Aston wins Le Mans 2009!
Posted by Nick Trott at 5:00PM on Monday 14 January, 2008 4 Comments
It has been an interesting week for Aston Martin Racing.
The Gulf-liveried DBR9 may have stolen all the headlines but almost as an aside, Aston Martin revealed that the DBR9's V12 engine will power a very special closed-cockpit LMP1 Lola run by the Charouz team.
I spoke to David Richards, Aston's boss, at Le Mans last year shortly after the DBR9 won the GT1 class and while the champagne spray was still sticky on our faces, he admitted that it would be great if the marque won Le Mans outright.*
That comment stuck in my mind, and then while reading about the engine deal with Charouz today I had a thought...
Is the deal with Charouz a precursor to a full-on, Gulf-sponsored Aston Martin effort in 2009?
Let's mischievously look at the evidence:
1. 2009 will be the 50th anniversary of Aston Martin's only Le Mans win.
2. Petrol-powered LMP1 cars have received a rulebreak in order to compete with the Audi and Peugeot diesels - a 3 per cent increase in the size of their air restrictors.
3. Petrol cars will be allowed to run 10 per cent ethanol - a bio-ethanol DBR9 competed in the British GT series last year.
4. The boss of Gulf Oil said this week that he hoped the deal with Aston Martin "will be a long and fruitful partnership."
5. Aston Martin adores Le Mans. I should know, I've just researched and written a book for them about the great race.
6. Aston Martin is an ambitious company, and Aston Martin Racing know how to win.
7. See *
In true blog tradition, this is pure speculation. But something's brewing at Aston Martin Racing, I can feel it.
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4 Comments for "Aston wins Le Mans 2009!"
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Go for it, David. We will be at Le Mans this year, as we were last, to support Aston Martin - and we will certainly be there in 2009.
Entry to Lmp1, GT1, GT2 classes for 2009. I call that domination if they come up trumps. Book the ferry and the camp site now...
Rule changes encourage a vast mix of manufacturers to advertise and prove a point, and Aston Martin have some serious competition in the wings. 2009 will spark a new era in racing and potentially lead to more interesting, better priced sports cars.
I've never been to Le Mans, but it's on my list of things to do before I die (sad but true). I just need a good reason for going, and the possibility of an Aston outright win is just the thing!
So come on Dave Richards, make my day and the rest of all those hardened Brit Le Mans addicts. Give us something to cheer about.