Portimao in Portugal is one of my favourites. It’s a great circuit. Great for racing, challenging, asks a lot of a driver and a car, but really rewarding when you get it right. I’ve had some great races there. It was the perfect location then to wrap up the 2024 European Le Mans Series, and sign off a hugely enjoyable and successful eight year run with the amazing team at TF Sport.

After building on our results throughout the season, we arrived still in the fight for the championship, albeit with some work to do, and relying on the results of others. However, whether we were in the fight or not, we weren’t going there to be also-rans, and we had one clear target. If the podium in Mugello set us up for the season finale, it also lit a fire which meant we now had a taste for the podium, and we were more determined than ever.

It has been really rewarding racing alongside Lorcan and Martin, who have both made big steps over the season, and this weekend was no different. That was underlined in qualifying when Martin delivered yet another strong run to put us well and truly in contention, on the front row for the season finale. That was also a huge credit to the team at Grid Motorsport – who, let’s not forget, are still in their debut season with the Vantage GT3 – and TF Sport, which has become like a second home to me.

As has been the way with all ELMS races this season, it was action packed from the very start, with incidents and cautions, but we just did what we do best. Kept our elbows out, our heads down, and focused on our own race, and we were looking good. The strategy calls from the pitlane were good, and we stayed among the front-runners throughout, climbing as high as second, as we battled through the opening hours.

Luck definitely has a part to play in endurance racing and, unfortunately, things didn’t fall our way in the closing stages. We were there or thereabouts throughout the race up to the final hour, but we were just unlucky with a late virtual safety car while we were running in the podium positions. The caution period threw strategies up in the air, and allowed the chasing pack to close the gap we had built up, so the end result saw us drop down the order. A bit of a disappointing end to what had been a strong opening to the race, and to what has been a fantastic year. Definitely not reflective of the efforts or pace we have shown.

So, a season full of positives with great teammates and a team which has got stronger with each race. As for TF Sport, I cannot speak highly enough. We have enjoyed some incredible results together – not least two wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans – and it has been a privilege and an honour to race the various generations of Vantage with Tom, Chris and the whole crew I have worked with. The motorsport community is a special one and, when you travel and race with the same people, it is important to have a good relationship to help bring out the best results. Well, TF’s record speaks for itself, and I’m glad I could be part of the family for these special years.

European Le Mans Series 2024 –

Team: Grid Motorsport by TF Sport
Car number: #97

Circuit: Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, Portugal

Race 6: P8