With the second round of the Blancpain Endurance Series now just days away, Aston Martin Racing's  representing teams were busty at Snetterton today as they prepare to take on the three hour enduro.

Beechdean AMR is celebrating a second place finish at the British GT Championship at Silverstone, a result that stands the team in good stead ahead of this weekend (1/2 June) when it returns to the Northamptonshire circuit for the second round of the highly competitive Blancpain Endurance Series (BES).

In an extremely tight qualifying session, which saw the top ten separated by just 0.8 seconds, Beechdean AMR’s pro-driver and Aston Martin Racing’s latest works signing Jonny Adam (GB) placed the V12 Vantage GT3 ninth on the grid.

The race began under glorious sunshine and the Pro-Am pair employed an ambitious strategy, which saw team-owner Andrew Howard start the three-hour race. The all-British duo each completed two stints in the car and worked hard to hunt down and pick off the field of Ferraris, BMWs and Porsches using the safety car disruptions to their advantage.

“I’m really thrilled with the team,” comments Howard. “We went into the race with a fairly aggressive strategy that had a ‘win or bust’ philosophy. We were really pleased to have avoided the various incidents and come out with a fantastic second place result in the British GT Championship.”

Alongside its British GT Championship campaign, Beechdean AMR is contesting the Blancpain Endurance Series with Adam, Howard and Aston Martin Racing reserve driver Daniel Mckenzie (GB). At the first round at Monza, the team finished fourth in class and eleventh overall in its championship debut and, following this weekend’s solid performance at Silverstone, it is hoping for another strong result.

“Having raced in British GT at Silverstone last weekend we are very optimistic about the Blancpain Endurance Series this weekend,” continued Howard. “We feel that we are carrying good pace and local knowledge into our home race and, if things go our way on the day, we are confident we can turn this into a good result.”

Jonny Adam adds: “The strategy worked well at the weekend and to finish second is great - it’s good to have some solid points in the bag. The Vantage GT3 is always good on its tyres at Silverstone and it's great to go into the Blancpain Endurance Series round knowing that we are quick. However, there are a lot more cars on the grid this weekend and it’s a very competitive field, so we’ll have to see what we can do on the day.”

The second round of the Blancpain Endurance Series at Silverstone starts on Saturday 1 June with qualifying at 0900hrs GMT. The race starts at 1450hrs GMT on Sunday 2 June. Follow the team’s progress at www.beechdeanmotorsport.co.uk or on Twitter using @beechdeanah (Andrew Howard) and @jonnyadam (Jonny Adam).

Aston Martin’s weekend of centenary celebrations at the ADAC Zurich Nürburgring 24 Hours (N24) concluded this evening (Monday 20 May) with a thrilling top-ten result for its Bilstein-liveried V12 Vantage GT3 and a historic finish for its unique Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S in one of the most grueling 24-hour races in recent years.

In a weekend that started with the British luxury sports car maker entering the history books with a zero CO2 emissions hydrogen-powered qualifying lap, the brand also hosted a 100-plus car parade lap of the famous 25 km Nordschleife, led by CEO Dr Ulrich Bez in the stunning CC100 Speedster Concept and motorsport legend Sir Stirling Moss at the wheel of the 1959 1000 km of Nürburgring race-winning DBR1.
For the race, Aston Martin Racing works driver Pedro Lamy (PT) qualified the Bilstein V12 Vantage GT3 in second position overall. The five-time N24 winner set a blistering time of 8:18.362, stopping the clock just 1.1 seconds behind the pole position winner.

After taking the race lead in the second hour Lamy‘s team-mates Darren Turner (GB), Stefan Mücke (D) and Allan Simonsen (DN) each led at points as the rain and fog worsened until, finally, the event was red flagged at 22:30 hrs.

The green flag finally waved again at 08:00 hrs today (Monday 20 May) with Aston Martin Racing still leading the race. In persistently wet conditions, the drivers struggled for grip and the V12 Vantage GT3 gradually lost its advantage over its rivals. A brush with the barriers in the difficult early laps affected the car’s handling for the remainder of the race, curtailing any chance to push hard in the improving conditions. Thereafter, the team wisely settled for a safe finish and was delighted to bring the car home in tenth place overall.



John Gaw, Team Principal at Aston Martin Racing comments: “The team did a fantastic job this weekend and we couldn’t have done it without our partners from Bilstein.

“Our car performed perfectly on the Michelin slicks and, in the dry, we recorded some of the very fastest lap times of the race. In the wet we struggled with grip, but this is something we will work on together ahead of next year’s race.”

Darren Turner adds: “Wow, another amazing Nürburgring 24 Hours! As ever, it’s been a whole host of ups and down. It was a great job by Pedro in qualifying and to lead the race up until the red flag was very exciting and showed exactly what the Vantage GT3 can achieve.

“Coming back next year we need to work on our wet weather pace but, overall, I’m very proud of the team. As always, it’s been a pleasure to drive with Pedro, Stefan and Allan and the boys did a great job in our pit stops.”

Alongside the Vantage GT3 charger Aston Martin’s mould-breaking Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S – designed and built with the support of hydrogen specialists Alset Global and based on the manufacturer’s new four-door, four-seat sports GT – achieved its ambitious goal of completing the world-famous 24-hour race.
“This is a historic day for two reasons,” explains Jose Ignacio Calindo, CEO of Alset Global. “Besides being the first hydrogen-powered race car to compete and undertake zero CO2 emissions laps in an international event, it has showcased the most practical technology available to fundamentally address the challenge of global emissions without disrupting the automotive industry.”

The #005 V12 Vantage, which encountered a minor electrical issue in the first few hours of the race, charged on through the second section putting in consistently quick laps in the close-to-production specification car. However, its charge was not enough to make up the lost time and the team finished fifth in class.
Also in the SP8 class the #006 V8 Vantage, driven by Aston Martin customers, celebrated a great third in class and a podium finish following a clean run of faultless racing throughout the weekend. The four drivers were awarded with their third place trophies at a ceremony this evening.

David King, Head of Motorsport at Aston Martin, comments: “The Nürburgring is a place Aston Martin holds close and it seemed fitting to mark our centenary year with a host of powerful and emotive celebrations.

“First and foremost, however, it was about the race and it was our ambition to bring all of our cars home safely for the eighth successive year. To achieve a top ten finish with the Vantage GT3 is a fantastic achievement, especially given the extremely tough conditions.

“We are also proud to have given our 300-plus VIP guests and our many thousands of fans something really special to celebrate.

“As always the team has done a perfect job, our partners have been incredible and we hope to come back next year even stronger to continue our campaign to win the Nürburgring 24 Hours.”

Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez, who drove several stints in the Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S over the course of the race, said: “This year’s race here at Nürburgring has been a celebration of all the things that Aston Martin stands for: power, people and dedication!

“Record-breaking hydrogen success incorporating the very latest V12 engine technology, a race-leading performance for the GT3, strong laps from the V12 Vantage and the global unveiling of the stunning CC100 Speedster Concept – created in the spirit of our most famous race car ever, the classic DBR1 – have ensured Aston Martin is once again taking a leading role here.

“Our centenary celebrations continue, of course, and now we look forward to more success on track at Le Mans.”

Aston Martin will next race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the third round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, which Aston Martin Racing is currently leading with its #97 Vantage GTE.

Aston Martin’s global centenary celebration programme powered into Germany yesterday (Sunday 19 May) as the great British sports car maker marked its first 100 years with a 100-plus car parade at the Nordschleife.

Just ahead of the start of the 41st ADAC Zurich Nürburgring 24 Hours a cavalcade of more than 100 Aston Martin sports cars took to the infamous road circuit for a celebratory parade lap.

Led by Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez at the wheel of the stunning new CC100 Speedster Concept, which made its global debut at the Nürburgring this weekend, the parade comprised cars from the brand’s glittering past and stylish present.

Among the models making the 22 km lap were the DB5 used in the recent James Bond film Skyfall, a One-77 hypercar, the 1959 Nürburgring 1000 km-winning DBR1 with original driver Sir Stirling Moss at the wheel, and a modern Centenary Edition Vanquish bearing the numberplate ‘100YRS’.

These were followed by scores of enthusiast owners who had travelled from across Europe to take part in the iconic gathering of Aston Martins.

Among the modern models represented were pristine examples of DBS, DB9, Vantage and Rapide – driving the Nordschleife alongside a DB3, DB2/4 Drophead, DB7 Zagato and a V12 Vanquish S.

Dr Bez said: “It was a fabulous occasion. To see so many of our great cars together on the Nordschleife – the ‘green hell’ where we test and develop our modern road cars – was, I hope, truly memorable for the spectators and drivers.

“It was a great pleasure, too, to see Sir Stirling Moss back at the circuit driving the DBR1 in which he triumphed here more than 50 years ago.”

Aston Martin has a strong entry at this year’s ADAC Zurich Nürburgring 24 Hours with a front-running V12 Vantage GT3, a record-breaking Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S and a close-to-production specification V12 Vantage.    

A strong start for Aston Martin to the 41st ADAC Zurich Nürburgring 24 Hours (N24) saw the Aston Martin Racing V12 Vantage Bilstein GT3 lead after four-hours – the length of a standard VLN race.

The #007 Vantage GT3 started the 24-hour endurance race from the front row of the grid after five-times N24-winner and Aston Martin Racing works driver Pedro Lamy (PT) completed the second fastest qualifying lap of the 176-strong grid in front of tens of thousands of spectators.

By the four-hour mark each of the #007 drivers had completed stints with Lamy’s teammates Darren Turner (GB), Stefan Mücke (D) and Allan Simonsen (DN), all completing laps of the 25km Nordschleife circuit from the front of the pack, showcasing the Vantage GT3’s pace and overtaking capability.

John Gaw, Team Principal at Aston Martin Racing comments: “Pedro did a fantastic job putting the car on the front row for the start of the race and he challenged well from the start. He handed the car over to Allan in a strong position and from there we have had a clean run at the front outside of routine pits stop cycles.

“The team made a great call when the rain started to fall and Stefan pitted early for wet tyres; we got back out in a 30-second lead. It will be a long, tough night and the race really starts around lunchtime tomorrow so we will play things as safe as we can as we try to arrive in the morning in a strong position.”

Alongside the race-leading charger, Aston Martin’s Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S successfully completed its first international race lap on pure hydrogen with Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez behind the wheel and, disregarding some small issues with the bonnet pin, has so far completed 16 trouble-free laps.

The #005 V12 Vantage, under the charge of Richard Meaden (GB), made great progress too making up 11 places within the first six laps. The car currently sits eighth in class.

David King, Head of Motorsport at Aston Martin comments: “The Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S has once again made history but, most importantly, it is running perfectly. The aim is to complete the race.”

Aston Martin Racing

Aston Martin Racing will return to the Nordschleife next weekend (17-20 May) when it races its stunning Bilstein-liveried V12 Vantage GT3 in one of the most challenging and demanding endurance races in the world, the ADAC Zurich Nürburgring 24 Hours (N24).

Aston Martin’s relationship with the Nordschleife is deep-rooted; it won the Nürburgring 1,000 km race in 1957, ’58 and ’59 and, as well as entering the 24-hour endurance race since 2006, the manufacturer has regularly taken part in the circuit’s own series, VLN. Further, many of its current sports cars have been developed and signed off on the legendary track.

This year, Aston Martin’s centenary, marks the brand’s most ambitious assault on the 25.9 km circuit to date. Aston Martin Racing is entering a V12 Vantage GT3 as it embarks on its most dedicated attempt yet to challenge for an N24 win.

Earlier this year, Aston Martin announced a racing partnership with leading damping and suspension specialist Bilstein, appointing it as primary technical partner for N24. The new agreement builds on the existing long-term relationship between the two companies – Bilstein dampers are fitted as standard to all Aston Martin road cars – and sees the companies working as a team on the N24 race programme and the iconic Bilstein branding applied to the V12 Vantage GT3.

Taking time out from the FIA World Endurance Championship – which the team is currently leading in both the GTE Pro and GTE am classes – Aston Martin Racing’s works drivers Darren Turner (GB), Stefan Mücke (D), Allan Simonsen (DN) and Pedro Lamy (PT) will drive the Bilstein-sponsored car in the race that starts on Sunday 19 May.

David King, Director of Special Projects and Motorsport at Aston Martin, said: “This remarkable race, with more than 200 starters, has grown enormously in status since we first entered a nearly standard V8 Vantage back in 2006. It is fitting that our most ambitious and competitive entry yet coincides with our centenary year, but we face a tough challenge from more than 30 world-class GT3 entries, with the German sports car manufacturers in particular represented in force.

“Bilstein is a key long term partner of Aston Martin, and has contributed greatly to the success of our road cars, so to take this relationship onto the track as well is really special. I’m sure the stunning yellow and blue car will be a real favourite with the fans.”

The V12 Vantage GT3 was launched at the end of 2011 following an extensive design and development programme. Its success was proven when the car scored its first race win within weeks of the 2012 season starting. It has since gone on to win numerous races around the world.

The Vantage GT3 has a modified version of Aston Martin’s production 6.0-litre V12 engine. The dry-sumped engine is capable of producing in excess of 600 bhp with 700 Nm of torque, but is restricted by race regulations to approximately 550 bhp.

The car will share a garage with two further official Aston Martin entries; the world-leading Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S - the first hydrogen powered car to compete in a FIA-sanctioned race - and a V12 Vantage in close-to-production specification. The appearance of this almost standard car alongside its GT3 sibling in a major international endurance race, truly underlines the racing pedigree of the company’s most sporting road car.

Watch on onboard as Abra takes the Barwell V12 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 round one of the fastest tracks in Europe during the second round the of British GT Championship.

Beechdean AMR’s professional driver, Jonny Adam (GB), has signed for the Aston Martin Racing works team, in a deal that will first see him on track in the Vantage GTE at the official Le Mans test session on 9 June.

Adam, 28, was announced as the reserve driver for the Banbury-based team earlier this year, and team bosses have since been impressed by his solid performances in the Blancpain Endurance Series and the British GT Championship, which he competes in alongside team-mate and team-owner Andrew Howard (GB).

“I am thrilled that Jonny has been given a full factory drive with Aston Martin Racing”, said Howard when he heard the news. “This is my third season working with Jonny and it has been great to watch him move up the GT rankings so quickly. He is fast, reliable and a great coach, a real asset to Aston Martin Racing.”

Beechdean AMR is one of only ten Aston Martin Racing partner teams in the world. As such, Adam has had a close relationship with the team, including team principal, John Gaw, who invited him to a works team GTE test session at Snetterton on Thursday (9 May).

“Jonny has impressed over the past few years of racing with Beechdean AMR and as a result recently tested with the factory team in the GTE car,” commented Gaw. “His approach, attitude and consistency is as we expect from a factory driver and this latest agreement further cements the relationship between Aston Martin Racing, Jonny and Beechdean. We look forward to seeing him debut in the works Vantage GTE at the Le Mans test day in June.”

Adam adds: “I’m delighted with this opportunity to join Aston Martin Racing as a works driver. A dream really has come true for me. To be involved with a team in the chase for an FIA world championship is something very special - even more so that it is in Aston Martin’s centenary year.

“I look forward to continuing my racing programmes in both British GT and Blancpain Endurance Series with Andrew Howard and Beechdean AMR and hope that 2013 is a successful year for Aston Martin.”

Adam will race with Beechdean alongside any Aston Martin Racing commitments. His next race outing will be alongside Howard in the Beechdean-sponsored V12 Vantage GT3 at the third round of the British GT Championship at Silverstone on 25th May.

Aston Martin Racing were out in force at Snetterton on Thursday with no fewer than four Vantage GTE’s taking part in a test session after another podium outing at Spa in the WEC.

The test was also an opportunity for drivers and customer teams to test alongside the works team. British GT regulars, Beechdean AMR were joined by Strata 21 with some new faces taking the chance to test Aston Martin’s range of GT cars.

Touring car star, Tom Onslow-Cole was invited to the test by AMR after meeting with the team earlier in the year. Tom expressed an interest in breaking into endurance racing, but needs to gain experience in GT cars. Also at the test was Dan Brown, the Ferrari driver making the most of the chance to test the V12 Vantage GT3.

Fresh from his double British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) podium at Thruxton last weekend, Tom Onslow-Cole (GB) joined Aston Martin Racing at its test session at Snetterton yesterday (9 May) where he drove the V12 Vantage GT3 for the first time.

The Aston Martin Racing works team was at Norfolk circuit preparing its five Vantage GTEs for the third round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Alongside them, customer teams such as Beechdean AMR were there taking advantage of the full factory support and works drivers including British GT ace, Darren Turner (GB).

Tom was invited to the test session by Aston Martin Racing team principal John Gaw following a meeting earlier this year and the 25-year old didn’t fail to meet the team’s high expectations, despite it being his first outing in a GT car.

John Gaw comments: “I was impressed when I first met Tom with his attitude and approach and his clear understanding of how the commercial side of motorsport works. He has also impressed recently on the track and did so again at the test yesterday. We look forward to seeing him in a GT car soon.”

Tom adds:  “Considering I only did a handful of laps, the Vantage GT3 was incredibly easy to drive. There is so much grip and you get plenty of information back as a driver – it’s incredibly satisfying. Thanks to Aston Martin Racing for the fantastic opportunity.”

The V12 Vantage GT3 was launched at the end of 2011 following an extensive design and development programme. The success of this was proven when the car scored its first race win within weeks of the 2012 season starting. It has since gone on to win numerous international championships and races around the world.

The Vantage GT3 has a modified version of Aston Martin’s production 6.0-litre V12 engine. The dry-sumped engine is capable of producing in excess of 600 bhp with 700 Nm of torque, but is restricted by race regulations to approximately 550 bhp.

Whether Tom will drive for Aston Martin Racing or one of its customer teams in the future is yet to be determined.

Aston Martin Racing customer team Complete Racing won the British GT Championship GT4 class at Rockingham yesterday (6 May) despite some challenges and tough competition from its rivals.

The team arrived at Rockingham with hopes pinned on a successful weekend following a disappointing first round at Oulton Park. Despite putting its Vantage GT4 on pole, the weekend ended with a DNF in both races because of a collision in race one.

With the car rebuilt but not tested, drivers Steve Chaplain and Tom Wilson and their team headed to Rockingham and used the two warm up sessions to get the car set up for the race. Tom completed qualifying and started the car from fifth on the grid.

“We knew we had it all to do in the race,” comments Steve Chaplain. “But the Aston Martin GT4 is such a great car that we were confident we could achieve a good finish.

“Tom started very well and did well to avoid all of the incidents out on track. After an hour, he handed the car over to me in second place. He’d been closing the gap on the leader at more than a second a lap so I had to just continue in the same way. When the leader pitted he came out behind us and we took the win.”

Complete Racing bought the car in 2012 and completed two rounds of the championship at Silverstone
and Snetterton. This year they are making a full-scale attack on winning the championship and Steve is confident they have the car to do it with.

“The Vantage GT4 is the car I always wanted to race,” he continues. “For me, it’s a proper GT car, the only GT car to have for an endurance race in the market place today. It sets the benchmark for where GT4 cars should be.”

The British GT Championship continues at Silverstone on 25 May. Follow Complete Racing’s progress on the Facebook page www.facebook.com/completeracing or at www.completeracing.co.uk.
Aston Martin Racing
Image Richard Leach