Eastwood eyes up Japan after Euro silverware

CHARLIE Eastwood will head for Japan and the World Endurance Championship on the back of a successful season in the Blancpain European GT series.

Eastwood guided his TF Sport Aston Martin team home as they clinched the Pro-Am Cup in Barcelona at the weekend.

He now turns his attention to the second round of the WEC series at the Fuji Speedway.

Having put together a string of podium finishes alongside teammates Salih Yoluc and Ahmad al Harthy in the European series, Eastwood needed another consistent result to secure the title.

He took their GT3 Vantage for the final stint of a Barcelona race interrupted by crashes and safety car periods and stayed clear of trouble to cross the line 14th overall and, importantly, second in the pro-am category.

“I was so pleased to leave Barcelona with the title,” said the former Porsche Carrera Cup champion from Belfast. “The TF Sport team have worked extremely hard to provide a competitive car that can challenge for class victories in every race.”

Steven Kane and Bentley team-mates Jordan Pepper and Jules Gounon finished in third place overall, but the Garage 59 Aston Martin of third Ulster driver Andrew Watson retired.

Watson joins Eastwood in Japan but switches to the Gulf Porsche, both in the GTE category.

Meanwhile, David McCullough not only wrapped up the Dawson-WAM Northern Ireland Formula Ford Championship, but he won the headline Martin Donnelly Trophy race too.