Young Driver AMR debuts its new Aston Martin Vantage in the GTE-class of the Le Mans Series season-opener at the HTTT Paul Ricard in Le Castellet/France. In the maiden race of the Young Driver AMR-GTE-class entry, Tomas Enge (CZE), Alex Müller (GER) and Christoffer Nygaard (DAN) will drive the V8-powered car. The debut race of Young Driver AMR with the Vantage is part of the preparation for a possible entry in the 24h hours of Le Mans in June.
For Young Driver AMR, this week is probably one of the busiest of the season. Without rest, the team travels from the first race of the 2011 FIA GT1 World Championship to the south of France for the first race of the Le Mans Series. At the HTTT Paul Ricard, Young Driver AMR enters for the first time a car in the GTE-class (former GT2-class). The 460 HP strong Aston Martin Vantage is based on the V8-powered „V8 Vantage“, the brother of the V12-powered and 600 HP strong Aston Martin DBR9, that Young Driver AMR campaigns in the GT1 World Championship. Young Driver AMR entered the GTE-Pro class for professional drivers with the Vantage and will compete against works-supported Ferrari and Porsche Teams.
The Young Driver AMR-Aston Martin Vantage had its first public outing during the Le Mans Series official test day earlier this month, the 6 hour race on Sunday will be the maiden race for the car. The race will be part of the Le Mans-preparation of Young Driver AMR. Although Young Driver AMR hasn’t a confirmed place on the grid for the world’s most famous endurance classic yet, the team will also enter the official Le Mans test day on the Easter weekend for the best possible preparation.
"We still hope that we get a Le Mans entry for this year’s race after our Le Mans debut is year was quite successful, when we finished on the podium“, Young Driver AMR team principal Hardy Fischer says. "In case we can secure a Le Mans-Entry, we will be prepared in the best possible way. The Le Mans Series season opener is a crucial part of our preparation, as we have to learn fundamental things about the car and also the Le Mans-style racing rulebook."
Tomas Enge: "During the Le Mans Series test day, our new Aston Martin Vantage was quick right out of the box. Aston Martin Racing put a lot of development into the car during the off-season. Unfortunately, Young Driver AMR has not yet a place in the grid of the 24 hours of Le Mans. But if we will receive one, we will be prepared in the best possible way.“
Alex Müller: "The Le Mans Series race at Le Castellet is a very good preparation for Le Mans. Mainly it is a learning weekend for us, but we are also there for racing and would also like to show a good performance. At the official test day, the car quite impressed me, I’m very anxious about the first race.“
Christoffer Nygaard: "I can’t wait to get in the car at Le Castellet. Beside our brief test with the car earlier this month, it will be the first time after the winter break, that I will be in the car. At the test day, I had the chance to get a little familiar with the car, during this weekend our focus is to learn and get experience with the car.“