Not so Young Drivers and their younger “brothers” back at Le Mans
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
It’s Le Mans time this weekend: At the worlds biggest and most important endurance race, the 24 hours of Le Mans, Young Driver AMR faces it’s biggest challenge so far. This year the team raised the bar, as the Aston Martin Racing entered Young Driver AMR-Aston Martin Vantage GTE is competing in the GTE Pro class, the highest class in international GT racing. The „Danish Dynamite“ trio of Nicki Thiim, Christoffer Nygaard and Marco Sørensen will drive the pale blue Aston Martin sporting Young Driver’s #95. Young Driver AMR knows already how the champagne at the French endurance classic smells after winning the GTE Am class in 2014.
At Le Mans, the all Danish Young Driver AMR driver line up competes against works entries from Porsche, Ferrari and Corvette in the most competitive class in international GT racing, where literally every second counts. Thiim/Nygaard/Sørensen form a rapid trio, which combines speed and experience. Thiim took a Le Mans class win on his debut in 2014, Nygaard claimed a Le Mans podium with Young Driver AMR in 2010 and will compete at Le Mans this year for the fifth time, while Sørensen is a Le Mans rookie.
„It’s impossible to predict a 24 hour race, but it is already very safe to say that this years Le Mans will be another iconic race“, says Young Driver AMR´s Jan Struve. „Le Mans is the most important race for us this year, the race will be tense and very exciting. It is not possible to take any conclusion from the recent Le Mans test day and there are only strong teams and drivers in our class and everybody proved that they are capable of winning endurance races. We have a proven car and very good driver line up, so I expect us in the mix.“
The 24 hours of Le Mans start Saturday, 13th June, at 15:00 hours. Eurosport will broadcast the race in its entire length live on TV.
Not so Young Drivers“ are back in town
This year’s Le Mans also marks the return of the infamous „Not so Young Drivers“. Three years after the inaugural Aston Martin Racing Festival at Le Mans, Young Driver AMR will also take part in the second edition of the one make race which will be held Saturday morning before the start of the 24h race. Young Driver AMR will campaign an Aston Martin DBR9 from the teams very successful two seasons in the FIA GT1 World Championship in 2010/2011 and an Aston Martin Zagato, which formerly raced in the 24 hours Nürburgring. Jan Struve and Jacques Nellemans will be on driving duty in both Aston Martin and will swap cars halfway through the race. The objectives for this race are uncompromised and clear, says Struve: „We want to have as much fun as possible. We may not be the quickest drivers and obviously not the youngest, but we will certainly have the most fun.“
Driver quotes:
Nicki Thiim: "Le Mans is a very special race and like no other event. Already weeks before, you really feel the tension, that is building up. I’m really excited to come to Le Mans especially after the class win last year. In the GT class, there is no other race in the world where there is a bigger and harder competition and I’m really forward to that race".
Marco Sørensen: "At the pre test ten days ago I was at Le Mans for the first time and I was already impressed. I could realise how big this race is and what to expect during race week. Test day went quite well for us, so I’m confident. During wet and dry conditions the car was good to drive and quick. At Le Mans Nicki is back with us, which is really good, together with Chris we are a good driver line up. It will be my first 24 hours race, so I’m quite excited about this.“
Christoffer Nygaard: "We certainly have the tool to win our class, now we have to make the most out of this. I believe that we are in the window for a possible class victory. Our car had a great performance on the test day in dry and wet conditions, this gives us great confidence.”
Source material - Young Driver AMR
