Tom Wood’s long-awaited debut with Blackthorn AMR in the GT World Challenge opener at Circuit Paul Ricard was a race of early promise that ultimately slipped into frustration, as the #?? Aston Martin trio came home P10 in class after a challenging night.

Sharing the car with experienced hands Jonny Adam and Giacomo Petrobelli, Wood entered the weekend with a strong benchmark alongside him—and he wasted little time proving he belonged. The trio delivered an impressive qualifying performance, securing P2 in class and firmly establishing themselves as early contenders.

From the outset, the race unfolded in their favor. Clean execution in the opening stints and sharp racecraft by Petrobelli allowed the Blackthorn AMR entry to take control at the front of the class, avoiding a first corner crash in the mid pack.

Tom took the car over in P7 in class as darkness fell going towards halfway into the race. However, as temperatures dropped, the complexion of the race began to change. The team increasingly struggled to match the pace of their closest rivals, particularly during the cooler nighttime conditions. Whether it was setup limitations, tire performance, or balance issues, the #56 car found itself slipping down the order as others surged forward.

Despite the best efforts of Wood and Adam to stabilize the situation in the final 3 stints, the loss of pace proved difficult to recover from. Strategy alone couldn’t compensate, and the trio gradually fell out of contention for a top result.

By the time the checkered flag waved, Wood and his teammates were classified P10 in class—a result that fell short of the promise shown in the opening hours, but one that still offered valuable lessons.

For Wood, the race marked an important milestone. A strong qualifying showing and confident early stint highlighted his potential at this level, even if the final result didn’t reflect the performance glimpsed at the front. With more experience and refinement, both driver and team will be looking to convert that early pace into a complete race result as the season progresses.

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