This year marked Andrade’s fifth appearance at the iconic Circuit de la Sarthe. The lead-up to race day was steady but understated for the TF Sport trio, with the car performing reliably through practice sessions. The team’s consistency hinted at strong potential for the gruelling 24-hour race ahead.
Qualifying marked a turning point. Tom put in a strong performance to place the #81 Corvette fifth on Wednesday, securing a spot in Thursday’s Hyperpole. Charlie took the wheel for the initial Hyperpole segment and showed stunning pace, posting the second-fastest time and progressing to the final shootout. The pressure was on Rui in Hyperpole 2, and he delivered in style, securing P6 on the LMGT3 grid, marking his best-ever qualifying performance in the category.
As the race got underway on Saturday afternoon, the TF Sport Corvette ran cleanly through the opening hours, staying out of trouble, maintaining a steady rhythm.
Andrade, Eastwood, and van Rompuy executed their stints perfectly. The Corvette consistently ran within the top ten in class as night fell.
During the overnight hours, the team’s consistency truly paid off. While rivals suffered mechanical issues, track incidents, or strategic mishaps, the #81 car kept running without drama. Rui completed several double stints in the early morning hours, delivering consistent lap times and keeping the car in podium contention.
As dawn broke over Le Mans, it became clear the TF Sport squad was in the fight for a top-three finish. In the final hours, they continued to push, with Charlie taking the final stint to bring the car home. After 24 hours and 341 laps completed, the #81 TF Sport Corvette crossed the finish line third in LMGT3, securing Rui Andrade another Le Mans podium after finishing second overall in 2023 in LMP2.
Rui Andrade:
“To finish on the podium at Le Mans is something every driver dreams about. We had a clean race, the car was strong all the way through, and the team did an amazing job. This one means a lot, not just to me, but to everyone who’s supported my journey here. It hasn’t been the easiest season so far, but to have our breakthrough here, at the biggest race of them all, is incredibly special. Huge thanks to everyone at TF Sport. We did it!”
With 30 points collected for their third-place finish, Rui and his teammates have jumped 11 positions in the FIA WEC LMGT3 championship standings, moving up to P6 overall. With four rounds remaining in the 2025 season, the #81 Sport crew is now back in the hunt.