Aston Martin Racing

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United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing
Aston Martin Racing logo.png
Founded 2004
Team principal(s) John Gaw (2012–present)[1]
Current series FIA World Endurance Championship
Former series American Le Mans Series, Le Mans Series, GT4 European Cup
Noted drivers Christian Klien, Stefan Mücke, Darren Turner, Bruno Senna, Richie Stanaway, Fernando Rees
Aston Martin Racing's DBR9 which won the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans LMGT1 Class
Sponsored by Gulf Oil, one of Aston Martin Racing's 2008 DBR9
An Aston Martin-powered Lola B08/60 run by Charouz Racing System and backed by Aston Martin Racing

Aston Martin Racing is a British auto racing team established in 2004 as a partnership between automobile manufacturer Aston Martin and engineering group Prodrive. The partnership was initially created for the purpose of returning Aston Martin to sports car racing with the DBR9, a heavily modified variant of the Aston Martin DB9. Since the DBR9's racing debut in 2005, Aston Martin Racing has expanded to build a variety of cars available to customers, as well as development of Aston Martin's V12 engine for Le Mans Prototype use. Aston Martin Racing's program has earned several successes over the years.

Although all cars are built by Prodrive at their factory, Aston Martin plays an integral part in designing the race cars, as well as integrating elements of the race cars back into Aston Martin's road cars.

On 23 April 2009, Aston Martin chairman and Prodrive founder David Richards announced his intent to return to Formula One in 2010 with the possibility of using the Aston Martin name,[2] however this never materialised. Aston Martin had previously raced in the 1959 and 1960 Formula One seasons but failed to score points in either year.

Cars

Aston Martin Racing builds cars for international grand tourer classes. The team itself run a squad of DBR9s in the former top class, GT1, while other cars were offered to customers. The GTE class (formerly GT2) became their next target after the failure of the 2011 season, and the car is based on the V8 Vantage. The V8 Vantage is also featured in GT3 and GT4 classes. Before GT3 Vantage was introduced the DBRS9 was also solely racing in GT3.

In 2008, Aston Martin Racing began their entry into the Le Mans Prototype category with the aid of Charouz Racing System, installing a DBR9 V12 into a Lola B08/60 LMP1 prototype.

On 27 January 2009, the team announced a full works entry in the Le Mans Prototype category for the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans[3] with the Lola-Aston Martin B09/60. The entry marks the 50th anniversary of its last outright win at Le Mans. The 2009 programme got off to an unfortunate start at the pre season Paul Ricard test on 8 March when Tomas Enge destroyed the 007 car in an accident. Aston Martin Racing subsequently took delivery of a new Lola to replace the written off chassis.[4] The team entered two LMP1 cars bearing the iconic blue and orange livery of Gulf Oil. The aim was to emulate the achievements of the 1959 race win with the DBR1 driven by Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori. At Le Mans the AMR Eastern Europe 007 car of Jan Charouz, Tomáš Enge and Stefan Mücke finished fourth behind the factory entries of Peugeot and Audi, as well as being the highest finishing petrol-fuelled car. The 008 car was running as high as 3rd overall in the morning until Anthony Davidson had a collision with a GT1 Aston. Subsequent repairs and a 5-minute stop and go penalty—for causing the collision—dropped the car out of contention. The 009 car was retired after 252 laps.

Three cars were also entered in the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans, although only the 007 and 009 cars were run by Aston Martin Racing; the 008 car was run by the French team Signature-Plus. Both the 008 and 009 cars suffered from problems and had to be retired, leaving only the 007 to finish 6th overall and completing 365 laps, less than it did in 2009.

In 2011 the B09/60 was succeeded by the Aston Martin AMR-One, powered by a downsized, 2.0 litre turbocharged straight six petrol engine. Initially, the car was running very poorly. In its first racing event, the 2011 6 Hours of Castellet, it was only as fast as some of the LMP2 cars in qualifying and was plagued with mechanical issues. It completed only 96 laps. They then decided not to race it in the rounds of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup leading up to Le Mans so they can continue private testing with the troubled car in order to sort out the mechanical issues. So around came Le Mans and despite the testing and extra car, they were still lapping in the middle of the LMP2 pack in qualifying and in the race it was much a much worse scenario. Car #009 retired after only two laps around the Circuit de la Sarthe and car #007 reted two laps later on lap four. Both cars completed a combined six laps at the 79th Grand Prix of Endurance. After this shocking result, the team raced the old B09/60 for the remainder of the season although a much downgraded version in order to comply with the new 2011 regulations.

For 2012, Aston Martin Racing returned to GT racing with the V8 Vantage GT2. They entered two cars at the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans with one in the LMGTE-Pro class and one in the LMGTE-Am class. They also had a third Vantage in the GTE-Pro class as a reserve entrant. One of the existing AMR-One's has been sold to Pescarolo Sport who are set to compete with that car and naming it the Pescarolo 03. They will use an engine from Judd Power rather than the Aston Martin powerplant. The other AMR-One has formed the base for the new DeltaWing project which debuted at Le Mans in 2012 with Highcroft Racing. The DeltaWing uses the AMR-One's carbon fibre tub.

In 2013 to celebrate the centenary of the marque, the team will be entering two 2013 specification Aston Martin Vantage GTE's in the LMGTE PRO class and two 2012 specification Vantage GTE's in LMGTE AM.[5] The team will also compete in the full season of the FIA World Endurance Championship with the same cars.[6] Ex-Formula 1 driver Bruno Senna will join the team for the season[7] in the one of the GTE Pro cars partnered by Fréderic Makowiecki and Robert Bell. The main GTE Pro car will feature AMR regulars Darren Turner and Stefan Mücke and will be joined by Peter Dumbreck for the 24 hours of Le Mans and the Six hours of Spa-Franchorchamps.

Results

Since the team's debut at the 2005 12 Hours of Sebring, Aston Martin Racing has earned several important victories in their career. Their very first race actually earned them their first victory, defeating the Corvette Racing squad at Sebring. The RAC Tourist Trophy was also won later that year.

For 2006, Aston Martin Racing entered the full American Le Mans Series season, earning five victories including the Petit Le Mans, and finishing second in the GT1 championship, three points shy of Corvette Racing. In 2007, Aston Martin earned their first victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans since the company's overall win in 1959 by overcoming the Corvette squad. This feat was repeated once more in 2008 in GT1, while the team also had involvement in the Lola B08/60 LMP1 Coupe run under the Charouz Racing banner

For 2009 Aston Martin Racing entered two of their new prototypes along with Aston Martin Racing Eastern Europe which completed the works trio of DBR1-2 or Lola-Aston Martin B09/60. The teams greatest success with the new prototype came with the 2009 Le Mans Series (LMS) where in the first round in Barcelona the team won the 1000 km de Catalunya outright and with a string of podiums and a 1-2-3 sweep of the ADAC 1000 km Nürburgring and a podium at the Autosport 1000 km of Silverstone sealed the 2009 drivers title for 007 and Jan Charouz, Tomas Enge, Stefan Mucke and the constructors title for Aston Martin-LOLA as well as the team title for Aston Martin Racing.

Results

  • 2009
    number 007 car, 373 laps, finished 4th overall and 4th in class
    number 008 car, 342 laps, finished 13th overall and 11th in class
    number 009 car, did not finish, 252 laps, finished 40th overall, and 16th in class.
    The number 007 car won the Le Mans Series overall, and the number 009 finished fourth.
  • 2010
    number 007 car, 365 laps, finished 6th overall and 5th in class
    number 008 car, did not finish, 302 laps, finished 33rd overall, and 11th in class
    number 009 car, did not finish, 368 laps, finished 30th overall and 8th in class.
  • 2011
    number 007 car, did not finish, 2 laps, finished 55th overall, last but one in race and in class, only beating
    number 009 car, did not finish, 0 laps, finished 56th, last overall and in class.
  • 2012
    number 97 car 332 laps, finished 19th overall, 3rd in class
    number 99 car, did not finish, 31 laps, finished 54th, last in class.
  • 2013
    number 97 car 314 laps, finished 17th overall, 3rd in class
    number 96 car, 301 laps, finished 30th, 6th in class
    number 99 car, did not finish, 248 laps, finished 44th, 11th in class
    number 98 car, did not finish, 221 laps, finished 47th, 12th in class
    number 95 car, did not finish, 2 laps, finished 55th, last in class (driver Allan Simonsen killed)

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Entrant No Car Drivers Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2005 United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing 58 Aston Martin DBR9 Netherlands Peter Kox
Portugal Pedro Lamy
Czech Republic Tomáš Enge
GT1 327 DNF DNF
59 Aston Martin DBR9 Australia David Brabham
France Stéphane Sarrazin
United Kingdom Darren Turner
GT1 333 9th 3rd
2006 United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing 007 Aston Martin DBR9 United Kingdom Darren Turner
Czech Republic Tomáš Enge
Italy Andrea Piccini
GT1 350 6th 2nd
009 Aston Martin DBR9 Portugal Pedro Lamy
France Stéphane Sarrazin
Monaco Stéphane Ortelli
GT1 342 10th 5th
2007 United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing 007 Aston Martin DBR9 United Kingdom Johnny Herbert
Netherlands Peter Kox
Czech Republic Tomáš Enge
GT1 337 9th 4th
009 Aston Martin DBR9 Australia David Brabham
United Kingdom Darren Turner
Sweden Rickard Rydell
GT1 343 5th 1st
France Aston Martin Racing Larbre 006 Aston Martin DBR9 France Patrick Bornhauser
France Roland Bervillé
United Kingdom Gregor Fisken
GT1 272 29th 13th
008 Aston Martin DBR9 France Christophe Bouchut
Italy Fabrizio Gollin
Denmark Casper Elgaard
GT1 341 7th 3rd
Italy Aston Martin Racing BMS 100 Aston Martin DBR9 Italy Fabio Babini
United Kingdom Jamie Davies
Italy Matteo Malucelli
GT1 336 11th 6th
2008 Czech Republic Charouz Racing System
United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing
10 Lola B08/60-Aston Martin Czech Republic Jan Charouz
Czech Republic Tomáš Enge
Germany Stefan Mücke
LMP1 354 9th 9th
United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing 007 Aston Martin DBR9 Germany Heinz-Harald Frentzen
Italy Andrea Piccini
Austria Karl Wendlinger
GT1 339 16th 4th
009 Aston Martin DBR9 Australia David Brabham
Spain Antonio García
United Kingdom Darren Turner
GT1 344 13th 1st
2009 Czech Republic AMR Eastern Europe 007 Lola-Aston Martin B09/60 Czech Republic Jan Charouz
Czech Republic Tomáš Enge
Germany Stefan Mücke
LMP1 373 4th 4th
United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing 008 Lola-Aston Martin B09/60 United Kingdom Anthony Davidson
United Kingdom Darren Turner
Netherlands Jos Verstappen
LMP1 342 13th 11th
009 Lola-Aston Martin B09/60 United Kingdom Stuart Hall
Switzerland Harold Primat
Netherlands Peter Kox
LMP1 252 DNF DNF
2010 United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing 007 Lola-Aston Martin B09/60 Switzerland Harold Primat
Germany Stefan Mücke
Mexico Adrián Fernández
LMP1 365 6th 5th
009 Lola-Aston Martin B09/60 United Kingdom Darren Turner
Denmark Juan Barazi
United Kingdom Sam Hancock
LMP1 368 DNF DNF
France Signature-Plus 008 Lola-Aston Martin B09/60 France Pierre Ragues
France Franck Mailleux
Belgium Vanina Ickx
LMP1 302 DNF DNF
Germany Young Driver AMR 52 Aston Martin DBR9 Czech Republic Tomáš Enge
Denmark Christoffer Nygaard
Netherlands Peter Kox
LMGT1 311 22nd 3rd
2011 United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing 007 Aston Martin AMR-One Germany Stefan Mücke
United Kingdom Darren Turner
Austria Christian Klien
LMP1 4 DNF DNF
009 Aston Martin AMR-One Switzerland Harold Primat
Mexico Adrián Fernández
United Kingdom Andy Meyrick
LMP1 2 DNF DNF
2012 United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing 97 Aston Martin Vantage GTE Germany Stefan Mücke
Mexico Adrián Fernández
United Kingdom Darren Turner
LMGTE Pro 332 19th 3rd
99 Aston Martin Vantage GTE Denmark Christoffer Nygaard
Denmark Kristian Poulsen
Denmark Allan Simonsen
LMGTE Am 31 DNF DNF
2013 United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing 95 Aston Martin Vantage GTE Denmark Allan Simonsen
Denmark Kristian Poulsen
Denmark Christoffer Nygaard
LMGTE Am 2 DNF DNF
96 Aston Martin Vantage GTE Germany Roald Goethe
United Kingdom Jamie Campbell-Walter
United Kingdom Stuart Hall
LMGTE Am 301 30th 6th
97 Aston Martin Vantage GTE United Kingdom Darren Turner
United Kingdom Peter Dumbreck
Germany Stefan Mücke
LMGTE Pro 314 17th 3rd
98 Aston Martin Vantage GTE Canada Paul Dalla Lana
United States Bill Auberlen
Portugal Pedro Lamy
LMGTE Pro 221 DNF DNF
99 Aston Martin Vantage GTE Brazil Bruno Senna
France Frédéric Makowiecki
United Kingdom Rob Bell
LMGTE Pro 248 DNF DNF
2014 United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing 95 Aston Martin Vantage GTE Denmark David Heinemeier Hansson
Denmark Kristian Poulsen
Denmark Nicki Thiim
LMGTE Am 334 19th 1st
97 Aston Martin Vantage GTE United Kingdom Darren Turner
Germany Stefan Mücke
Brazil Bruno Senna
LMGTE Pro 310 35th 6th
98 Aston Martin Vantage GTE Canada Paul Dalla Lana
Portugal Pedro Lamy
Denmark Christoffer Nygaard
LMGTE Am 329 26th 6th
99 Aston Martin Vantage GTE Hong Kong Darryl O'Young
United Kingdom Alex MacDowall
Brazil Fernando Rees
LMGTE Pro - WD WD

References

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  5. http://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2013/02/2013-24-hours-of-le-mans-entry-list/
  6. http://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2013/02/aston-martin-racing-unveil-strong-wec-line-up
  7. http://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2013/02/bruno-senna-hunting-race-wins-with-aston-martin-racing-move/

External links