Tincknell to Expand Aston Martin Duties into GT3

Photo: Julien Delfosse/DPPI

Harry Tincknell is set to make outings in Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo machinery next year as part of an expanded role as an Aston Martin factory driver.

The 35-year-old Brit, who holds extensive prototype and GT experience, is set to continue with Heart of Racing Team’s Aston Martin Valkyrie program in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

However, Tincknell will not be back with Bryan Herta Autosport with PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship LMP2 competition and revealed he will instead be at the wheel of an Aston GTD Pro or GTD entry for January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.

“I’m going to be driving an Aston in Daytona, at least,” he told Sportscar365. “Which one is still a little bit TBD. I’m looking forward to it.

“That’s what I’m trying to do. I’m very grateful to Bobby [Oergel] and Bryan [Herta] for the opportunity this year in LMP2. We nearly won Indy, which was cool.

“But I think going forward, maximizing opportunities to me as an Aston Martin factory driver is a good place to be.

“There’s obviously a lot more chances to drive the Vantage than there is the Valkyrie.

“Obviously WEC is the main priority but if I can do some of the bigger races around the world, that would be really cool.

“So I’m just working on that but right now, it’s only Daytona but there’s scope for some more.

Tincknell won the 2020 Le Mans 24 Hours in a works Aston Martin Vantage GTE, but other than that, holds no prior GT experience with the British manufacturer.

“The first step is to get in the car and drive it and do a good job in Daytona,” he said. “Obviously I’ve driven the GTE car.

“It’s going to be exciting. I feel really at home here now. The team spirt within The Heart of Racing is unbelievable.

“We’re all genuinely really great friends; we speak to each other pretty much every day on WhatsApp groups and stuff. The same is within the wider Aston Martin group.

“I’m just really enjoying it, feel very grateful for the opportunity and we’re just trying to grab it with both hands.”

When asked what other GT races he’d like to be in with Aston Martin, Tincknell hinted towards a possible GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS campaign.

However, he has ruled out contesting the Nürburgring 24 in the future as well.

“I’ve never done Nürburgring 24 and I don’t have the license, so that’s maybe a bit of a longer term project but the Spa 24, GT World Challenge and IMSA stuff, I know the tracks well,” he said.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John