FIA WEC: The 'Brit' Pack hits Silverstone!

As we approach the 3rd Round of the FIA World Endurance Championship ‘Super Season’, who will be the Brits to follow at the 6 Hours of Silverstone on 19th August…

Oli Webb  – Bykolles Racing Team – LMP1 No. 4

Sadly this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours wasn’t too be for Oli; after a heavy crash for Dominik Kraihamer at the Porsche Curves the teams afternoon ended a little over 4 hours into the race, and poor Oli didn’t even make it into the car!  To put a smile back on his face however he was found at the Silverstone Classic last month tearing round in the all new Heritage F1 HR1-018.  Oli had this to say when we dropped him a line…. ‘Very much looking forward to getting to race again at Silverstone as it feels so long.  I’m there often but to be there in a top level of Motorsport and LMP1 racing is amazing.  I will be starting the race in front of my home crowd and can’t wait’!  He’s hoping he has better luck than at LM!

Mike Conway – Toyota Gazoo Racing – LMP1 – Hybrid No. 7

After a rather dismal outing at last year’s 6 Hours of Silverstone, and with two second place finishes in a row (Spa & Le Mans) under his belt this year, Mike will be hoping his home circuit brings the podium firmly his way… it’s about time the No. 7 found itself on the top step!        

Ben Hanley – Dragonspeed – LMP1 No. 10

Ben will be a busy boy come Silverstone – not only will he be in the WEC 6 Hours of Silverstone on the Sunday, but the day before you can find him in the ELMS 4 Hours!  We spoke with Ben and he ‘Can't wait, going to be a busy weekend with doing both the ELMS and WEC races but really looking forward to it.  The track is one of the best with all the medium and high speed corners, so the LMP1 & 2  will be awesome to drive round there.’  Let’s hope Ben remembers the slight differences between his two machines, such as door handle locations and radio position… ‘a few practice changes and all will be ok’!

Jenson Button – SMP Racing – LMP1 No. 11

A cruel engine failure brought Jenson’s first Le Mans 24 Hours to a halt with just 57 minutes left to run of the gruelling race – apart from when he ‘needed a wee’ Jenson was quite happy to stay behind the wheel experiencing sunset and sunrise!  He is looking forward to being in front of the home crowd which will be ‘pretty awesome…’

Anthony Davidson – Dragonspeed – LMP2 No. 31

Alongside his Toyota and F1 commentating commitments, Anthony is managing to squeeze in some time to race with Dragonspeed.  Experience is something Ant has in bucket loads so expect to see a ‘flying’ Dragon next week!

James Calado – AF Corse – LMGTE Pro No. 51

Two words: Goodwood… Burnout… ‘enuff said’!

Andy Priaulx MBE – Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK – LMGTE Pro No. 67

Some family time in Guernsey, a little jaunt up a hill at Goodwood, it’s been a nice few weeks for Andy.  Less can be said for the start to his 2018/19 season - with a 4th place at Spa, and we won’t talk about Le Mans, Andy will be another hoping for some luck and cheer at his home race!

Harry Tincknell – Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK – LMGTE Pro No. 67

This man doesn’t stop!  Being team mates with Andy Priaulx MBE he has endured the same results for this year’s WEC rounds, but there has been outings in Formula E, IMSA, Goodwood, some hiking, some sailing, a bit of golf… maybe the actual endurance racing is where Harry catches his breath!

Sam Bird – AF Corse – LMGTE Pro No. 71

Love Islander… I mean Londoner Sam has just finished 3rd place in the Driver’s Championship of Formula E for the ‘17/’18 season; having taken 3rd place at the opening WEC round he will no doubt looking to improve on that with the Prancing Horse.

Mike Wainwright – Gulf Racing – LMGTE Am No. 86

Gentleman driver, team owner, businessman, family man… Mike will have much support going into Silverstone, maybe running in the legendary Gulf livery will assist with that!  A 7th place finish at Spa, and last in class at the 24 Hours, Mike will be giving it his all, in his very gentlemanly English way!

Ben Barker – Gulf Racing – LMGTE Am No. 86

In his own words ‘A tool that operates racing cars’, Ben will be, like everyone above (and below) him, hoping the crowd sends Lady Luck his way on the 19th August.  Team mate to Mike Wainwright, the very British Duo will be wanting to give the crowd something to cheer about! When we spoke to Ben he said "Yeah looking forward to it. It will be an extremely busy weekend racing in both WEC and ELMS. Both with Gulf Racing in a separate RSR same driver line up" he continued "It’s always nice to be not far from home on a race weekend. We are due a good result after some great speed and bad luck in previous rounds, hopefully next weekend will be a turning point".

Jonny Adam – TF Sport – LMGTE Am No. 90

Jonny re-joins TF Sport for the next three rounds on the WEC Super Season Calendar after the AMR driver shuffle round.  Fuji and Shanghai being circuits he knows well, Jonny will be hoping to target podium finishes… something he is not short of in the British GT Championship!  Heading into the final round leading the Championship, Jonny will be hoping to break the most outright wins record!

Charlie Eastwood – TF Sport – LMGTE Am No. 90

Having Mr Adam on board will be a boost to young Charlie (he’s how old!!!) in his first season of the FIA WEC.  He has experienced highs and lows already; a 2nd place finish on his debut at Spa, then  a retirement at Le Mans with just 2 and a half hours to go… there is much to come from this young man from Belfast! 

You can buy tickets and find out more about the race from the FIA WEC website HERE and of course full coverage here on Prescott Motorsport!!!