Tincknell in Running for Heart of Racing Valkyrie LMH Drive

Photo: Javier Jimenez/DPPI

Harry Tincknell has emerged as a candidate for Heart of Racing Team’s Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH program in the FIA World Endurance Championship, alongside an expected crop of existing factory Aston Martin and Heart of Racing drivers for the two-car Hypercar effort.

The Briton, who took part in the car’s initial shakedown in the UK, is understood to be one of the few external drivers being considered for the program, which will also include a single-car effort in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Tincknell, a Multimatic-contracted driver, is known to have driven the V12-powered prototype in the initial tests at Silverstone and Donington Park in the summer.

Multimatic Motorsports, under the leadership of George Howard-Chappell, will be operating the Ian James-led team’s program in the WEC next year.

“It’s that time of year where everything is being discussed and there are a few options, but nothing is signed,” Tincknell told Sportscar365. “[I’m] hoping to know within the next week or so.”

When asked specifically if he has a chance at Aston Martin, Tincknell said: “Obviously I’m a Multimatic driver, so anything they are doing, I have historically been involved with.

“It was cool to drive that car for the first time or two. I’d love to be in Hypercar and have a chance to win Le Mans, so fingers crossed.”

Tincknell, who won the 2020 Le Mans 24 Hours in the GTE-Pro class with Aston Martin, has spent the majority of the WEC season at the wheel of Proton Competition’s customer Porsche 963, alongside a dual WeatherTech Championship program with Ford Multimatic Motorsports.

The 33-year-old Englishman admitted that remaining at Proton is also “definitely an option” for the WEC, amid his expected return to the factory Ford Mustang GT3 program in IMSA’s GTD Pro class.

“I have a long association with Christian [Ried] and he has really helped me over the last three or four years,” he said. “I think the decision is imminent.”

When approached by Sportscar365 on Tincknell’s prospects, Heart of Racing team principal Ian James said: “I don’t know. He helped us out initially with the shakedown. He’s a Multimatic driver, so that’s more of a Multimatic question.

“The driver lineup isn’t finalized yet.”

An Aston Martin spokesperson, meanwhile, told Sportscar365 that the British manufacturer and Heart of Racing will be making its driver announcements in “due course.”

Existing Heart of Racing drivers Alex Riberas, Mario Farnbacher and Aston Martin factory driver Ross Gunn are all understood to likely secure seats, along with other AMR works drivers.

James previously told Sportscar365 that its entire driver lineup will become factory pilots as part of its partnership with the British manufacturer.

Jamie Klein & Davey Euwema contributed to this report

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