Andrew Watson will make his European Le Mans Series debut with Gulf Racing at this weekend’s
4 Hours of Portimão season finale.
Andrew and the team will continue their successful partnership that has seen them claim three top-five results and a podium finish to occupy seventh place in the 2019-20 FIA World Endurance Championship LMGTE Am standings.
The 25-year-old will pilot the team’s Porsche 911 RSR in the LMGTE class alongside WEC team mates Ben Barker and Mike Wainwright.
Enjoying a successful 2020 so far, Andrew claimed a superb third-place at the Bathurst 12 Hours and has also competed in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup series. The Northern Irishman enjoyed a second-place Silver class podium finish at the season-opening round in Imola as well as class victory at the Nürburgring and remains in title contention heading into the final race of the season.
Andrew and the team join a 36-strong field of cars for the ELMS four-hour season finale in Portugal, where the Co Tyrone racer will experience the revered Portimão circuit for the first time.
Looking ahead to the weekend, Andrew is excited to get out on track and push for a strong result.
“I’m looking forward to making my European Le Mans Series debut,” Andrew said. “Portimão is a track I’ve never driven at before but is one I’ve heard really good things about so I can’t wait to get out there. I’m especially looking forward to teaming up with Ben, Mike and the rest of the team as well - we’ve had a strong season in WEC and I’m sure we’ll be pushing just as hard this weekend.”
The 4 Hours of Portimão weekend will begin with the first Free Practice session on Friday 30th October at 11:40 (GMT). The second Free Practice session takes place on Saturday morning at 08:00 with qualifying scheduled for 12:15. The race itself will begin at 11:00 on Sunday morning, running through to 15:00.
Image courtesy of Gulf Racing.