Strong start to Aston Martin’s Nürburgring 24 Hours charge
Sunday, May 19, 2013
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