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Aston Martin AMR-One to make its test race debut at LMS opener

"Initial feedback from the drivers is very positive"

By Franck Drui

1 April 2011 - 10:54

Aston Martin Racing’s new ground up developed AMR-One race car will compete for the first time at Paul Ricard in its initial test race this weekend, 2-3 April 2011.

The AMR-One which only first turned a wheel earlier this month in the UK, has been undergoing an extensive development process in the short time before the opening round of the Le Mans Series at Le Castellet. Drivers Stefan Mücke (D), Harold Primat (CH) and Darren Turner (GB) will pilot the 009 AMR-One and evaluate the new car under race conditions.

The Gulf Oil International sponsored and liveried Aston Martin AMR-One is a new open-top LMP1 race car featuring a 2.0 litre turbocharged six cylinder direct injection petrol engine which has been developed for a new bespoke carbon fibre chassis designed and manufactured by Aston Martin Racing.

Aston Martin Racing team principal, George Howard-Chappell said: “We have been through a tough development phase since unveiling the car in late February. Since then we have performed a shakedown at Fen End and Snetterton and conducted a first test at Dijon-Prenois in France with more work being required to get ourselves up to a competitive position.

“Initial feedback from the drivers is very positive with reports of good stability, brake and mechanical feel. Paul Ricard will be our first real-world test, and we aim to learn as much as possible about the new car. This is the very start of a two year programme and we aim to become competitive as quickly as possible.”

The AMR-One is not the only maiden competitive Aston Martin entry at this weekend’s race; two official partner teams will be fielding their Vantage GT2s in the GTE category for the first time. Drivers Tomas Enge (CZ), Alex Müller (D) and Christoffer Nygaard (DAN) will be competing the Young Driver AMR entry while Sam Hancock (GB) and Simon Dolan (GB) will drive the Jota Sport Vantage GT2.

Qualifying will take place on Saturday with the GT cars challenging from 13:45 – 14:05 and the LMP1s from 14:15 – 14:35. The six-hour endurance special begins at midday on the Sunday.