Straight into 2016 prep for AMR in Bahrain

Without even letting the engine oil cool down but being spurred on by Saturday's Pro and Am class podiums, the garage crews were straight back at it on Saturday night getting three cars ready for the Rookie Test day the next day.

As listed previously the #99 V8 Vantage GTE  was de-liveried, fuelled and rubbered for each of the six remaining Evolution Academy finalists to be dispatched around the Sakhir circuit for between 10-15 laps each all under the ever watchful gaze of the team technicians and fitness guru's in order to prove their worth for that coveted prize.


2015 British GT GT4 Champions Jamie Chadwick and Ross Gunn, fellow British GT drivers Jody Fannin, Daniel Lloyd and Matt Bell together with 24H Series SP3 Champion Devon Modell all sampled the highest echelon of GT racing that Aston Martin Racing can offer driving the Tilke designed circuit along side other machinery from the World Endurance Championship - an opportunity of a lifetime!


This test was the final process in the 2015 Evolution Academy process before one (or two as we are expecting) winners are announced by the selection panel.

Along with this test programme the team were also utilising the circuit test sessions to put further mileage onto the 2016 specification V8 Vantage GTE for the purposes of data aquisition with works drivers Darren Turner and Jonny Adam at the wheel with Marco Sorensen to boot.


Having previously tested only in private in Span and Portugal the team also made available the #95 Young Driver car for the basis of direct chassis comparison. They also fielded at least three further test drivers in the form of Archie Hamilton, Bahraini Salman Rashid Al Khalifa and German Fabian Hamprecht in the still liveried #95 car.



Last but no means least would see Richie Stanaway swap his #99 Vantage GTE to test the Audi R18 E-Tron Quattro LMP1 as part of the series endeavours to promote accomplished drivers with the car categories.

Photo credits - Aston Martin Racing / WEC Adrenal Media