This week's testing round up
Friday, February 27, 2015
This week has seen the first steps of many Aston Martin teams preparing for their 2015 season - some embarking on a journey into the unknown and some returning to pastures covered previously hoping to improve on past performances.
TF Sport were first out of the garage door on Tuesday morning at chilly Snetterton running a simple systems check on both of their V12 Vantages entered into the British GT. Jody Fannin was at hand to put just a few miles onto the car he shares with Andrew Jarman together with Derek Johnston with his and Matt Bell's car in readiness for the Aston Martin Racing's (and partner teams) test weekend at Monteblanco, Spain next weekend.
Next up were Motorbase this time testing at Brands Hatch the following day. Whilst it is hasn't been publicly stated who was driving that day an interesting picture cropped up on social media later that evening showing not two but three V12 Vantages! Again, in the absence of any formal announcement the more discerning of you will be able to visually identify the return of the Oman Racing liveried car but who will the drivers be this time round? We think we know but it simply isn't our intention to steal their thunder with any speculation!
As yet nothing is known about the third Vantage.
Thursday it was back to a biblically wet Snetterton and with 'soggy bottoms' it was the turn of British GT returnees Beechdean Motorsport to try and strut their stuff!. A British GT entry for team owner Andrew Howard (now sporting a proper 'man beard' for the season alongside stalwart Jonny Adam were announced some weeks ago for their #007 V12 Vantage GT3 but nothing has yet been confirmed regarding their GT4 car nor indeed their proposed second GT3.
There were a few other drivers there testing the V8 Vantage GT4 alongside its bigger brother but we have been asked not to identify these people in the short term. Hopefully, all will be revealed by the end of next week.
Unfortunately the weather was to severely restrict their running in preparation for their test weekend along side the works and other partner teams in Spain next weekend.
Also alongside Beeechdean was the return to the circuit of TF Sport for the second time in the week. This time it was with their as yet unassigned V8 Vantage GT4 which now appears that it will be entered into the GT Sup series alongside its two other stablemates with a single driver.
Finally we move to today, Friday 27th February and a whole plethora of Vantages testing at a gloriously sunny Silverstone circuit. Testing there today were British GT returnees 22GT Racing with Jon Barnes and Mark Farmer in their V12 Vantage GT3 together with their V8 Vantage GT4 entered into selected GT4 Cup and Britcar rounds with father and son Chris and Mika Brown.
Alongside them were full season Blancpain entrants Leonard Motorsport with their V12 Vantage GT3 nicknamed 'Bumblebee' out for a shakedown test with Paul Wilson and Michael Meadows together with the Quantamatic liveried Vantage GT4 of another set of British GT newcomers in Mike Hart and Terry Langley with Team Parker Racing.
A gearbox sensor issue would see their day cut short after just seven laps with the team having to return the car to Prodrive to effect repairs. The team are due out again at Oulton Park next week.
Taking breathe to continue the above cars were also accompanied by a further two ex GT4 Challenge V8 Vantage GT4's belonging of Vantage Racing with Tom Black and another with Chris Kemp under the guidance of Gulf Racing's Stuart Hall.
We will hopefully update this report with pictures from each event as and when available.
Photo credits - Richard Leach / team and driver social media
