As the Nurburgring 24h is getting ready to start, the automakers are revealing information regarding the cars and teams taking place at this year’s Green Hell endurance race.
Apart from the Aston Martin Rapide the British manufacturer will also field a 2010 Aston Martin V12 Vantage fitted with various aerodynamic components.
The Aston Martin V12 Vantage will be driven by Peter Cate (GB), Oliver Mathai (D), journalist Richard Meaden (GB) and
Chris Porritt.
As for the Aston Martin Rapide, besides journalist Matthew Marsh (GB), the company’s CEO Dr Ulrich Bez will also be one of the pilots.
As the Aston Martin V12 Vantage got prepared for the Nurburgring 24h race the interior trim had to be removed in order to reduce weight,
the suspension is now more rigid and the car will run on slick tyres designed for track usage.
Aston Martin press release :
Aston Martin will be widely
represented in the first qualifying sessions ahead of the Nürburgring
24-hour race – one of the most renowned endurance tests in motorsport –
spearheaded by a race prepared version of the British marque’s new
four-door sports car; Rapide and a V12 Vantage with aerodynamic
enhancements based on the hugely successful road car.
Driving the Rapide will be Aston Martin’s CEO, Dr Ulrich Bez who will
be joined by journalist Matthew Marsh (GB), the company’s Nürburgring
Test Centre Director; Wolfgang Schuhbauer (D) and engineering manager;
Chris Porritt (GB).
The V12 Vantage will be piloted by experienced sports car drivers
Peter Cate (GB), Oliver Mathai (D), journalist Richard Meaden (GB) and
Chris Porritt, who will undertake stints in both the Rapide and V12
Vantage entries.
Aston Martin’s Head of Motorsport, David King said: “This is our
fifth consecutive year at the Nürburgring 24-hour race and it is
remarkable to see how the manufacturer interest has grown as well as the
pace and intensity of the racing.
“This year looks like being the toughest ever, particularly given the
forecast of cold and wet weather throughout the race. However, we feel
well prepared and we are ready for the challenge.”
The Rapide race car will be close to production standard with full
FIA race safety modifications, interior trim removed to reduce weight,
re-tuned suspension and will run on slick tyres designed for track use.
Based on the British marque’s hugely successful V12 Vantage road car
and the near production standard race variant that secured a convincing
class victory in the race in 2009, the V12 Vantage adds new aerodynamic
enhancements to the original car which saw off a field of largely
specialist race cars in the SP8 class last year. The car is intended as a
technical exercise to allow the Aston Martin engineering team to
explore further performance potential in the V12 Vantage with the new
aerodynamic aids providing greater downforce through the Nürburgring’s
myriad of corners and undulating surfaces.
The revised V12 Vantage has been tested in a limited number of
exploratory sessions over the past few weeks in the UK and Germany but
the Nürburgring 24-hour race will subject the car to a first major
endurance test and provide further valuable learning for the Aston
Martin engineering team.
The two factory entries will be joined by a number of customer
entries who will also undertake qualifying today, adding to a strong
Aston Martin presence.
Following a practice session this morning (Thursday), a night
qualifying session starts at 17.15 CET. A further daytime qualifying
session follows on Friday at 12.45 CET before the 38th ADAC
Nürburgring 24-hour race begins at 15.00 CET on 15 May 2010.
