Young Driver AMR: GT1 Pole for 2010 Le Mans 24 hours

Young Driver AMR had the perfect start to the 24h of Le Mans. The Young Driver AMR trio of Christoffer Nygaard (DK), Tomas Enge (CZ) and Peter Kox (NL) dominated the GT1-class at the first practise of the legendary French endurance classic on Wednesday. The Young Driver AMR-Aston Martin DBR9 was fastest in the free practise in the late afternoon and also quickest in the first of three qualifying session in the evening. Tomas Enge was the overall fastest driver in both sessions.

In the free practise session in the afternoon, the Young Driver AMR-drivers had to do their homework. Christoffer Nygaard had to drive ten mandatory „Rookie“ laps, as the young Dane starts for the very first time at the epic track in France. Nygaard delivered the required ten laps without any problems and impressed with quick laps during his first outing at Le Mans. At the end of the four-hour session, it was Tomas Enge who lapped the quickest time in the GT1-class on the diverse track, which is a combination of a permanent race track and public roads.

Enge repeated with the quickest time in the later qualifying session, held during the evening. The former Formula 1-driver is „Mr GT1 Pole Position“ at Le Mans, as he scored the class pole in five of his total six outings in the GT1-class. With the quickest time in the Wednesday session, chances are that Enge will continue his impressive series. At the end of the two hour session, Enge claimed the provisional class Pole and was more than two seconds faster then anybody else in class. There is still an opportunity to improve times in two further qualifying sessions on Wednesday. But as the weather forecast predicts rain, chances are still positive for a maiden Pole Position for the Young Driver AMR team at Le Mans.

Tomas Enge:
“We ran absolutely trouble free today, the only issue we had was one tire puncture. The car was very good, I’m really satisfied. We knew that the DBR9 would be good on this track, but it went really fast today. I wouldn’t have expected that it would go this fast. But we can’t be really sure yet about the GT1-Pole, as there are still two sessions on Thursday. The forecast says rain for Thursday. But if it’s dry, maybe our pole is in danger.“

Christoffer Nygaard:
“It was my first time on this track here today and it was just unbelievable. It was the best thing I have ever experienced. The track is fantastic, my first ten laps this afternoon were really impressive. I’m really satisfied with my laptimes so far. Today it was important for me to drive the required ten laps and don’t make any mistakes. We have still something in our pockets for tomorrow and know where we can go a little bit faster.“

Peter Kox:
“I’m really satisfied with my performance today and with the car. I drove the Aston Martin DBR9 here last time three years ago, but I didn’t had any problems to get used to the car today. Now we have to work on a good set up for the race.”

Hardy Fischer, team principal Young Driver AMR:
“Our drivers and the team did a very good job today, it was a perfect first day for the Young Driver AMR-team at Le Mans. I hope that today’s time of Tomas will be our first Pole at Le Mans.“