Corvette manufacturing unit driver Charlie Eastwood is including as a lot worth as potential to Normal Motors’ world racing operations in his new position as a simulator driver for Cadillac’s F1 group.
The 30-year-old Irishman hung out on the 2025 plate-spinning GT3 program in FIA WEC, IMSA and the European Le Mans Collection with Corvette Racing associate groups TF Sport and DXDT, in addition to touring forwards and backwards to Charlotte, North Carolina to assist launch Cadillac’s F1 undertaking. It has been a really busy yr, however the lengthy days and nights on and off the monitor have been value it, and his inventory within the business has elevated considerably because of this.
In an interview with RACER forward of the FIA WEC season finale in Bahrain, Eastwood revealed that he has been a part of the Cadillac effort since March, lengthy earlier than final month’s announcement.
When requested about his packed schedule, he mentioned, “It is such an ideal undertaking to be part of.” “This can be a very troublesome process due to the schedule, from confirming entries in October final yr to placing automobiles on the grid in March subsequent yr. As a result of we have been unsure about getting entries, we have been unable to rent workers or make investments cash upfront.
“Actually, I obtained the job in a short time. Once I completed my ‘gardening trip’ at Mercedes F1 (the place he was a simulator driver for a number of seasons), I despatched a message to Eric Warren (GM’s vice chairman of World Motorsports Competitors) and inside quarter-hour I had an electronic mail chain that led to a rent. That is the wonderful thing about Normal Motors: They take motion.”
“You may see that within the velocity at which they’re getting this undertaking off the bottom. It could have been exhausting to get a GT3 program off the bottom again then, not to mention an F1 program. It is loopy to see folks being employed and sources being put into making it occur. However there’s a number of motivated expertise coming from a number of firms.
“It is also cool to work from the start, as a result of after I was at Mercedes (F1), they’d gained a number of titles after I arrived. At Cadillac, it’s very completely different as a result of they do not actually have a lap’s value of knowledge. At Mercedes, you go to apply day-after-day and in the event you do not be taught a bucketful whenever you go house, that day sucks.”
“Now the roles are reversed. A number of the folks on the prime stage have nice expertise, so I convey data to the undertaking, however for a number of the guys on the GM Technical Middle in Charlotte, it is in all probability only a NASCAR undertaking, and that is not far off.
“Every part is going on at such a velocity and scale that nobody is aware of what’s going to occur in a yr or two.”
Eastwood is aiming to win his second LMGT3 title this yr with TF Sports activities within the Z06 LMGT3.R. James Moy Pictures/Getty Photographs
What does this imply for his profession objectives and future in sports activities automotive racing?
“It is all up for debate,” he mentioned. “I’ve aspirations on the monitor. There isn’t any driver who would not need to be in a hypercar, for instance. However I really like spending time with the Corvette. I requested the identical query as a result of I need to add as a lot worth as potential to Normal Motors. So if which means doing each race underneath the solar in a Corvette, that is nice. Or if which means 50 days in simulation with a Cadillac F1, I do not care.”
“Clearly I wish to stay in WEC as the primary program, but when I’m acknowledged as having worth on the F1 facet then I can transfer in that course. There are numerous choices and paths, however I’m simply looking for a steadiness.”
Earlier than finishing his 2026 commitments, Eastwood has an enormous weekend in Bahrain forward of him. At TF Sport, he gained his second LMGT3 title this yr with a Z06 LMGT3.R and can be hoping to construct on his success with the British group at ELMS, which gained the championship on the remaining race of the season in Portimao final month.
Together with teammates Louis Andrade and Tom van Rompuy within the No. 81 TF Sport Z06 GT3.R, Eastwood is inside 24 factors of WEC LMGT3 championship chief Manthey First Holm with eight hours of racing left within the WEC season and has 39 factors to go.
The Bahrain 8 Hours is an occasion that has produced many thrilling title deciders over time. This circuit is hard on brakes and tires on account of its structure and floor that wears simply. The 8-hour race format is usually more difficult to work with, because it permits for a wider vary of methods than a typical 6-hour race. By the point the solar goes down and the floodlights come on, all championship contenders will must be on their A-game to finish the season on a excessive.
Eastwood believes Bahrain’s traits will play to the group’s strengths. James Moy Pictures/Getty Photographs
Regardless of the distinction within the standings to beat and the power of his opponents in his class, Eastwood is assured he can understand his dream of changing into WEC champion for the primary time. Other than the poor efficiency at COTA, the No. 81 automotive trio has accrued sturdy outcomes previously 4 races, profitable final time at Fuji and taking podiums at Le Mans and Sao Paulo, and can be heading into the ultimate race with confidence.
“There can be a number of technique deployed because of the floor. Groups will guess on half-sets and single modifications of the left rear tire,” he defined. “And the transition from day to nighttime modifications the temperature ranges.
“Until there is a lengthy security automotive, it is exhausting to catch a automotive that is going far out even in the event you can create a niche. That is why you typically see groups giving their bronze drivers a number of new tires early on. It’s normal to win FCYs, however in a minute In case you lose too early, the probabilities of the professionals recovering within the second half are slim to none.It is a race that is troublesome to handle, however the Corvette is powerful there, and it is proof against tire put on.This can be a circuit that reveals its power in races and has the benefit of tires which might be proof against put on.
“However there are additionally possibilities the place you need to roll the cube. And within the title combat you need to be stable, you need to keep clear. Probably the most troublesome factor is to not get too excited firstly of the stint and break the tires.”
“We have seen the GT3 producers get very shut collectively over the previous couple of rounds, and it is all about execution, which is nice. With TF, we all know that execution is what the group does. And with Corvette, the velocity at which the automotive was developed in two years was insane.”
