Nicholas Mee Racing wins inaugural round of the Aston Martin GT4 Challenge

Nicholas Mee Racing made an impressive start to its first season by securing victory in the first round of the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 Challenge held at Silverstone on 28 March.

Competing in the first round of the 2009 Britcar GT series*, drivers Karsten Le Blanc and Christiaen Van Lanschot qualified their Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4 in 21st overall and 4th in class, but more importantly placed themselves higher up the grid than the three other V8 Vantages entered.

Despite cold and blustery conditions the 2-hour race went very much according to plan. Helped by the smart strategy of starting with slick tyres on a damp but drying track, NMR was able to consolidate its grid position by being the first Aston Martin to the chequered flag, while retaining 4th in class and climbing to 19th place overall.

Team Principal Nicholas Mee commented, “I would like to offer my thanks and congratulations to everyone in the team. Everybody involved has worked hard to ready the car over the preceding weeks and months, and a result like this, so early on, makes all the effort doubly worthwhile.

“Special congratulations must go to drivers Karsten and Christiaen who have made the challenging progression from their historic Austin Healey 3000 and Aston Martin DB4 to the very contemporary Vantage GT4 look much easier than it really is. Thanks are also due to our consultant driver Anthony Reid. Without his experience and guidance Karsten and Christiaen could have taken longer to attain their current levels of confidence and speed.”

NMR is now preparing for its next race weekend, the Britcar double header at Donington Park on 2-3 May, and will then move on to the following round on 27 June at Spa Francorchamps.

* The Vantage GT4 Challenge takes place within the popular Britcar series and is open to all Aston Martin Vantage GT4s, including the Vantage N24. Eligible drivers compete in the regular Britcar GT Championship and score points towards both that series and the Vantage GT4 Challenge.

AMR Teams