TINCKNELL TO COMPLETE WEC SEASON WITH FORD CHIP GANASSI RACING

Britain's Harry Tincknell will complete the FIA World Endurance Championship season with Ford Chip Ganassi Racing. Originally a three-race programme that ended with last month's Le Mans 24 Hours, the factory Ford team has now invited Tincknell to race in the remaining six WEC races. Harry is able to accept this extended WEC programme due to the gracious understanding and with the blessing of Nissan Tincknell being a contracted Nissan driver this year after last year's LMP1 sports-prototype programme and his continuing role as a Nissan driver in the European Le Mans Series.

Tincknell, along with Marino Franchitti and Andy Priaulx, posted a fourth (Silverstone, GB) and second (Spa, B) in the opening two WEC races but finished ninth in the Le Mans 24 Hours after a gearbox issue early in the race effectively scuppered their podium ambitions. The three remaining sister Ford GTs placed first, third and fourth 50 years since the manufacturer's historic 1-2-3 outright race finish in the French race. Tincknell, who currently leads the ELMS, faces at least two endurance races a month from now until December apart from in August. Indeed in September, Harry could potentially be involved in 16 hours of racing.

FIA World Endurance Championship (remaining races):

Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GT

6 Hours of Nürburgring (D), 24 July

6 Hours of Mexico (MEX), 3 September

6 Hours COTA (US), 17 September

6 Hours of Fuji (JAP), 16 October

6 Hours of Shanghai (CHN), 6 November

6 Hours of Bahrain (UAE), 19 November

European Le Mans Series (remaining races):

G-Drive Racing Gibson 015S-Nissan

4 Hours of Red Bull Ring (A), 17 July

4 Hours Le Castellet (F), 28 August

4 Hours Spa-Francorchamps (B), 25 September

4 Hours Estoril (POR), 23 October

Harry says: "I am massively excited now to have the opportunity to complete the WEC with Ford this year. Since I moved across from single-seaters to endurance racing in 2014, it's always been my ambition to compete full time in the WEC. Additionally, it's incredible that my first full WEC season will have been with the factory Ford team. I'm already looking forward to getting back onto the GTE-Pro podium after what was a historic Le Mans victory for Ford but a tough 24 Hour race for our #67 Ford GT. I've now got a very busy end to 2016 what with the final four races in the European Le Mans Series plus six WEC races. I've previously raced at the Nürburgring [Blancpain] and in Bahrain [MRF] and tested at COTA last year. I have some very experienced team-mates to help me quickly get up to speed in terms of Mexico, Fuji and Shanghai. I literally cannot wait to race at these world renowned venues. I naturally must thank Nissan for allowing me to complete the WEC season and I am fully focused in attempting to claim the ELMS title for them competing in the Nissan-powered Gibson."