25 years since they won the C2 World Sports Car Championship, legendary
Scottish team, Ecurie Ecosse, is set to make a major comeback in 2011.

The illustrious team which won the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1956 and 1957 has been dormant on an
international level since the 1990's when the team won the British Touring Car Championship running works Vauxhalls.

A driver line-up comprising of Alasdair McCaig, Andrew Smith, Joe Twyman and Oliver Bryant are set to contest The Total 24 Hours of Spa in July 2011 with Ecurie Ecosse as a partner team of Aston Martin Racing in a DBRS9 GT3. Ecurie Ecosse will sub-contract the running of the car to Barwell Motorport, a highly experienced and successful Aston Martin Racing Partner Team, and will be contesting for outright honours in the race which sees GT3 now being the top class as a result of a recent format change.

Team boss Hugh McCaig, who is behind the return and intends to use the 24 Hours of Spa as a stepping stone for Ecurie Ecosse to return to Le Mans, commented: “This is a very exciting development for Ecurie Ecosse. I have been looking for an opportunity to take the team back into sportscar racing for some time, but the overall package had to be right. Now, with a team of ambitious and talented young drivers, together with a competitive manufacturer-backed car run by experienced engineers, I am extremely pleased that we can now take this major step forward. We have partnered with Aston Martin before and it is great to be doing it again some 20 years later. Ultimately we want to be back at Le Mans and this is a fantastic starting point.”

All four drivers have had highly successful historic racing careers so far, together with relevant and impressive modern experience, especially in the case of BRDC member Oliver Bryant who’s CV includes strong results in both the British and FIA GT series: “I am very excited to be a part of the Ecurie Ecosse comeback. Our drivers all have substantial experience racing at Spa, and we have all driven together successfully before. The DBRS9 GT3 is also extremely well suited to the fast, flowing nature of Spa, and having tested it before myself, I have no doubt that our combination of car, drivers and team will be highly competitive.”

In 2010 Twyman won his class in the 24 Hours of Spa driving a Jota Sport Aston Martin, and in 2009 Smith claimed a front row grid position and fastest lap of the race at Spa in his British GT
Championship debut. Former Ecurie Ecosse driver and twice Le Mans winner Allan McNish is also highly supportive of the team’s return: “I am very pleased that Ecurie Ecosse is returning to Sportscars, it has such fantastic heritage in this arena with its legendary Le Mans wins and it will be nice to see the dark blue flags flying once again. The team has supported so many famous Scottish Drivers making their way in the sport, including Le Mans winners, Indy 500 winners and F1 World Champions. Ecurie Ecosse really has been an integral part of the very successful Scottish Motorsport story past and present."

Aston Martin Racing are backing the effort and providing technical, engineering and training support. Aston Martin and Ecurie Ecosse last teamed up at Le Mans in 1989 with the AMR1 project. AMR Managing Director John Gaw is delighted at the news of Aston Martin working with Ecurie Ecosse again:

“We are particularly pleased that Ecurie Ecosse has announced this significant return to international sportscar racing in partnership with Aston Martin Racing and Barwell, and we are looking forward to working with the team across 2011 and beyond. We will be providing as much support as we can in order to help both Ecurie Ecosse and Barwell achieve their goals.”

The team have already raised part of the budget required to compete at the event, and discussions with other potential sponsorship partners are now underway to enable them to make it onto the grid in July.

AMR

Aspeed Racing have been at Suzuka testing their Aston Martin Vantage GT2 in preparation for the 2011 Super GT season.

GT300 class race winner Hoshino Kazuki will join Hiroki Yoshimoto for 2011 and both were on hand to test the newly liveried machine. The test reportedly went well as the team gear up for their second season in Japans premier GT series.




JT

LMP Motorsport will run duel campaigns in FFSA GT and FIA GT3 European Championships with two 2011 spec DBRS9s.

The team founded in 2010 by Guillaume Lecluse and Yves Migeon competed in the French FFSA series with technical support from Lompech Motorsport will now make their international début.

“We’ll be Aston Martin Racing’s only representative in France and in the European Championship. It will be a stirring challenge for us,“ says Migeon.
“(Last year) in our learning season with the DBRS9 we were just ordinary Aston Martin Racing clients,” added Lecluse. “Now we are considered a Partner Team.

“The car has undergone a lot of development work this winter with the arrival of ABS, a new aerodynamic kit and several other improvements. It is going to be quicker and easier to drive.”

“We’re entering two cars in the French FFSA GT Championship and the FIA GT3 European Championship,”. “The national series has been completely rethought to give more spice to the meetings and attract even more spectators as well as boosting the broadcast of events on the internet.”

The Team will begin testing April at Portimao and plans further sessions at Paul Ricard and Navarra ahead of the opening round of the French series at Ledenon.

Frédéric Gabillon and Paul Lamic have already been confirmed in one car for the FFSA championship, with four more drivers currently in negotiations to team for the FIA GT3 Championship.

JT

Its under the banner of Aston Martin that Team GPR will not only be back in action in the Belcar Endurance Championship this season, but in the brand new SRO Blancpain Endurance Series also, reserved for GT3 and GT4 cars, with as climax the 24 Hours of Spa.

This time around the British make will be represented by a new entity, a team with proven experience and competence : GPR Aston Martin Racing. "With the support of Aston Martin Antwerp, HYT, Gulf and Creaset, we decided to go ahead giving the GPR team run by Pino Sperlinga the opportunity to reappear on the track following a sabbatical year out, Eddy Renard, the project’s initiator commented. Quite clearly the objective is to clinch victory in the Belcar Endurance Championship, together with the Swiss Henri Moser and another top driver whose name will be announced shortly. At the same time I will be driving the Aston Martin GT4, at least when the championship kicks off. "

An initial national programme which will be linked to another adventure, on the international scene this time around, namely in the brand new Blancpain Endurance Series, which also implies the 24 Hours of Spa. "At a European level we are presently in discussion with several drivers, Eddy continued. With a view to the 24 Hours of Spa the team withheld will obviously be favourably complemented. In addition I’m full aware that Pino and his team are particularly motivated with the thought of making a name for themselves on the international scene …"

Even though a new car should be making its appearance in 2012, the Aston Martin DBRS9 GT3 raced during these last few months promises to be competitive, both in Belcar as also Blancpain Endurance Series. "We are awaiting the latest spare parts which are presently awaiting homologation following a new request put in with the FIA, Pino Sperlinga commented. Together with my entire team I am delighted to be opening up this new chapter under the GPR Aston Martin Racing banner. It’s a great honour to be able to defend the colours of such a legendary constructor in an official manner…"

As from its first year of existence, GPR Aston Martin Racing received the blessing of the official team, to represent it both in Belgium as also at a European level in endurance competitions … "Aston Martin Racing is thoroughly delighted to bring its support to the GPR team, John Gaw, Managing Director of Aston Martin Racing confirmed. The reasons which led us to favour this association are the quality of the programme they established, the fact that this Belgian team will be making use of our products appropriately, and last but not least the care taken in the overall preparation. It is also our practice to concentrate on the longterm as from the moment that we associate ourselves with a top team defending the colours of Aston Martin."

Aston Martin Antwerp Michiels will be the official partner of the GPR Aston Martin Racing team. "We are absolutely delighted with this partnership, especially with a team receiving the official support from Aston Martin Racing, Stef Tassignon explained. You should know that Aston Martin Antwerp is one of the oldest concessionaires of the make in Europe. Our company saw the light of day 26 years ago, and it is with pride that we will now do our very best to make a name for ourselves with one of our products in the competition world. In fact this dual national and international programme fits us like a glove."

At the end of March GPR Aston Martin Racing will be officially unveiling its 2011 sporting season, not only presenting their car’s new livery but also its drivers and the finalised programme. Have your diaries at the ready…

GPR

Five weeks before the lights of the FIA GT1 World Championship turn to green at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, Young Driver AMR has finalised its driver line up. The two Young Driver AMR-Aston Martin DBR9 will be driven in the ten-round GT1 World Championship by Darren Turner (GBR), Stefan Mücke (GER) and Tomáš Enge (CZE), the driver line up is completed by new signing Alex Müller (GER). Former Formula 1-test driver Darren Turner will share the #8 Aston Martin with 2009 Le Mans Series Champion Stefan Mücke, while former Formula 1-driver Tomáš Enge will race alongside GT1-hotshoe Alex Müller in the #7 Aston Martin.

“I’m very happy that we were able to sign Darren (Turner), Tomáš (Enge) and Stefan (Mücke) for a second season”, Young Driver AMR team principal Hardy Fischer says. “The record of these three top-level drivers speak for themselves. We collected a lot of experience last year and with three of our four drivers being part of our team last year, we want to use this continuity for even better results. With our new addition Alex Müller, a terrifically quick driver joins our team. Alex brings along a lot of experience with the Aston Martin DBR9 and he is a great addition for our team. The competition in this year’s GT1 World Championship will be terrific, but I’m confident that we have all the chances for good results with these four drivers.”

Preparations for the start of the second season of Young Driver AMR in the GT1 World Championship are almost completed. Both Aston Martin DBR9 are well prepared for the new season and already have trouble free shakedown under their belt, which took place last Saturday at the Paderborn Airport. During this week, cars and parts will be shipped to Abu Dhabi, were the season starts on 25th March at the epic Yas Marina Circuit.

Driver quotes:

Tomáš Enge (#7 Young Driver-Aston Martin DBR9): “We have a very strong team for our second in the GT1 World Championship. Last year, we missed our dream goal, the World Championship title, only briefly and we were the only team, which was on contention for the World Championship title until the final round. With all the experience we gathered in 2011, we will be even stronger this year. I’m happy to have Alex Müller as my new team-mate. I know Alex quite a while and also know how quick he is. I can’t wait for the season to begin.”

Alex Müller (#7 Young Driver AMR-Aston Martin DBR9): “I’m quite happy to race in this year’s GT1-World Championship with Young Driver AMR and I have to thank Hardy Fischer for giving me this chance. I’m new to the team, but I already feel very comfortable, the atmosphere in the team is great. With Tomáš being my team-mate, we are a duo capable of winning races and I expect that we will win some races. The competition will be very fierce this season, but our goal is to fight for the championship.”

Stefan Mücke (#8 Young Driver-Aston Martin DBR9): “It’s quite nice to start again in the GT1 World Championship. I will have a new team mate this year with Darren Turner. Darren and I are with Aston Martin for some years now, but we never shared one car, so I’m really looking forward to that and I’m quite sure we will be a strong team. Our goal is to finish at least within the top three of the championship. It’s now the second year of the Young Driver AMR Team in the GT1 World Championship, and we will be able to use a lot of the experience, which we collected last season. I’m really looking forward to the start of the season, the calendar offers many very interesting tracks.”

Darren Turner (#8 Young Driver Aston Martin DBR9): “The inaugural season of the GT1 World Championship last year was fantastic, we had some really great races. The team collected a lot of experience, that will make us even stronger this year. After being successful with Tomáš last season, I have a new team-mate in 2011 which is Stefan Mücke. I worked with Stefan very close last couple of years, but this is the first season we will share on car. Now I can’t wait for the season to start, the Championship delivered good competition last year and I’m sure it will be no different this year.”

With two seasons of GT4 racing under its belt Nicholas Mee Racing has taken delivery of a second car to compete in the 2011 Aston Martin Racing GT4 Challenge. New entrants Mark Poole and Richard Abra met at Aston Martin Racing’s Banbury headquarters last Friday to take delivery of their new, 2011 Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4.

AMR Managing Director John Gaw presented the keys and took the opportunity to confirm plans for the forthcoming race series; Poole and Abra will contest all rounds of the Aston Martin Racing GT4 Challenge alongside NMR regulars Karsten Le Blanc and Christiaen Van Lanschot who will be driving the team’s updated, 2011-specification Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4.

Looking forward to the nine round series, which will visit many iconic circuits including Silverstone, Donington Park, Spa Francorchamps and Dijon, Team Principal Nicholas Mee said “We have a great driver line-up for 2011, and having sadly lost our Chief Engineer Craig Dawson to cancer earlier this year the whole team is especially motivated to compete strongly for the Challenge. With the addition of a second car we certainly have our work cut out, but I can’t wait for the opening round at Silverstone on April 30th”.

This year’s nine round Aston Martin Racing-organised GT4 Challenge will be held over seven weekends between April and September and is open to Aston Martin N24 and GT4 cars. Races are between 90 and 180 minutes in length, with re-fuelling plus driver and tyre changes.

AMR’s John Gaw, himself a seasoned GT racer and winner of last year’s Britcar 24hr race, commented “Along with a number of other new entrants we welcome Mark and Andrew to the series, and I’m pleased that Nicholas Mee Racing – winner of the inaugural, 2009 AM Challenge – will be competing for the title again this year. Our growing series is certainly shaping up to provide another season of close and exciting competition”.

Muscle Milk Aston Martin Racing once again paced the field on the second and final day of the American Le Mans Series Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway today.

The Benicia, CA-based team completed a productive test in which it turned over 180 laps and set the quickest time in all four sessions, ending the day with Lucas Luhr registering a fast lap of one minute 49.997 seconds.

Having only received the car a month ago and with this test marking the first time the team took their Aston Martin LMP1 car out on track the results couldn't be more satisfying for the Greg Pickett led team.

The Muscle Milk squad was pleased with their progression as they improved their lap times in each session as drivers, engineers and crew continued to learn the intricacies of the car.

On day one, Klaus Graf put in a time of one minute 51.760 seconds in the morning, which was improved upon by Lucas Luhr in the afternoon with a lap at one minute 50.530 seconds.

Day two was more of the same with Graf posting a lap of one minute 50.340 in the morning and Luhr bettering with the fastest lap of the test.

While the Aston Martin powered team was the only one to post a lap time below the one minute 50 mark, Luhr, who will be joining the Muscle Milk team for the three major endurance races this season, wasn't the only driver to accomplish the feat.

Proving that the pair of Germans are a perfect match, Graf turned a lap of one minute 49.999 seconds in the final minutes of the two-day test, only three thousandths of a second off Luhr's pace.

Both Pickett and Graf will return to Sebring International Raceway on February 24 and 25 for a private test session ahead of next month's 59th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida, which takes place Saturday, March 19.


What they have to say:

Greg Pickett, driver and owner Muscle Milk Aston Martin Racing
"It was another good day for the Muscle Milk Aston Martin Racing team. We continued to learn things about our P1 car and I continued to get more and more comfortable with every lap, which is what we came here to do. I'm really satisfied with how everything went for our first time on track with the Aston Martin and I'm looking forward to getting back in the car again.
"As usual both Klaus and Lucas did a phenomenal job and how great was it that they nearly matched their best lap time with only a difference of three thousandths of a second. It just goes to show how good a driver pairing they are."

Klaus Graf, driver Muscle Milk Aston Martin Racing
"I think we achieved what we wanted to accomplish at the test. All three drivers got comfortable with the car and we gave Lucas a little bit more seat time because he won't be at the test in a couple of weeks. Greg came quickly up to speed as well.
"We became familiar with the car and we learned a lot and that was the main objective coming here. We finished every session on top of the charts which is satisfying and that's a good starting point going into the season, there's a lot of stuff to do still, it's a new package for us so there is a lot to learn and the guys will certainly have some long days ahead of them, just like they had long days here so thanks to them. They did an awesome job putting everything together for every session and they worked long hours. It just shows what good crew guys we have here.
"(About he and Luhr's fastest lap times) I think if we're that close to each other's lap times the rest of the season we can be really happy. It's good, it's fun."

Lucas Luhr, driver Muscle Milk Aston Martin Racing
"I think the test was as successful as can be in the sense that Brandon (Fry) our engineer and all the guys did the best we could possibly do with the components we had on hand for this test. For sure we still all have to continue learning the car and understanding it a little bit better but we have some good thoughts on how to improve it for the future. We made a lot of progress if you look at yesterday and then today. For the first time running, it shows that we are going in the right direction. For me, for the first time testing with the Aston Martin, I'm really happy.
"(About he and Graf's fastest lap time) As Klaus said it's always hard to compare lap times here at Sebring but I think if we're going to always be that close, it means we are a good fit. But the first priority is to do what's best for the Muscle Milk team and if it always turns out like this then I think everyone will be happy."

A new team bearing the iconic Gulf Oil International racing colours and the Aston Martin Racing name will be contesting the 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup with an Aston Martin Vantage GT2 in the GTE Am category.

Gulf AMR Middle East is a UAE-based racing team owned by Frederic Fatien, Jean-Pierre Valentini, Mike Wainwright and Roald Goethe, and is an evolution of the Gulf Team First organisation which ran in the 2010 FIA GT2 European Cup and, most recently, entered the Dunlop 24H Dubai race.

Entered as an official partner team for Gulf Oil International and Aston Martin Racing, the Gulf AMR Middle East entry will be driven by Mike Wainwright and Roald Goethe, both of whom gained valuable experience in international competition during 2010. Notable amongst their track outings were races in the FIA GT2 European Cup, GT3, the Spa 24 Hours, selected rounds of the French GT Championship and the final two rounds of the inaugural ILMC series.

They will be joined by highly experienced French driver, Fabien Giroix, and the team will be under the guiding hands of legendary motorsport team owner and manager, David Price.

John Gaw, Managing Director of Aston Martin Racing, commented of the new partnership: “Aston Martin Racing have enjoyed a long, successful and winning relationship with Gulf and are delighted that Gulf AMR Middle East have announced this significant project in such an important championship. AMR look forward to working with this highly experienced team in support of this programme across 2011.”

The GT2 category is one of the most fiercely-fought and popular battles in international competition today, with luxury marques such as Aston Martin, Ferrari and Porsche all battling for honours in cars that are instantly recognisable to media and fans alike. Add to that the iconic colours and heritage of Gulf Oil International and the scene is set for some great racing in the months to come.

The Muscle Milk team had a trouble free debut with its Aston Martin LMP1 car on Wednesday as it topped the speed charts on day one of the two-day American Le Mans Series Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway.

The test marked the beginning of a new chapter for the Muscle Milk Aston Martin Racing team that took possession of its car only a month ago, but it also had extra significance for team owner and co-driver Greg Pickett who was returning to the cockpit of a prototype car for the first time since his crash at Mid-Ohio last August.

Aside from a handful of laps in the team's GT3 Cup Challenge car on Wednesday, Pickett had not driven a racecar since the testing incident.

Needless to say, the Trans-Am legend was anxious to get back on track and if there was ever any worry about his return behind the wheel, it was wiped away by seeing the huge smile on his face upon exiting the Aston Martin.

Before Pickett could get back behind the wheel however, his co-driver Klaus Graf was honored with being the first one to take the LMP1 coupe out on track. The German quickly took in his new racing environment and set the pace early on in the session, registering a time of one minute 51.760 seconds.

Although Graf sat atop the timing sheet following the morning outing, it was his countryman and teammate Lucas Luhr who placed the team at the top of the charts in the afternoon session with a lap of one minute 50.530 seconds.

Thanks to a successful and productive day, all three drivers combined to complete just over 110 laps around the 17-turn, 3.7-mile track while familiarizing themselves with their new ride and its air-conditioned closed cockpit environment.

The Muscle Milk Aston Martin Racing team will be back on-track from 8 a.m. ET until noon and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET on Thursday.

The 59th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida is set for 10:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 19. The race will be shown live and in its entirety on ESPN3.com and americanlemans.com starting at 10 a.m. ET. ABC will provide coverage from 12:30 to 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 20.


What they have to say:

Greg Pickett, driver and owner Muscle Milk Aston Martin Racing
"Getting back in the car was a lot of fun. I was fortunate enough in the last three, four months after I had healed up, to head back to the gym to get back in shape and I'm glad I did. These cars are physical to drive and you kind of forget when you're away from them a little bit just how fast things happen in them.
"I have to admit I was a little bit apprehensive in my first run but I felt much more confidant and better in my second run. I hadn't driven with Lucas before because he was replacing me at Petit Le Mans and he came up to me today and said he was really impressed by me, that he had never seen anything like it and coming from a guy like Lucas, that meant a lot to me.
"All in all we had a very strong day. We just kept making little changes and getting everybody use to it. The engine ran flawlessly today, all the systems worked perfectly and so we're very pleased with that. Our Aston Martin embedded technician, John Ogden, hats off to him because nothing went wrong and to our crew and engineering team who did a great job prepping the car for this first test. We probably ran as many laps as anybody and all three of us drivers got all the time we wanted. You can't have a much better first day. As for tomorrow we'll just keep pushing at it.
"(About the difference driving a coupe) This is a very comfortable car. It has a little bit more room particularly at the elbows, compared to the RS Spyder. It's also easier, I find to get in and out of. Our friend Jeff Mowins from Mark One Composites came out and did our seats and as usual did a fabulous job. Often you'll get out of the car and you have some aches and pains but it's not the case with us and this is a bumpy place. As for the visibility in the closed cockpit, I don't think it's a problem. And finally the air conditioning is great. It's the first time I've had it in a racecar. It's nice to feel the cool air on your face because it can get very hot in there."

Klaus Graf, driver Muscle Milk Aston Martin Racing
"It was very special this morning leaving pit lane for the first time. It's been a long off-season and once you receive the car at the shop everyone starts talking about this and that and how it's going to be but all the talking stops when you leave pit lane for the first time.
"I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised. The Aston Martin engine is phenomenal. The drivability, the shifting, everything was really, really nice. Even being in a coupe is not a problem at all. We thought about that differently to be honest.
"In an open cockpit car you are able to see around you, but in the coupe it's more like if you are looking through a tunnel. You see very well in front of you but there is a big block to the left and to the right where you don't see anything so that is the biggest difference.
"I don't mind that though, honestly, sometimes it's not such a bad thing if you don't see everything! One may look at these cars and think it might be a little claustrophobic but it's actually quite roomy inside.
"Overall it was a very productive day, in the end we're atop the charts so we couldn't ask for more. For me personally, it was also very nice to see how Greg got up to speed, how quickly he got back in the saddle, it was like he had never been out of the car. That was very impressive, I have to say."

Lucas Luhr, driver Muscle Milk Aston Martin Racing
"To be honest I was really surprised about how good the car handles. Plus, the view inside is not what one would think. The car is brilliant.
"We of course still need to tweak it and fine tune it a little bit to have it the way we want, but I think overall we had a really successful first day and I really enjoyed driving it, a lot. Just the sound is amazing. I had a lot of fun and I wasn't the only one. All three of us drivers really liked the car.
"Now as we move ahead, it's up to us to get use to it more and keep working on it. The guys did a great job as well. They were here really late last night and back up early this morning. I think they had only three hours of sleep so they're also a big part of this.
"I'm already looking forward to getting back in the car tomorrow."

The ACO today announced the entry list for the 2011 Le Mans 24 Hours, The 79th edition of the French classic will feature 4 Aston Martins on the grid with a further two on the reserve list.

LMP1
#007 Aston Martin Racing - AMR One
#009 Aston Martin Racing - AMR One

Aston Martin Racing will be represented in LMP1 by two of their new LMP1 cars. Harold Primat being named as the lead driver in 007 with Stefan Mücke leading 009. 007 is also entered in the full ILMC with Stefan Mucke and Darren Turner named for Sebring.

Kronos Racing (Orbello) are 2nd on the LMP reserve list with their ex Signature Lola - Aston Martin.

LMGTE Pro

#79 Jota Sport - Aston Martin Vantage

Jota Sport AMR will lead Aston Martin's Challenge in the GT classes. Moving up to GTE this year after a very successful year with the GT4 Vantage which saw the team win their class at the Spa 24 hours and finish 2nd in class at the Silverstone 24 hours. Simon Dolan and Sam Hancock are named in the car with the third driver yet to be announced, Jota Sport will also contest the full LMS season.

LMGTE Am

#60 Gulf AMR Middle East - Aston Martin Vantage

UAE-based Gulf AMR Middle East will enter Le Mans and the ILMC as an official partner of Gulf Oil International and Aston Martin Racing the car will be driven by Fabien Giroix, Mike Wainwright and Roald Goethe. The team operated under the watchful eye of David Price and will make their debut at the Sebring 12 hours.

Barwell Motorsport is delighted to announce that it will be returning to the Belcar (‘Belgian GT’) Endurance Championship and Spa 24 Hours this year, with backing from Petronas Lubricants Belgium and Aston Martin Brussels. The car will feature top Belgian professional drivers, and will be entered under the banner of ‘Petronas-Barwell Racing’.

The former British GT Championship-winning team will run a 2011-specification Aston Martin DBRS9 GT3 in the five-round Belcar series at the Spa-Francorchamps and Zolder circuits. For what will be an all-out assault on the title, ‘Petronas-Barwell Racing’ has enlisted the driving services of Tim Verbergt and Jeffrey van Hooydonk, 2009 Belcar Champion and Runner-Up, respectively. The team’s programme will also include the ‘jewel in the crown’ of European GT racing, the Spa 24 Hours, which this year is part of the Blancpain Endurance Series. For the first time GT3 specification cars will form the top class of this classic event in 2011, and we will have a very good shot at an outright victory.

With the Aston Martin DBRS9 benefiting from significant upgrades in 2011, and two of the highest-calibre professional GT drivers on board (the first time a DBRS9 GT3 programme has enjoyed an ‘all-pro’ driver line-up), Barwell is very confident of making a strong bid for the Belcar crown and Spa 24 Hours success.
“ It’s fantastic to be working in partnership with Aston Martin Brussels once again on this exciting project. With Tim & Jeff on board plus Petronas Lubricants Belgium, we are in an excellent position to really push for the title over the coming seasons” – Mark Lemmer, Barwell Motorsport Team Principal

" I am very happy to be part of this exciting project with a long term vision, my aim is to put Aston Martin Brussels on the map. It will be a challenge to be working with top level guys at Barwell and a real fast team mate." – Tim Verbergt
“I will be driving one of the most beautiful GT3 cars, the Aston Martin DBRS9, thanks to Petronas Lubricants Belgium, Aston Martin Brussels and my loyal partner EL Systems. I know exactly what to expect, given the fact that I was very lucky to drive Barwell’s DBRS9 in the 2009 Spa 24 hours. This project is possible thanks to my new partner Petronas Lubricants Belgium, and it is a dream for me to start a partnership with one of the most renowned companies in motorsport.” – Jeffrey van Hooydonk

“Aston Martin Racing have enjoyed a long, successful and winning relationship with Barwell since the start of the customer DBRS9 GT3 programme in 2005, and are delighted that Barwell have announced this significant project in such an important championship. AMR look forward to working with Barwell in support of this programme across 2011.” - John Gaw, Aston Martin Racing MD

This year’s campaign in Belcar is the first of a planned 3-year programme for ‘Petronas-Barwell Racing’, Verbergt, Van Hooydonk, and Aston Martin Brussels.

Young Driver AMR is set to compete in the second season of the FIA GT1 World Championship. After the successful première season last year, Young Driver AMR will once again fight for World Championship honours with it’s two Aston Martin DBR9. As one of the first teams, Young Driver AMR already signed in for the second season of the GT1 World Championship.

“Our first season in the GT1 World Championship was very successful, we scored three victories and our drivers were in the contention for the title until the last round”, team principal Hardy Fischer says. “This is a very solid ground, on which we can built for our second season. We are currently finalising our driver line-ups, I expect that we will announce our four drivers very soon.”

“We learnt a lot during our first season with the Aston Martin DBR9, our goal for 2011 is clearly to win the championship. The GT1 World Championship has aroused worldwide enthusiasm in its inaugural season with top-level racing. In 2011 we also hope for a good season and a big grid.”

Before the FIA GT1 World Championship starts into it’s second season at March 25th at the breathtaking Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, preparations for the new season are at full speed in the Young Driver AMR workshop in Germany. “We received our two Aston Martin three weeks ago after the long transport from last years season finale in Argentina. At moment, our mechanics prepare our two DBR9 for the new season. In less then three weeks, both cars will be shipped to Abu Dhabi.”

The calendar of the 2011 season consists ten rounds, and will not only visit Brazil, Argentina, Great Britain or France, but also China for the first time. The Young Driver team is especially exited about the German round at the scenic Sachsenring at May 15th. “The calendar of the 2011 season is really exciting, we are really looking forward to race at the Sachsenring with the GT1-machnines. I believe that will be one of the season highlights,” Hardy Fischer says.

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Schedule GT1-World 2011

24. – 25. March Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi (VAE)
08. – 10. April Zolder (B)
06. – 08. May Algarve, Portimão (P)
13. – 15. May Sachsenring (D)
03. – 05. June Silverstone Supercar 2011 (GB)
01. – 03. July Navarra (E)
15. – 17. July HTTT Paul Ricard, Le Castellet (F)
02. – 04. September Ordos (CN)
21. – 23. Oktober Curitiba (BR)
05. – 06. November San Luis (ARG)

About Young Driver AMR

Young Driver AMR was founded by Hardy Fischer and his friend and long-time associate Jan Struve in late 2009 and is representing Aston Martin as one of only two teams in the FIA GT1 World Championship with two Aston Martin DBR9. The abbreviation AMR in the team name stands for Aston Martin Racing, Young Driver AMR is the only official German partner team of Aston Martin Racing. Young Driver AMR is a sister-team of Fischer Racing and based in Paderborn. In it’s first racing season 2010, Young Driver AMR took three victories in the FIA GT1 World Championship and finished on the class podium in it’s first ever outing in the legendary 24 hours of Le Mans in France.