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Reigning champion Ben looked to be on for a strong result to sign off the season, before a technical issue brought an early end to the challenge.
Barnicoat joins the team for the full season, and will make his debut outing with the team at the 4 Hours of Le Castellet later this month.
The British driver joins the team as part of the three-driver line-up for the season of six race events, in the new Dallara P217. He will be joined by Jack Manchester for the full season, while the first round will see Olivier Pla complete the trio. Harry Tincknell will join the team from the second round, as the team runs with the all-British line up for the remainder of the year.
Barnicoat commented:
‘I’m delighted to be joining Thunderhead Carlin Racing for the 2019 European Le Mans Series season. I’m extremely grateful to both Thunderhead and Trevor Carlin for giving me this opportunity to test my skills in the Dallara LMP2 machinery against some of the best drivers out there. I’ve been close with Carlin for many years but never had the opportunity to represent the team, I am extremely excited. I have great teammates in both Jack, who’s progressing rapidly, and Harry, who I am a big fan of and greatly respect, so I’m confident we will be a force to be reckoned with.’
Now 22 years old, Barnicoat has excelled on a global level in each category of racing he has contested, through karting, single-seaters and, most recently, a variety of GT models. He is also no stranger to the famous Le Castlellet circuit in France, securing a podium finish on his last visit at the wheel of a McLaren 650S GT3 in 2018. Despite this significant experience, the announcement with Thunderhead Carlin Racing will be the first time the Chesterfield-born driver will race a prototype racer, but Barnicoat is more motivated than ever ahead of the new season.
‘I am really excited by the opportunity to be part of the European Le Mans Series with Thunderhead Carlin Racing. The LMP2 grid is extremely competitive this year, and it is a new challenge for me having not raced a prototype before. However, it is a challenge I am hugely motivated for and really looking forward to tackling, and I feel well prepared – both physically and mentally – especially with the team and drivers alongside me for the season.’
The first round of the European Le Mans Series will be the 4 Hours of Le Castellet, which takes place 12-14 April at Circuit Paul Ricard, France. The race starts at 12.30 CEST (11.30 BST).