Tockwith team to run Gulf Oil colours at 2017 Le Mans 24 Hours

Gulf Oil International has extended its involvement in the World Endurance Championship double-points round on June 17/18 in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first time a car ran in its colours at Le Mans.

The Tockwith Motorsport Ligier-Gibson P217, which will be driven by ex-Formula 1 driver Karun Chandhok, Nigel Moore and Phil Hanson, will make its debut in its new livery at this weekend's official Le Mans test alongside full-season WEC entrant Gulf Racing's GTE Am class Porsche 911 RSR.

"It is an extremely exciting development for TMS to be carrying the iconic blue and orange in the year Gulf is celebrating its 50th anniversary of its first ever participation at Le Mans," said Tockwith boss Simon Moore.

"I grew up watching and loving Ford GT40s, Porsche 917s, Mirages and McLarens sporting Gulf colours and we hope to add our own small chapter to Gulf's long racing history."

The deal with Gulf also includes Tockwith's campaign in the European Le Mans Series and projected WEC outings later in the season.

Gulf's blue and orange livery first appeared at Le Mans on the JW Automotive team's pair of Mirage-Ford M1s in 1967.

John Wyer's team subsequently won the race with Gulf sponsorship in 1968 and '69 with a Ford GT40.

The colours became synonymous with the French endurance race as a result of the 1971 Steve McQueen movie Le Mans, which incorporated footage from the previous year's race.

McQueen's character, Michael Delaney, is depicted as racing one of JWA's Gulf Porsche 917Ks.