CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER TINCKNELL IN BULLISH MOOD FOR AUSTRIA

Harry Tincknell heads for Austria and the third round of the European Le Mans Series this weekend (16-17 July) focussed on extending his championship lead after a nine-week break in the series. Having won (Silverstone) and placed second (Imola) in the opening two races, Tincknell enjoys a 13-point advantage in the standings going to the 4 Hours of Red Bull Ring on Sunday.

The 2.69-mile circuit nestling in the foothills of the Styrian Alps has historically been a happy hunting ground for Tincknell. This year marks the fourth time Harry will have raced at the Red Bull Ring having made his debut there in 2013. He posted 12th, seventh and fourth place finishes in his maiden races in an FIA European Formula 3 Championship event while for the last two years, has seen Harry race the same JOTA Sport operated G-Drive Racing Gibson 015S-Nissan LMP2 class sports car that he shares this time around with co-drivers Simon Dolan and Giedo van der Garde.

Tincknell qualified on pole-position in both 2014 and '15, finishing second by less than 13secs in the four-hour race in the former and winning last year. Harry, who has finished second and third respectively in the final ELMS standings for the past two years, will contest practice on Friday (1450-1620 local) and Saturday (0835-1005). A 10mins qualifying session is held on Saturday (1330-1340) for grid positions with the 4 Hours of Red Bull Ring due to start at 1400 on Sunday.

Harry says: "We're the championship leaders and we're going for the win at the Red Bull Ring to extend our advantage. It's one of my favourite races of the season and is one of the most picturesque tracks in the world. It's a very flowing track with lots of medium and high speed corners. It is somewhere I've done very well at in the past and I'm obviously hoping that this continues this year. Last season I had pole, won and set the fastest race lap. The year before I also had pole and finished second in the ELMS race. The track's not too physical as there are a couple of long straights to get your breath back and this also means it's a great track for racing on as there are chances to slipstream down the straights. Going up to Turn 2 is a good passing place as it is a slow-speed right hander preceding a long back straight. Good traction is required so hopefully this track will suit our Gibson again but we know we are going to have tough opposition, especially from the Oreca of TDS and Dragon Speed."