RE: Aston Martin at Le Mans!

RE: Aston Martin at Le Mans!

Thursday 4th December 2003

Aston Martin at Le Mans!

Prodrive collaboration will see DB9 race late next year


As rumoured here recently, Aston Martin will return to the world's motor racing circuits during 2004 following the creation of a new division to be known as Aston Martin Racing. 

Is now set to turn its attention to production-based world sports car racing - something it is renowned for, having taken both the World Sportscar Championship title and Le Mans 24 Hours in 1959.  Aston Martin's new DB9 model will form the basis of this new challenge for 2004 and beyond.

"Aston Martin is an exclusive brand, but we cannot be exclusive without being visible and motor sport is a way to heighten our profile ," said Dr Ulrich Bez, Chief Executive Officer of Aston Martin. "Production-based sports car series are growing in stature with many leading manufacturers returning with their own factory programmes. By competing with them we can demonstrate that our cars are not only the best on the road, but also on the racing track .

"We are keen to see new regulations for 2004 that will allow true production-based sports cars to compete on a level playing field. The new rules from the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) clearly provide this; we hope other sporting organisations will follow their route and encourage sports car racing to grow in importance and profile. "

The Aston Martin Racing programme will be overseen by Aston Martin's Product Development & Motor Sport Director, Jeremy Main, and run in conjunction with Prodrive, one of the world's leading motor sport specialists. Prodrive will be responsible for the design and development of the cars as well as overseeing their performance when racing.

Work on the design of the Aston Martin DB9 racing car will begin shortly and it is planned to race the first car towards the end of 2004.  Aston Martin Racing is aiming to run a number of teams in various sports car series around the world and will be evaluating these during 2004. 

In addition to the private teams, Aston Martin Racing will also be producing a number of racing cars for sale to individuals and collectors. Further details about the Aston Martin Racing programme will be announced in early 2004.

Author
Discussion

LotusJPS

Original Poster:

17 posts

253 months

Thursday 4th December 2003
quotequote all
Glad to hear that Aston Martain is returning to racing! Will look forward to seeing (and perhaps driving) them on the track!

mannginger

9,485 posts

264 months

Thursday 4th December 2003
quotequote all
So Prodrive will be competing with, erm, Prodrive then?

Aren't those Ferraris (550 I think?)Prodrive developed?

Great news nonetheless - I look forward to hearing them soon!



Phil

murcielago

952 posts

259 months

Thursday 4th December 2003
quotequote all
YAY!!! WOOO HOOOO very good news, im going to Le Mans next year for the first time and im going to see Aston Martin

PetrolTed

34,443 posts

310 months

Thursday 4th December 2003
quotequote all
Sorry, no you're not. They start racing late next year with a view to being at Le Mans in 2005.

levensnevel

245 posts

279 months

Friday 5th December 2003
quotequote all
Great news,

Having seen the beautiful Victory by Design program which centered around the racing history of Aston Martin I can't wait to see the DB9 in racing trim.

levensnevel

a smile every mile

murcielago

952 posts

259 months

Wednesday 24th December 2003
quotequote all
Well at least i will see them the year after 2004 then

MWF

33 posts

259 months

Wednesday 14th January 2004
quotequote all
Pro-Drive have and agreement with Aston Martin that prevents them from using any co-developed new technologies on other marques.

They took delivery of a crashed DB9 last year about November which they have been busy working on, they have moved the engine down and back quite a bit.