24 Hours of Le Mans
Aston Martin announces 2010 racing plans
© Planetlemans - Marcel ten Caat
Aston Martin Racing will enter two Works LMP1 cars bearing the iconic blue and orange livery of Gulf Oil in the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours.
The British team exceeded all expectations at La Sarthe in 2009 by finishing fourth overall, having been quickest of the petrol powered prototypes from start to finish in its maiden LMP1 outing.
In addition, Aston Martin Racing will compete in three races prior to the Le Mans 24 Hours with one LMP1 car. The races will provide the team with valuable on-track experience prior to Le Mans and include the first two rounds of the American Le Mans Series - the 12 hours of Sebring on 20 March and the Long Beach Grand Prix on 17 April and the opening round of the European Le Mans Series at Paul Ricard in France on 11 April.
Aston Martin Racing drivers, Chris Buncombe (GB), Stefan Mücke (DE), Harold Primat (CH) and Darren Turner (GB) return for the 2010 season and will be joined by experienced sports car driver Adrian Fernández (MX).
Fernández is new to Aston Martin but no stranger to sports car racing and the American Le Mans Series having won the LMP2 class outright in 2009.
The team will also compete in selected blue riband races around the world post Le Mans, details of the remaining race programme and sixth driver will be subject to further announcements in the coming weeks.
The LMP1 cars will be powered by the same Aston Martin V12 engine which forms the basis for the Aston Martin DBS, V12 Vantage, DB9 and forthcoming four-door Aston Martin Rapide.
“Having won the Le Mans Series Team and Driver titles in 2009 it will be a hard act to follow,” said Aston Martin Racing Team Principal, George Howard-Chappell. “However, we are looking forward to a great season of racing and we hope to have another strong showing at Le Mans. I’d like to welcome Adrian to the team, I’m sure with his experience he will be a great addition to our driver line-up.”
The 78th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours will take place 12/13 June 2010.
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Very Awesome cant wait
excellent!
looking forward to see them racing at Sebring in March
Adrian has always been one of my favourite drivers, good to see him in this car
Very good to see them agian at Le Mans
Also the Sebring and Paul Ricard races for preparation seems to me as a good choise. They could als be aiming for the Continental Cup. Now let’s hope they get a fair chance against the diesels.
fantastic news, i’ve just bought my t shirt! [not the oreca one]
Obviously they do want to have a works prototype program. But it looks as if they don’t want to come second to the Oreca 908 in the LMS championship.
They had trouble beating an underfunded solo P1 Pescarolo in the LMS last year. They needed a 3 car armada to get the title.
very good news especially for alms. Would be nice to have a car at spa too
I suspect the ALMS races will be bankrolled by Aston Martin’s new multimillionaire driver Adrian Fernandez.
I think he was in the running for a Peugeot 908. But it seems the french teams took priority.
The pace of the car against the diesels at Sebring might dictate how much preparation (races) they put in before LeMans. The closer they are the more likely they are to put on a full assault. And the race at Long Beach will let them know whether the equivalency formula is working for their big P1 car against the P2s.
At least that would be my strategy.
ya long beach gp
Given his speed and financial backing, Adrian Fernandez is now officially (I think) the best pay driver in sports car racing.
A pay driver as fast (or faster) than your pro drivers.