Aston Martin Racing GT4 competitors from throughout Europe were honoured on Tuesday night (13 December 2011) at the marque’s prestigious Gaydon Head Quarters during an awards ceremony.

A total of 11 trophies were awarded to those Aston Martin customer drivers and teams that had been most successful during the course of their various campaigns in 2011. The top-three driver pairings of the Aston Martin GT4 Challenge of Great Britain received their awards in recognition of their performances in the one-make series, which pits amateur racers head-to-head in identical Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4s. The cars are derived from the V8 Vantage road car, modified in key areas to suit the demands of competitive circuit driving.

The second season of the Aston Martin GT4 Challenge of Great Britain, organised in conjunction with the Aston Martin Owners Club, started at Silverstone in April before taking in further UK circuits including Snetterton, Donington Park, Oulton Park and Brands Hatch, with overseas visits to Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, in July and a season finale at Dijon, France, in September.

Following a gripping championship decider, Dutchman Karsten Le Blanc and Briton Dan de Zille emerged victorious, and thus were crowned GT4 Challenge of Great Britain Winners. “We’ve enjoyed the Challenge so much this year,” said Le Blanc. “It’s not just young boys racing, but slightly more mature gentlemen drivers, which suits me perfectly! I must say ‘thank you’ to everybody at Aston Martin Racing for building such a fantastic car as the V8 Vantage GT4.”

Britons Tom Black and Alan Bonner collected the award for finishing second in the standings, while countrymen Chris Kemp and Stuart Hall took the prize for third.

The highest accolade of the evening was determined by an innovative points system that saw no fewer than 182 individual drivers from 25 separate championships, driving in various classes, compete for the Aston Martin Racing Global Award.

Competition in the Driver category was so fierce that two drivers were crowned joint winners; Spanish and Portuguese GT Championship team-mates Francisco Carvalho and Miguel Ferreira shared the laurels for having achieved multiple podium results in the Iberian series. The pair also finished as the best-placed Aston Martin crew in the final standings.

Fittingly, Veloso Motorsport – the outfit responsible for Carvalho and Ferreira’s successful campaign – collected Aston Martin Racing Global Award honours in the Team category.

“We’ve all worked so hard this season and achieved so much,” said team principal Luis Veloso, “so to win both the Driver and Team awards makes us all really proud. It’s been a pleasure to work with Aston Martin Racing and the V8 Vantage GT4 is a wonderful car; it’s been fast and reliable all year.”

Portuguese racer Pedro Lopes received the third-place Global Award in the Driver category, while Rhesus Racing and Young Driver AMR collected second and third respectively in the Team category.

David King, Head of Motorsport at Aston Martin, said: “It was a pleasure to honour all of our best GT4 teams and drivers from throughout Europe at the home of Aston Martin. We want to congratulate all of our award winners; they should be very proud of what they’ve achieved this year.”

The Challenge looks set to grow even further next year with a greater number of competitors, continuing the trend from the first season of the Challenge to the second, as well as the exciting prospect of a single-marque support race at La Sarthe during the 24 Hours of Le Mans weekend as part of the Aston Martin Festival.

2011 Aston Martin GT4 Award winners:
AMR Global Award – Winning Driver – Francisco Carvalho and Miguel Ferreira
AMR Global Award – Third Place Driver – Pedro Lopes
AMR Global Award – Winning Team – Veloso Motorsport
AMR Global Award – Second Place Team – Rhesus Racing
AMR Global Award – Third Place Team – Young Driver AMR
AMR Brazilian GT4 Award – Winning Driver – Cristiano Federico 
AMR Brazilian GT4 Award – Winning Team – ATW By Engmakers
GT4 Challenge of Great Britain Winners – Karsten Le Blanc and Dan de Zille, Nicholas Mee Racing
GT4 Challenge of Great Britain Second Place –Tom Black and Alan Bonner, Vantage Racing
GT4 Challenge of Great Britain Third Place – Chris Kemp and Stuart Hall, Stratton Motorsport
Spirit of the Challenge of Great Britain Award – Pierre Mantello

Aston Martin Racing

Chassis 043 (Black) - Aston Martin Vantage 4.7ltr GT4 in 2010 spec FIA European GT4 Championship start number 08
GT4 Champion team (2010) has for sale there Aston Martin 4.7ltr GT4 race cars. These GT4’s are front running cars and have been on the European & Dutch GT4 podium every race weekend in the last 2 years!
The Rhesus racing Aston Martins had 9 pole positions, won 5 races, finished 8 times in second position and obtained 10 third spots over the last 2 years. Rhesus racing never failed to finish. Extended spares package available if required, please call or email for full details and pictures.

Specification:
120ltr Fuel Tank
Sportshift
Air Jacks
AMR soild engine mounts
Recaro HANS carbon/kevlar seat
Rain light
FIA de fuel/sample kit
Uprights with increased front camber adjustments
Ballast base plate FIA spec
Extended PI Data Logging
Single dry break fuel filler (not fitted)
Endurance lighting kit (not fitted)
Air conditioning

Total km on the engine 6800 km
Total km on gearbox 6800 km
Total km. of the drive shafts: 1500 km

Price - € 75.000 (+VAT where applicable)

Andre Kool +31 6 53 125 631
Jarno Born +31 6 24 617 395

Email contact:
akool@rhesus.nl

www.rhesus.n

Chassis 044 (Black) - Aston Martin Vantage 4.7ltr GT4 2010 FIA European GT4 Championship car 2010 start number 07 2011 spec

GT4 Champion team (2010) has for sale there Aston Martin 4.7ltr GT4 race cars. These GT4’s are front running cars and have been on the European & Dutch GT4 podium every race weekend in the last 2 years!
The Rhesus racing Aston Martins had 9 pole positions, won 5 races, finished 8 times in second position and obtained 10 third spots over the last 2 years. Rhesus racing never failed to finish. Extended spares package available if required, please call or email for full details.

Specification:
120ltr Fuel Tank
Sportshift
Air Jacks
Rose Jointed Suspension
AMR soild engine mounts
Recaro HANS carbon/kevlar seat
Rain light
FIA de fuel/sample kit
Uprights with increased front camber adjustments
Ballast base plate FIA spec
Bosch ABS/Traction Control
Extended PI Data logging
Koni adjustable dampers
Single dry break fuel filler (not fitted)
Endurance lighting kit (not fitted)
Air conditioning (not fitted)

Total km on the engine after complete rebuilt 1100 km
Total km on gearbox after complete rebuild 1100 km
Total km. of the drive shafts: 750 km

Price - € 105.000 (+VAT where applicable)

Andre Kool +31 6 53 125 631
Jarno Born +31 6 24 617 395

Email contact:
akool@rhesus.nl

www.rhesus.nl

After a difficult qualifying session Jan Joris Verheul gave the Rhesus racing Aston Martin team their first pole of the season.

The sprint went well with Jan Joris Verheul finishing second behind the Lotus Evora of Stefano D'Aste. Just before the race, the team decided to register for the National Championship and thus Jan Joris Verheul finished second in both the European and in the National standings on the second spot.
Despite a good start I could only challeng the Lotus for 7 laps, then I had to really let go" said Jan Joris Verheul his first GT4 race with Rhesus. "Then Chris popped the Ginetta in a gap that was not there and we got together damaging the car. I therefore had a lot of trouble keeping the car on the track for the last few laps"

Dennis Retera started the second sprint race start from the fifth spot, thanks to a great start, he soon moved up two places but he could not hold this position. Dennis ended his race in the same place as it had begun and was not happy with is performance.

In the main race Rhesus started from the third on the grid with Dennis taking the honour of the first stint. With a great start right away Dennis moved up a place and maintained his position until the pit stops where he handed over to Verheul but after the stop the tyres so rapidly that the Rhesus driver could not improve further than a well-deserved third place in both the European and national stage.

Rhesus racing

Last season, the Galaxy Rhesus racing team broke all records. With 9 out of 12 pole positions, 5 wins, 6 second places and 2 3rd places they were champion! This season Rhesus racing championship defense their title with two strong and experienced drivers, former A1GP rookie driver and Dennis Retera BMW 130i Cup champion and experienced GT4 Aston Martin racing driver Jan Joris Verheul.

From the knowledge that athletes can only prove themselves and improve if they can focus fully on their top performance, the team is committed to staying with a strict organization. Through the efforts of excellent engineers, technicians, supervisors and loyal sponsors, the team ensures that formula. With this line-up underlines both Galaxy Rhesus racing its ambition to support young talent.

Supporting talent is perhaps the most important pillar of the vision of Rhesus racing. The credo "talent goes to money" is a high priority of Rhesus racing. Rhesus racing this season has therefore tried to find a healthy balance between talent [AND] money, along with their loyal sponsor Galaxy Group, this season Retera Dennis and Jan Joris Verheul therefore every chance to showcase their talents at the highest level .

Dennis Retera: "After last year to have spoken with Rhesus racing. Now happily deal with a great team with a motivated and friendly people like me enormous performance oriented. I am also very happy with my team-mate Jan Joris Verheul ! Strong team, good drivers is a huge drive to turn in earnest to go and defend the title. I cannot wait until the first race!

Jan Joris Verheul: "In a few weeks racing season starts again. This time with a new challenge and a new team. After last year alone in the Aston Martin to have ridden in the Dutch GT4, I will now join Retera Dennis, a very fast driver, released in the European GT4. An experienced and passionate team with the European title in his pocket, sets high expectations that I like working with Dennis to come true! The goal is clearly going for the title! "

Job Art: "With these two great riders we take another step to allowing us (Galaxy) supported Rhesus Racing continue to grow. Again, we are all one big step in becoming an increasingly professional team where we as an organization were willing to make us reflect. With this line up we have more than one strong team that will certainly be taken into account in the championship! "

Kool Andre: "I'm terribly pleased that we have two top riders interested in racing for rhesus riding. I am convinced that we can defend our championship good. Besides driving the European sprint championship we are still working on a car in the endurance series Blancpain to deploy. We get busy year also topped in the preparations for the movement of the FIA GT3 European Championship next year. For this we are also talking with various parties in short ambitions enough! "

Rhesus racing

The GT4 European Cup season has come to an end. Paul Meijer and Michael Mallock won the last races of the season in a cold Magny-Cours, and whilst Meijer had already taken the title in Portimao, RS Williams driver Michael Mallock is the 2010 runner-up in the standings, his best result after a 10th and a 4th in the previous editions of the GT4 European Cup. Matt Nicoll-Jones (Ginetta) is third in the standings, while RJN Nissan drivers Lucas Ordonez and Jordan Tresson share fourth in the final classification. Three makes in the top-4 reflects the open competition of the GT4 European Cup. In the team standings, Rhesus Racing takes the spoils, followed by RS Williams and IMS Motorsport. In Supersport Italian Lotus driver Gianni Giudici is the new champion, with Athanasios Ladas and Kevin Veltman next to him on the podium. See you all next year for more exiting GT4 racing!


Qualifying

Paul Meijer started from pole in both GT4 European Cup races in Magny-Cours. On the very wet French track, the Dutch 2010 GT4 European Cup Champion showed his rain capabilities and added two pole positions to his 2010 race CV. At the wheel of his Rhesus Racing Aston Martin he was quicker in both sessions than vice champion Michael Mallock in the RS Williams Aston Martin and the RJN Nissan of Alex Buncombe and Jordan Tresson. Athanasios Ladas and Kevin Veltman set best times in Supersport at the wheel of the very agile KTM.

Race 1

Paul Meijer, Michael Mallock, Raffaelle Sangiolo and Jordan Tresson gave us a fine show in the opening stages of the first race of the weekend, until the 2010 vice champion Michael Mallock spun off due to a suspension problem. The RS Williams driver finally recovered, climbing back into third spot. Meanwhile up front Raffaelle Sangiolo took over the lead from his team-mate Meijer after the Dutchman spun off also, with Jordan Tresson still strong in third spot.

Following the mandatory stop Guiseppe De Pasquale, replacing Raffaelle Sangiolo, did not keep up with the frontrunners, but still secured a fine fourth place, the best result of the year for the #8 Rhesus Aston Martin.
With Alex Buncombe in second at less than 5 seconds down, victory for Meijer was far from certain. The British Nissan driver did a great job, closed in on Meijer lap by lap but finally lacked some metres to win the first race of the season for Nissan. Maybe tomorrow? ?
Behind the top-4, the Star Cars Porsche Cayman, the Develop Real Team Ginetta and both AUH Aston Martin completed the top-8.

In Supersport Giudici won, Veltman-Ladas were second in the KTM, while Marco Fumagali was third in his Lotus 2-Eleven.

Paul Meijer: “I had to fight through until the very end and the Nissan was very strong here. I was struggling with my brakes and happy to see the chequered flag.”

Michael Mallock: “I would have liked to fight with Paul and Alex, but a technical issue did not allow me to. I’m happy for the team that we finished in second position in both the drivers’ and team championship!”

Race 2

Vice champion Michael Mallock took a well-deserved win in Magny-Cours, his third of the season. Rhesus Racing completed the podium with a second spot for Paul Meijer, his 12th consecutive podium and a third, the first of the year, for Guiseppe De Pasquale and Raffaelle Sangiolo. Kevin Veltman and Athanasios Ladas took the spoils in Supersport in their KTM. Marco Fumagalli and Gianni Giudici finished in second and third for Lotus.

The last race of the year seemed to be promised to Nissan and their drivers Alex Buncombe and Jordan Tresson, but in the ultimate minutes of the season, Michael Mallock, a stop & go penalty and finally a technical problem stopped the run to victory for the RJN Nissan boys. Jordan Tresson and Alex Buncombe were finally classified in sixth position, putting him tied for fourth in the championship standings, together with his team-mate Lucas Ordonez. Ginetta driver Edouard Leganov finished fourth in the race, his best result of the year and Al Massoud and Ollie Hancock completed the top-5.

Michael Mallock: “It wasn’t an easy win at all and maybe the Nissan boys deserved it, but I’m glad to be on the podium for the last race.”

Paul Meijer: “12 podiums, 5 victories, the driver and team championship, what a year! I hope to be back with the team, but most likely in GT3.”

The last race of the Portuguese GT4 European Cup meeting produced some fabulous racing. The three championship contenders had a fair and straight battle for victory, with Michael Mallock winning, Meijer finishing in second and securing his 2010 GT4 European cup title and Matt Nicoll-Jones finishing in third. Mallock and Nicoll-Jones are now separated by one little point and will fight it out during the last round, in Magny-Cours, France, for second in the standings. Rhesus racing is GT4 European Cup team champion for 2010.

Qualifying

Paul Meijer stated after qualifying that his double pole position for the 9th and 10th race of the season, this weekend in Portimao, is a big step towards the 2010 GT4 European Cup title. The Dutchman was quickest in both qualifying sessions and will start ahead of his main rivals in the races on Saturday.

The grey Rhesus Racing Aston Martin was already quickest in both free practice sessions on Friday morning and noon and no one could stop the Dutch Aston on the Portuguese track on Friday evening.??With Nissan in second and third for the opening race on Saturday, both Michael Mallock and Matt Nicoll-Jones will have a serious task during the 40-minute race. Jordan Tresson and Lucas Ordonez secured a strong 2-3 for RJN Nissan, the best qualifying result for the team so far this season. Matt-Nicoll Jones (IMS Ginetta G50) and Michael Mallock (RS Williams Aston Martin) finished in fourth and fifth. ??In the second session Mallock set second best, followed by Ordonez, Nicoll-Jones and Tresson. ??In Supersports, Gianni Giudici and Marco Fumagalli secured a 1-2 for Scuderia Giudici Lotus in both sessions, of course in the Lotus 2Eleven.

Quotes:

Paul Meijer: “I’m very happy, this result is very important. It’s always better to start up front, as you are more likely to stay out of trouble during the opening stages of the race. I really want this title!”

Michael Mallock: “We had a little incident this morning and I missed most of the free practice, which is of course far from ideal for the set-up.”

Race 1

With his fourth win of the season, Paul Meijer had come already very close to the fourth GT4 European Cup title in the history of the GT championship. The Dutch championship leader won the opening race of the Portuguese GT4 weekend, also his ninth consecutive podium of the season. Matt Nicoll-Jones came home second in his IMS Ginetta and Jordan Tresson scored his maiden podium onboard of a Nissan 370Z. The young French RJN Nissan driver won the Playstation GT Academy 2010 and made some impressive steps forward since his debut in Silverstone last April.

Paul Meijer took the lead right from the start, but the Dutch driver never could play on safe. The Nissan boys, Matt Nicoll-Jones, the second Rhesus Racing Aston and Meijer’s nearest championship rival, Michael Mallock stayed on his tail during the opening stages of the 40-minute competition. ?
Bad luck struck Michael Mallock when a broken gearbox dropped him into last position, ruining his last championship hopes. Lucas Ordonez also lost a possible podium after a stop & go due to a too short pitstop.

Meanwhile up front, Meijer was still leading, with the IMS Ginetta in second and Tresson’s RJN Nissan in third. This order remained unchanged through to the finish, while Lucas Ordonez and Supersport winner Gianni Giudici completed the top-5. The battle in Supersport was really thrilling, with less than a second separating the top-3.

Marco Fumagalli finished in second, also driving a Lotus 2Eleven, while Athanasios Ladas and Kevin Veltman were third in the KTM.

Quotes:

Paul Meijer: “It was a difficult race, the other guys stayed close, especially in the opening stages of the race. I felt that my tyres were suffering from the heat and I had to be careful by the end of the race. But naturally I’m delighted with my win, the first since Spa!”


Race 2

Paul Meijer missed his start, but fought his way back into first, but Michael Mallock was really keen on winning this last Portuguese race, after the gearbox of his Astong had ruined hischances in the first race earlier. Mallock kept the pressure on Meijer and managed to get by five laps from the chequered flag. Meijer knew that he had to keep second in order to win the championship and did so by less than 2 tenths of a second.

Behind the top-3, Lucas Ordonez and Jordan Tresson gave Nissan a fourth and fifth spot, while Humaid Al Masssood scored a fine sixth.

Athanasios Ladas and Kevin Veltman scored a great win for KTM in Supersport, with Lotus drivers Giudici and Fumagalli coming home in second and third. Gianni Giudici is leading the championship.

The last round of the GT4 European Cup is to be held on the 16th and 17th of October in Magny-Cours.

Quotes:

Paul Meijer: “It was a difficult race, but winning the championship is so great. I’m really very delighted and we’re going to have a great party. I missed my start and even made a little mistake later in the race, but the result is there!”

Michael Mallock: “It was a great race, a fair battle and a superb win. Thanks to all the boys of RS Williams, because what they did in between both races was just fantastic!”

With a third win in four races, Dutchman Paul Meijer leaves Spa with a 6-point gap in the GT4 European Cup. “This victory was the most difficult so far. Michael (Mallock) was very strong and we had a fair fight after the safety car period. Only after the mandatory pit stop I built up a small gap, but I never felt comfortable. I’m happy with the result and I’m looking forward to the next race in Paul Ricard”, were the first words of Rhesus driver Paul Meijer on the podium of the second race. Meijer found Belgian DVB BMW driver Menno Kuus and his RS Williams Aston rival Michael Mallock left and right from him on the podium.

After an early off of Rafaelle Sangiuolo in his Rhesus Aston and a safety car period, the GT4 competitors had another good fight in the fourth race of the season. Paul Meijer and Michael Mallock remained together until the mandatory stop. “I think I was faster than Michael exiting the pitlane, so suddenly I had made up a little gap over Michael”, Meijer explained after the race. “I struggled a bit with my tires during the closing stages of the race and I was caught by the IMS Ginetta”, Michael Mallock commented. “The Ginetta driver was a bit aggressive, he nudged me in the left hander after the Brussels Corner and I went off. I lost second and precious points, but I’m happy that I was able to continue and score another podium.”

“I took advantage of the incident and scored a fine second place”, a smiling Menno Kuus remarked on the podium. “We had a difficult weekend, technical issues with the transmission kept us in the box during free practice. Result of all that: my set-up wasn’t that good. Yesterday’s race wasn’t so bad, but I made a silly mistake by leaving the pitlane too early and was penalized with Stop & Go. This morning I told the guys that we would drink champagne and here we are! I’m happy!”

Fourth place went to Kevin Veltman, scoring a good overall weekend after his third spot in the first race, while GT4 European Cup rookie Wolfgang Weber took a fine fifth. RJN scored more points in the team championship with a sixth place for Lucas Ordonnez and an eight for Alex Buncombe/Jordan Tresson. The IMS Ginetta finished in between both Nissan in seventh. Last but not least, Gianni Giudici won the Super Sport class.

In the overall standings, Meijer is now leading with 6 points over Michael Mallock, while BMW drivers Kevin Veltman and Menno Kuus are third and fourth.

PR