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Aston confirms pursuit of overall Le Mans win

Discussion in 'Other Racing' started by Modeler, Jan 26, 2009.

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  1. Modeler

    Modeler F1 Veteran

    May 19, 2008
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    #1 Modeler, Jan 26, 2009
    As has been rumoured in recent weeks, Aston Martin will ditch its bid for dominance in the GT1 class at Le Mans in favour of an assault on overall success in the blue riband 24-hour event.

    On the 50th anniversary of its last outright win at La Sarthe - when Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori won the 1959 event in a DBR1 - the iconic brand will return with two Prodrive-run 'works' LMP1 cars. The flashback will be completed by the addition of the familiar blue-and-orange livery of Gulf Oil, which found fame at Le Mans with Ford in the 1960s.

    "2009 is a hugely significant year for Aston Martin at Le Mans and the challenge of reclaiming victory in this famous race for Aston Martin and Great Britain was simply too great to ignore," Aston Martin chairman David Richards admitted.

    "However, we do not underestimate the task. While we have won the GT1 class for the last two years, competing against the proven speed and endurance of the diesel-powered cars with all their years of winning the prototype class, will be a massive undertaking.

    "Nonetheless, I see this as a great opportunity to showcase the ingenuity of British engineering talent."

    The cars will be based on the 2008 Charouz Racing System Lola, and will be powered by the same production-based Aston Martin V12 engine which, last year, helped the brand secure its second successive GT1 title with the DBR9. The unit also powered the Charouz car to a new lap record for a petrol car at La Sarthe.

    Prodrive-run Aston Martin Racing is developing the car in conjunction with Lola, Michelin, Koni and BBS and continues its relationship with major partner Gulf Oil and official clothing partner Hackett.

    Aston Martin Racing 'works' drivers Jan Charouz, Tomas Enge and Stefan Mücke, who raced the Charouz car last year, will renew their relationship with the team, along with Darren Turner, who was part of the winning GT1 crew in 2007 and 2008. Harold Primat joins the team for the first time in 2009, with the remaining driver to be announced imminently.

    http://www.crash.net/Le+Mans/News/142323/1/aston_confirms_pursuit_of_overall_le_mans_win.html
     
  2. dretceterini

    dretceterini F1 Veteran

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    #2 dretceterini, Jan 26, 2009

    Good looking car, and I'd like to see them win, but with the current rules, it's going to be very difficult to beat a diesel powered car..
     
  3. Modeler

    Modeler F1 Veteran

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    #3 Modeler, Jan 26, 2009
    At least they're there now.
    Wasn't looking as if that might happen up 'till now.
    Would've been a real pity.
     
  4. Napolis

    Napolis Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #4 Napolis, Jan 26, 2009

    Lola's have always been good looking car's.
     
  5. Modeler

    Modeler F1 Veteran

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    #5 Modeler, Jan 26, 2009
    The new Acura is good looking too.
    Same size rubber front and rear was a surprise.
     
  6. ProCoach

    ProCoach F1 Veteran
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    #6 ProCoach, Jan 27, 2009
    The Charouz Lola-Aston was the surprise of the season in LMS last year. With the ACO changes on diesels to give the petrol cars a chance, this looks like a smart move by old DR. Great job and looking forward to future success. Two cars, too.
     
  7. Pranucci

    Pranucci Formula 3
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    #7 Pranucci, Feb 5, 2009
    I'm glad they're going, too.
    OK, I'm willing to appear dense here. What are the advantages of diesel engines over gas that need rule changes to keep gas cars equal? I keep hearing complaints about the Audi and Peugeot cars but don't understand exactly what the huge advantage they have over the other cars. What changes have been made to equalize the cars?
     
  8. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    #8 Gatorrari, Feb 5, 2009
    Maybe, to make sure, they need to hire Tom Kristensen?
     
  9. fastback33

    fastback33 Formula 3

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    #9 fastback33, Feb 5, 2009
    One of the big reasons was the mileage gained before having to refuel and the other i don't remember right now....
     
  10. dretceterini

    dretceterini F1 Veteran

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    #10 dretceterini, Feb 5, 2009
  11. dretceterini

    dretceterini F1 Veteran

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    #11 dretceterini, Feb 6, 2009
    After going through all the rules changes, it seems to me that the ACO is trying to make LeMans (and the ALMS and ELMS) more about thermal efficiency than pure racing
     
  12. Gary GT

    Gary GT Karting

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    #12 Gary GT, Feb 6, 2009
    Great looking car! Napolis is right, Lola has more often than not produced great looking race cars. In past years I had been routing for Audi for the overall win at Le Mans, although last year I was also pulling for a good showing from the Charouz Lola Aston Martin and I was impressed with it's pace. This year I will be fully behind the Lola Aston Martin twins to take the top tier. Best of luck to the Prodrive/AMR team!

    Gary
     
  13. RTB

    RTB Formula 3

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    #13 RTB, Feb 6, 2009
    Last edited: Feb 6, 2009
    Diesels were given massive power advantages by the ACO (thru' restrictor size, etc) to entice Audi, and then Peugeot followed.

    That then wiped-out the rest of the LMP1 grid to such an extent that both Porsche and Acura decided to dominate LMP2 instead of competing with difficulty in LMP1.

    Now for 2009 there is a 7% relative power gain for the petrol LMP1s over the diesels.

    I hope that is helpful.....
     
  14. jknight

    jknight F1 Veteran

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    #14 jknight, Feb 6, 2009
    BUT . . . the size of the fuel tank was restricted and refueling a diesel vehicle takes longer than normal petrol as diesel foams. Probably the most definite advantage of diesel over petrol is TORQUE. We watched Pirro come from very far back in the grid at the start a few years ago at the ALMS Utah race.....result of the torque of the diesel had Emanualle first into the first turn.

    Carol
     
  15. RTB

    RTB Formula 3

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    #15 RTB, Feb 6, 2009
    And please be aware that the Audi/Peugeot race diesel is not the "pump" diesel that you put in a truck......

    It will take the skin off your hands if you spill it..........
     
  16. fastback33

    fastback33 Formula 3

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    #16 fastback33, Feb 7, 2009
    Don't take this as scripture, but i recall the tank not being an equalizer to the fuel mileage difference. In other words it didn't help as much as was thought.
     

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