Slightly later than originally planned, but our World Endurance Championship campaign is officially underway. It was a big weekend to kick things off at Imola – back in the WEC paddock and joining the Heart of Racing. A strong effort and genuine pace put us in the mix throughout the six hours, and it was great to bring the #23 home inside the top 10 with points on the board.

The whole team did a mega job all weekend, and we certainly had the car to take the fight to the competition. It was brilliant to be back running alongside Kobe for his guest appearance, and Gray showed a really mature head on his shoulders despite this being his WEC debut.

We had our plan, and we kept our focus throughout, making steps forward at every stage. Pace was good across each of the early sessions, and Gray delivered a great qualifying effort, building on each of his previous runs.

The race was all about gains. It was always going to be a hectic six hours – and it was – but we stayed out of trouble, and each of us did our jobs to keep the momentum rolling. Pace was there, and we made ground through our double stints. Gray made a really impressive start to his WEC programme, moving up the order on genuine pace and a strong drive. We opted for track position during the pitstop cycle and cleared some further traffic, leaving Kobe to take over in a solid position. From there, we made further progress and were firmly inside the top 10 throughout. My final stints were about keeping the fight going and bringing it home – so it was a great feeling to take the chequered flag and open our WEC account with points on the board.

The quality of the WEC field is always formidable – it’s one of the most competitive championships in the world – but we held our own and delivered in our first outing as a crew. It’s great to be back in this paddock after a few years away, and the weekend was a reminder of just how special this championship is. It’s going to be a battle all year, but that’s exactly what we’re here for. We aren’t just here to make up the numbers.

Next up is Spa – which is always special – and then it’s the big one. June cannot come fast enough.

FIA World Endurance Championship

Team: The Heart of Racing

Car number: #23

Circuit: Imola, Italy

Race: P9

Drivers’ championship: P9

Teams’ championship: P9