Dalla Lana takes new AMR Vantage GTE into European Le Mans Series

Not since the year of Beechdean AMR's unsuccessful GTE Class title defence and TF Sports series audition back in 2017 have we seen an Aston Martin Racing V8 Vantage GTE compete in the European Le Mans Series and then, it was the older normally aspirated engined fan favourite.

Thinking back to when the original 2020 full season entry list was first announced way back in mid February do we recall just how disappointed we were not to see any AMR representation in that series so todays news is most welcomed, particularly with the global situation as it also confirms the first outing of the 2019 specification Vantage GTE in the feeder series to the World Endurance Championship.


Then obviously since the entry list announcement came the COVID-19 pandemic and all of the fall out that such a monumental global event presents.

As a direct result of this global situation however has come todays announcement from AMR that confirms a two round entry for their long term customer Paul Dalla Lana who will, with the mixed help of drivers Ross Gunn, Mathias Lauda and Augusto Farfus, be using the ELMS as something of a training exercise before the World Endurance Championship reconvenes after its COVID-19 enforced sabbatical at Spa Francorchamps in mid August.

Such is the separation between the two ACO rules series revised race dates that the #98 crew can fit fit both the Official Test (15th July) and opening round of the ELMS (19th July) at Le Castellet in southern France as well as the next round at Spa Francorchamps (9th August) before the 6hrs of the WEC in Belgium just the week later.


Todays news also confirms a revision in the driver line up for the #98 car within the remaining WEC races as Darren Turner steps aside to concentrate on his Aston Martin Valkyrie development duties (that have also been delayed by COVID-19) to be replaced with the former BMW racer Farfus in those rounds.

We have of course seen WEC AMR and Am class competitor, Salih Yoluc take on a similar line of thought by entering the International GT Open Series to hone in his racing skills in-between WEC rounds with Charlie Eastwood in a TF Sport supported AMR Vantage GT3.

Photo credits - AMR