Busy days ahead for #TeamAMR

Many will have seen photos published today on various social media streams from Aston Martin Racing drivers arriving at the Nordschleife with the expectation of undertaking some valuable test mileage ahead of not only the VLN2 into they are entered into this weekend but also for the 24Hour race in about a months time.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature over continental Europe decided that she wanted to restrict some of this driver frivolity by snowing on and off for pretty much for the whole day today thus allowing the team only limited and perhaps sometimes treacherous mileage.

The factory team arrived at the circuit with both their two freshly rebuilt V12 Vantage GT3's that will be entered by the factory into the N24 event itself plus the brand new V8 Vantage GT8 (following its shakedown test at Silverstone last week) AND, and for some barmy reason a Vulcan!!!

Having now seen the entry list for this weekends VLN2 race it confirms the following entries:-

#27 Vantage GT3 (SP9 Class) Entrant - AMR. Drivers - Darren Turner / Nicki Thiim

#29 Vantage GT3 (SP9 Class) Entrant - AMR. Drivers - Mathias Lauda / Richie Stanaway

#133 Vantage GT8 (SP8 Class) Entrant - AM Test Centre. Drivers Darren Turner / Peter Cate

#150 Vantage N24 (SP8 Class) Entrant - AM Test Centre. Drivers Fernando Rees / Marco Sorensen

Looking back a year almost to the day saw Aston Martin testing its then newly created GT12 derived race car ready for its entry into the 2015 N24 race. With the #50 GT12 car race prepared for and then raced by Cate along side co drivers Harris, Mathai and Gulden (before its unfortunate demise in the armco) it appears that history may just well repeat itself with the GT12's smaller brother the GT8 and Cate is again the man for the job.

We understand that all the Pro drivers within the AMR factory line up were at the Nordschleife for todays test although we do know that the running at the test was severely hampered by todays weather so some may not have got a drive. Those entered into the VLN will be back at the track on Friday for the Free Practice sessions but what we don't know is whether Turner will run in both cars allotted to him in the VLN race itself - we doubt it!

Despite our earlier hopes it appears that both Fernando Rees and Marco Sorensen need have to continue their 'Rookie training' at the circuit in their #150 VLN1 podium winning Aston Martin Test Centre prepared V8 Vantage N24 SP8 car in readiness for their elevation to the GT3 car ready for the 24Hour.

When the team have finished in Germany they then move on to Spa Francorchamps for the second round of the World Endurance Championship next weekend!

Busy - busy!!

Photo credits - Aston Martin / AMR driver social media