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European Le Mans Series

TF Sport Adds European Aston Martin GTE Program

Hartshorne, Hancock, Gunn to drive TF Sport Aston in ELMS GTE category…

Photo: MPS Agency

TF Sport has expanded its European Le Mans Series entry for the 2021 season with the addition of an Aston Martin Vantage GTE to create a two-car program.

The reigning 24 Hours of Le Mans GTE-Am class winner has announced plans to contest the full ELMS season in GTE with John Hartshorne, Ollie Hancock and Ross Gunn.

TF Sport had already confirmed its ELMS return in the form of Racing Team Turkey’s LMP2 entry with Salih Yoluc, Charlie Eastwood and Mazda DPi driver Harry Tincknell.

Its GTE entry in the six-round championship brings the team back to that particular ELMS category for the first time since 2017 when it ran a previous-generation Vantage.

Bronze-rated driver Hartshorne is returning to the ELMS five years on from his last involvement in the series’ LMP3 division.

The Brit also won the 2012 LMPC class title and drove at Le Mans in 2005 with TVR.

Hartshorne and Hancock shared a Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 in Michelin Le Mans Cup last year but have stepped up to GTE machinery as part of Hartshorne’s target to return to the Le Mans grid.

They are already confirmed to drive a TF Sport GT3-spec Aston with Eastwood in the Asian Le Mans Series, which kicks off at Dubai Autodrome this weekend.

Their ELMS venture will be supported by Gunn who is an Aston Martin factory driver.

“After spending the last few years in GT3, it was about time I made the step up to the next level,” said Hartshorne.

“With my goal in mind, and with TF Sport winning Le Mans last season, it only made sense to take this step with them.

“I’m excited to be racing across Europe, with my British teammates, in a British car, for a British team.”

TF Sport is now set to run Aston Martins in the FIA World Endurance Championship and both the European and Asian Le Mans Series competitions.

“It’s great to be back in the ELMS paddock and to be running a third Aston Martin GTE in our 2021 season,” said team principal Tom Ferrier.

“We were so close to winning the championship last time, our only aim is to go back and seal the deal in both classes.

“It’s certainly going to be a challenge, but it is one I believe we are more than capable of taking on.

“After racing against Ross in WEC last season, I’m glad he’s able to join us and strengthen the line-up even further.”

Daniel Lloyd is a UK-based reporter for Sportscar365, covering the FIA World Endurance Championship, Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, among other series.

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