21 May 2009 - 13:00
Three Astons for Le Mans
This year's 24 Hours of Le Mans just got 50 per cent better. Aston Martin has announced that it will run three LMP1 cars in this year's endurance race, which kicks off on June 13.
Three cars. We knew Aston would run a pair of cars at Le Mans, but the arrival of a third car is the orange icing on the Gulf blue cake.
It'll be numbered 009 – the other two cars are numbered 007 (which is apparently significant for some reason) and 008 – and driven by Anthony Davidson, Stuart Hall and Jos Verstappen.
That's a tidy driving line-up – Davidson is a former F1 racer who you might have heard doing Grand Prix commentary on Radio Five Live, while Verstappen a veteran of over 100 Grands Prix and the most successful Dutch F1 driver in history. OK, that success was limited to a brace of podiums back in 1994, but hey, let’s not spoil the happy vibes.
Aston's early season form looks promising for Le Mans. The LMP1 car scored victory in Barcelona last month, admittedly against a field conspicuously lacking in diesel-powered Audis or Peugeots.
Ominously, both those teams have been right on the pace, too. Peugeot took victory in the Spa 1,000km race a week ago, while Audi’s R15 took the chequered flag at the Sebring 12 Hours.
Can the petrol-powered Aston dish out a thoroughly British kicking to the French and Germans? Top Gear will be in Le Mans to find out. Anyone joining us?
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There shouldn't be a 'nor' in that first post!
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wow Mclaren is cool
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LOVE it! But ill still go to the Nurburgring 24......
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Aston Martin Gulf colours = WOW! Come on Aston, first of the petrols!
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I gotta hand it to em, they really dominate Le Mans in those beasts
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I'd love to join you in Le Mans Top Gear, but unless someone actually gives me a job to film the race it's unlikely. Which is a shame because I've always been going to it next year for the last 5 years. Waaah! It'll be a cracker this year, you watch.
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Fastest of the petrols puts it in good stead, but that could only mean 3rd place. Did they add an extra one for good luck or something?
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If I could get there, I would! But I'm glad the rumblings about the third car turned out to be true. Fingers crossed for a good showing for Aston Martin!
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dudie! give le mans extra kick of energy. I didn't think that was possible! =)))
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McLaren commented on this article
21 May 2009
007 and 009 were always to be used on the original 2-car entry. Those numbers have been used by Aston for a few years nor in the GT1 class. 008 is the third, unexpected, entry.
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