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SILVERSTONE QUALIFYING DAY HERALDS MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT FOR GULF IN MOTORSPORT 2011
2011 Announcement
Media from around the world were on hand for the announcement that Gulf and Aston Martin Racing will be entering Le Mans in 2011 in a brand new LMP1 car, which is designed to compete for top honours.
The new Gulf-liveried car is being designed from the ground up with an Aston Martin open cockpit monocoque chassis and a new purpose-designed race engine.
Under the new Automobile Club De L’Ouest (ACO) technical regulations for 2011, Aston Martin Racing now believes it has the opportunity to compete for top honours at the 24 Hour race against tough competition including the diesel-engined competitors. As with all Aston Martins, the new LMP1 will be petrol-powered and designed to make the best use of the ACO’s stringent regulations.
Aston Martin Chairman, David Richards said: “Having won the GT category twice at Le Mans in 2007 and 2008 and the Le Mans Series outright in 2009, we still want to achieve our ultimate goal of winning the 24 Hour race overall.
“In recent years, it has been impossible for petrol cars to compete on equal terms with the diesels. However, we now have assurances from the ACO that, with the adoption of the 2011 regulations, they will properly balance the performance of these new cars. Under these circumstances we have been prepared to develop Aston Martin’s first purpose-built racing chassis and engine for more than 50 years.”
“Gulf’s partnership with Aston Martin Racing has been extremely successful and I am delighted that we are moving forward with them into 2011,” enthused Gulf Oil Vice President International, Alain Dujean. “This is a very exciting project and I truly pleased that Gulf will be part of it.”
Qualifying
Aston Martin Racing made some changes to its driver line-up in the run-up to the race weekend and current Le Mans Series Drivers Champion, Stefan Mücke, joined Juan Barazi and Sam Hancock in the 009 numbered car. 009 was qualified by Stefan on the third row of the grid – the first two rows being filled with the Audi and Peugeot diesel cars.
The 007 Gulf-AMR car, driven by Harold Primat, Adrian Fernandez and Andy Meyrick was unfortunately prevented from doing the necessary qualifying laps by a steering problem brought on after a spin in the morning practice session. It will start tomorrow’s race from the back of the grid.
The Gulf Team First Lamborghini LP560 Gallardo of Fabien Giroix and Roald Goethe ran throughout the qualifying session without problems and with Fabien Giroix behind the wheel. This weekend marks the team’s Le Mans Series debut and, by their own admission, moving to LMS is a very steep learning curve, but it is all a vital part of the development process for their ambitious 2011 program.
Posted on 13/09/2010 by Colm Hamrogue