Charlie Eastwood faces a challenging start to the 2025 World Endurance Championship, with mechanical failures leading to retirements in both races. Despite the setbacks, he remains optimistic about future performances with the improved Corvette Racing team. Eastwood’s next outing is scheduled for the Six Hours of Imola in Italy on April 19-20, 2025.
Charlie Eastwood has expressed hope for a change in fortune following two challenging race starts in the 2025 season with Corvette Racing’s Z06 GT3.R, both resulting in retirements. His latest disappointment occurred during the Qatar 1812km, the opening round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, where mechanical issues forced the team out of the race early on at the Lusail International Circuit, having to retire due to a malfunctioning alternator pulley.
Eastwood, along with his teammates Tom Van Rompuy and Rui Andrade, decided in agreement with their team’s management to bring their number eighty-one machine into the pits instead of continuing amidst the complications. In contrast, the sister car, number thirty-three, driven by Ben Keating, Jonny Edgar, and Dani Juncadella, achieved a notable victory, finishing just under half a second ahead of their competitors.
Reflecting on the race, Eastwood commented on the potential his team displayed leading up to the event. “It was looking like a super promising race and was a really strong week in general,” he remarked, also highlighting his previous retirement at the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona. He acknowledged, “a mechanical issue early on in the race put us on the sidelines, so it was a big blow to start the season.”
The early DNF (Did Not Finish) in Qatar presents a significant challenge ahead for Eastwood and his team in the 2025 World Endurance Championship, particularly with points being available that could have bolstered their standings. He stated, “A consistent run for us would have put us in a good place to fight for the Championship,” emphasizing the missed opportunity as a significant setback.
However, Eastwood remains optimistic about the team’s potential, noting improvements in their car and team dynamics compared to the previous year. He asserted, “the car is significantly stronger compared to this time last year and so too is the team and the driver line-ups.” Eastwood expressed hope for better luck in future races, stating, “fingers crossed our luck changes and we can start getting some good results together.” The driver is set to compete next at the Six Hours of Imola in Italy on April 19-20, 2025.
In summary, Charlie Eastwood has faced an unfortunate start to the 2025 season in the World Endurance Championship, experiencing mechanical failures that led to early retirements in two races. Despite these setbacks, Eastwood remains positive about the team’s capabilities and their improved performance compared to last year. His focus is now on achieving better results as the season progresses, beginning with the upcoming race in Imola.
Original Source: www.irishnews.com
