Official Aston Martin Racing partner team, Jota Sport AMR, are delighted to announce that Chris Buncombe, LMP2 class winner at Le Mans in 2007 and former Aston Martin Racing factory driver, will complete the British squad’s driver line up for this year’s edition of the famous 24 hour race.
32-year old Buncombe will join current Aston Martin Racing factory driver, Sam Hancock, and Le Mans debutant, Simon Dolan, in Jota Sport’s Aston Martin V8 Vantage. The trio will compete head-to-head against the cream of the world’s GT racing crop in the prestigious GTE Pro class.
London-based Buncombe, who drove for the official Aston Martin Racing factory team in 2009 aboard the stunning Gulf-liveried LMP1, had his first taste of the car yesterday in a brief shakedown, and will now travel with the team to Le Mans this weekend for Sunday’s official test day.
Chris Buncombe: “I’m really pleased and excited to be joining Jota Sport AMR for my return to Le Mans and to be able to continue my association with the Aston Martin brand. It will be my first time back at the race since winning the LMP2 Class in the 24 Hours in 2007 so I have many happy memories there! It’s also great to be driving with Sam and Simon, I’m sure we will make a great team.”
Sam Hignett, Team Principal and Co-owner: "We’re thrilled that Chris is joining us. Le Mans is such a challenging race that having a proven winner who knows how to get the car to the flag will be a tremendous help. We’ve all known one another for quite some time now as well which should allow Chris to slot pretty effortlessly into the team. He’s got a slightly tough break with his first proper test of the car being at Le Mans this weekend, so we’ll not be expecting too much of him, but thereafter I’ve no doubt he’ll be a great addition to the ranks."
Following the test this weekend, the team head to Spa for Round 2 of the Le Mans Series on 7th May, before heading back to Le Mans for the start of "Le Vingte Quatre Heures" on 11th June.