Aston announces 2010 racing plans

The official Aston Martin racing team has announced its racing plans for this year. The British factory squad will enter its LMP1 car in major endurance events as well as selected blue riband races around the world.

The announcement comes as a bit of a surprise as rumours suggested Aston was to miss out on 2010 in their effort to develop a new car for 2011. The big races on the list this year for the British manufacturer will be the 24hours of Le Mans and the first two rounds of the American Le Mans Series (the 12 hours of Sebring and the Long Beach Grand Prix). They will also attend the opening round of the European Le Mans Series at Paul Ricard.

The car they will be racing is their mighty LMP1 creation, a car which uses roughly the same V12 engine used in road going Astons. To make the most out of the machine, the following drivers will be racing it: Chris Buncombe , Stefan Mücke , Harold Primat ,Darren Turner and newcomer Adrian Fernández.

“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.”

Their full racing programme is however uncertain, and it should be made public in the following weeks.

Press Release:

Aston Martin Announces 2010 Racing Plans

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.

Source: Aston Martin

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