Gamble “Gutted” With Penalty as Podium Evades Aston Martin

Tom Gamble says he is “gutted” with the mistake that resulted in the penalty that denied the No. 007 Aston Martin Valkyrie a clear shot at the marque’s first FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar podium in Sunday’s 6 Hours of Fuji.

The British driver was in the thick of the battle towards the head of the field for most of the race, with the No. 007 Heart of Racing Team he shares entry with Harry Tincknell solidly established in third behind the two leading Alpines at half-distance.

However, early in the fourth hour, Gamble crossed the white line on his way into the pits, picking up a drive-through penalty that dropped the duo away from the podium battle, which was the first of three infractions by the No. 007 crew.

Gamble was given a five-second time penalty for overtaking off track, while Tincknell was given the same punishment for a Turn 1 collision with Brendon Hartley’s No. 8 Toyota TR010 Hybrid that went on to win the race early in hour five.

“I think it’s the most competitive we’ve looked in the history of the whole program, with both cars up there fighting,” Gamble told Sportscar365. “We had a bit of an offset on tires, but we were leading at one stage and it felt pretty comfortable.

“It was a small cock-up from me with big consequences, so I’m a bit gutted for the team. I kind of let them down quite a lot today. Not too proud of myself.”

After Gamble’s first penalty, the No. 007 crew dropped outside the points places entirely as a result of pitting under green just before a virtual car safety car gifted almost the remainder of the Hypercar field a chance to stop under caution.

He and Tincknell were finally classified 14th and a lap down.

“We were a little bit off on fuel, so we had to come in a lap earlier, then the VSC came and we pretty much the lead to 14th in the space of ten minutes,” Gamble added.

“Things got away from us today. It’s racing, you have a lot more downs than ups.

“On the positive side, the car was really quick and the podium surely has to be getting closer. The massive positive is that the team is doing a great job and we had fast pace all weekend. I’m gutted right now but I’ll learn from my mistake.”

With Aston Martin still searching for a first podium with the Valkyrie, Gamble expressed confidence that next month’s 6 Hours of Barcelona will offer another chance.

“We’ve never been to Barcelona before, but I think the characteristics of the track could suit us,” he said. “We don’t have any data there, so we’ll see how we get on.

“We’ve been quick at almost every track, Imola was our weakest one, and since then we’ve been getting better and better. This was the first time this season that we didn’t score points. Hopefully we can get that first podium in Barcelona.”

Sorensen Explains No. 009 Valkyrie’s Late Tumble Down Order

After the No. 007 Aston’s issues, the sister No. 009 Valkyrie of Marco Sorensen and Alex Riberas looked well-placed to pick up the pieces until the final safety car period and resulting shuffle of the order in the pit lane in the last hour of the race.

But once the race resumed with 20 minutes remaining, Sorensen fell from fourth to ninth at the finish.

Most of the places were lost when Sorensen, already fighting a rear-guard action against the Peugeot of fellow countryman Malthe Jakobsen, made contact with Alessio Rovera’s AF Corse Ferrari LMGT3 car at Turn 1 with five minutes remaining.

“If that safety car didn’t come out and we didn’t have a little mistake in the last stop, then we would have ended on on the podium,” said Sorensen.

“It’s not good enough that we obviously didn’t get the result that we deserved today because I think both cars had the pace to be up there and actually fight for the win, even.

“We were off the podium and I was more worried about who was coming from behind than actually going forward. I don’t know if the Peugeot took new tires or what they did, but they were very quick in the last stint.

“So the last two laps would have probably been difficult to keep them behind already. So, bit of a shame. So this last safety car definitely put us in a bad position.”

Sorensen’s collision with Rovera was considered a racing incident, with the Dane avoiding a penalty.