tincknell said Aston Martin’s strong showing at Lone Star Le Mans gave the brand “huge optimism” over the Valkyrie’s progress, despite both cars failing to make the finish due to overheating issues.

The pair of V12-powered LMH cars looked on track to score a double points for the first time in the program’s history, with the two Valkyries running solidly inside the top ten in the final hour before trouble struck.

Tincknell, who was at the wheel of the No. 007 car that ran as high as fifth in the rain-soaked FIA World Endurance Championship round at Circuit of The Americas, explained that blocked radiators caused a misfire that ultimately led to retirement.

“After the Full Course Yellow, I just had a misfire and I just lost power,” Tincknell said.

“So I was like 60, 70 horsepower down. And it’s come from grit and dirt getting into the radiators and then overheating.

“It’s the same thing with the No. 009 car as well.

“So it’s probably something we need to look at redesigning going forward because by the end of Le Mans we also had similar things with the radiators.

“But I think just with the rain and then going slow in the Full Course Yellow, it raises the temps right up and then just couldn’t get them back down because they were so bogged up.”

Despite the double retirement, Tincknell struck an upbeat tone speaking to media after the race, explaining how Aston Martin’s performance across the entire weekend at COTA was reason for “huge optimism for the future.”

“It is tough, but at the same time I’m not actually that sad because of how good the good bits were and how much we’ve progress we’ve made,” Tincknell said.

“Of course, when you’ve got a podium in sight, it’s sad to sit here with no points.

“But the car was unbelievable in the wet. It’s been really good in the dry this weekend as well.

“Qualifying was a shame. It was great that the No. 009 car made it to Hyperpole and then [increase in] rain just screwed us.

“The one place we’re not good at the moment is switching on the slick tire in the damp conditions but in the full wet we were really, really strong.

“I started half a lap back from everyone and came through the pack and up there fighting with the Porsches in the top four.

“It was really fun, firstly. We had a long list of improvements that we’ve been working on over the summer break.

“We put them on the car and they’ve all worked in the dry and the wet. It gives us huge optimism for the future.

“I think nobody expected us to be at this sort of pace. It’s exciting for the future.”