Charlie Eastwood’s Qatar DNF Clouds World Endurance Title Hopes

Charlie Eastwood’s hopes for the LMGT3 title faced a setback due to a DNF caused by transmission issues during the FIA World Endurance Championship. The mechanical failure on the Corvette Z06 GT3.R concluded their race prematurely, contrasting with the success of their sister car which secured a victory. Eastwood remains hopeful for future races despite the challenges faced, emphasizing the improvements made within the team.

Charlie Eastwood expressed his disappointment regarding the DNF at the initial round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, attributing it to transmission issues, which he described as a significant setback for his aspirations to secure the LMGT3 title. The issue stemmed from a malfunctioning alternator pulley on the No.81 Corvette Z06 GT3.R, which Eastwood co-drove alongside Tom Van Rompuy and Rui Andrade, cutting their race short in Qatar.

The mechanical failure arose shortly after Van Rompuy’s first pit stop during the lengthy 10-hour race at the Lusail International Circuit, where Eastwood began to climb the ranks from ninth to fifth in his class before the incident occurred. In contrast, the sister Z06 GT3.R, helmed by Ben Keating, Jonny Edgar, and Dani Juncadella, celebrated a remarkable victory, showcasing the car’s robust capability in the series by winning the race.

The loss proved particularly painful as bonus points were available at the Qatar 1812km event, leaving Eastwood and his teammates trailing behind their competitors in the championship standings. Eastwood reflected on the race, stating, “It was looking like a super promising race…a mechanical issue early on in the race put us on the sidelines, so it was a big blow to start the season.”

He acknowledged that had they maintained their pace, they would be in a strong position for the championship. Despite the setback, Eastwood highlighted that the car and team had improved since the previous year with hopes for better results going forward, noting, “Everything is now in place for strong results.” He concluded with optimism, hoping for a turnaround in luck to achieve favorable outcomes in upcoming races.

In summary, Charlie Eastwood faced a significant challenge in the opening round of the FIA World Endurance Championship due to mechanical troubles that hindered his team’s performance. The DNF not only impacted their standings but also highlighted the competitiveness of their rival team. Despite the setback, there remains optimism for improvement in the remainder of the season.

Original Source: www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk