Charlie Robertson is heading to Speilberg next weekend for the third round of the European Le Mans Series, holding third place in the LMP3 class standings. The 18 year old Scotsman from Surrey is targeting a return to winning ways when the Team LNT Ginetta-Nissan LMP3 car he shares with Olympian Sir Chirs Hoy after disappointment in Imola.
After taking a second consecutive pole, following a win at Silverstone, the car was forced to retire at the Italian round which dropped the pair from the head of the title race.
Despite a month off from the ELMS, the traditional Le Mans break, Robertson has been keeping current with the developing Ginetta chassis. He topped the class times at the Le Mans test day, bettering the factory Nissan LMP1 cars and lapping four seconds clear of any class rival. LMP3 cars are not eligible to race at Le Mans though and Robertson was not able to compete at the big race.
Instead he raced in the VdeV championship for Prime Racing Luxembourg, taking class victory and the overall fastest lap of the race in the team’s new Ginetta LMP3 alongside Jean-Pierre Lequeux and Jerome Naveaux.
Turning attention back to his full season drive with LNT in the ELMS, Robertson now prepares to make his debut at the Red Bull Ring, home of the Austrian Grand Prix.
“It should be a mega weekend, Red Bull Ring is another track I’ve got to learn but it looks a great place with a pretty cool background too – there’s a lot of history there”, said Charlie, “It’s going to be awesome to race there for the first time, especially in the LMP3 car which should be even better now as there have been some major improvements made since Imola.”
Robertson is targeting further gains, with a raft of updates for the LMP3 chassis. He added, “We want to focus on bridging the gap to the P2 cars, I think the track will suit the car and I’m feeling very positive. It was frustrating having the problem in Imola but our pace was strong again, and to be the top LMP3 in the Le Mans test was epic. It’s been a dream come true for me so far this season, I can’t wait to be back in the car next weekend and I’m definitely aiming for the win.”
