ZHUHAI – FIVE FINE FINISHES FOR GULF

ZHUHAI – FIVE FINE FINISHES FOR GULF

RACE REPORT                                                         17th November 2011

ILMC FINALE – ZHUHAI (CHINA)

The final round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup took place at the weekend and, as in 2010, was staged in Asia, at China’s Zhuhai circuit. Five Gulf liveried cars entered and all five finished in fine style.  

With two diesel entries each from the Audi and Peugeot factories, the battle was always likely to be for best petrol-engined car. The Gulf cars were right in the thick of this, with the works Aston Martin Racing 007 DBR1-2 driven by Stefan Mücke, Harold Primat and Andy Meyrick and two OAK-Pescarolos: the #24 Oak car driven by Jacques Nicolet, Olivier Pla and Alexandre Prémat and the #15 OAK car of Matthieu Lahaye, Guillaume Moreau and Pierre Ragues.

In the event, the three Gulf-liveried LMP1 cars finished “line astern” in fifth, sixth and seventh overall, which made them second third and fourth pertrol-engine cars across the finish line, The #24 Oak entry was the first of their two LMP1 cars - which run in Gulf colours, thanks to support from French and Belgian Gulf Lubricant distributor, Caroil – to the finishing line, just two laps ahead of its sister #15 car, with the 007 Aston Martin the ‘meat’ in an Oak ‘sandwich’ a lap behind the 24 car.

In LMP2 the #35 OAK-Pescarolo of Frederic Da Rocha and Patrice Lafargue took a fine second place. This meant that that the team moved up a place to finish the season as LMP2 Runners Up in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup – a fine and well merited conclusion to Oak’s 2011 ILMC championship campaign.

In LM GTE AM the #60 Gulf Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT2, driven by Fabien Giroix and Roald Goethe, ran solidly throughout the race, taking sixth place in this highly competitive category and thus securing a overall top twenty finish.

Gulf Oil International Brand and Marketing Manager, Sam Cork was present in Zhuhai for the race and summed up the weekend and the season. “Congratulations to all of the Gulf supported cars for securing good finishes at the final Le Mans race of 2011. I know the Gulf guests had an excellent time and were delighted to see all the Gulf liveried cars take the chequered flag. The Gulf brand was really well represented here in Zhuhai as it has been throughout the season in Le Mans races. Thanks to all concerned who have flown the Gulf flag this season. Aston Martin Racing have had a strong end to the season with the DBR 1-2 and it is fitting that the car should bow out with another top six finish. At the same time we would like to thank George Howard-Chapell for all of his efforts at AMR and the success we have enjoyed together as we wish him well for the future. We look forward to contending the World Endurance Championship together with AMR again, in 2012.

 “Congratulations to all at OAK Racing on their season, which has been very impressive in all respects and especially so with their ILMC LMP2 championship award - it is another fine achievement. Likewise, it is great to see the Gulf Racing GT Aston Martin continue to make progress in both of its final races and we look forward very much to 2012.”