Aston chases three-car Le Mans entry

Aston Martin Racing could field as many as three Gulf-liveried LMP1 prototypes in the Le Mans 24 Hours.

AMR, which is run by Aston chairman David Richards’ Prodrive company, revealed that it had entered three of its Lola-built LMP1 coupés for the 24 Hours. A final decision on whether all three cars will run in the big race in June has yet to be made.

“There is a hope that we might run a third car at Le Mans,” said Richards. “We’re still working on that at the moment; the third car is a still a wish rather than a certainty.”

The Aston, which is based on the car that Prodrive ran under the Charouz banner during last season, has new bodywork which was developed by AMR in conjunction with chief Aston Martin stylist Marek Reichman.

AMR’s team principal George Howard-Chappell revealed that the revised shape was the result of “a reasonably compressed aero programme”: the project didn’t get the go-ahead until December. He stated that it had resulted in a car that “doesn’t look very much like a Lola”.

AMR has so far announced five drivers for the project. Tomas Enge, Stefan Mucke and Jan Charouz, who drove the Lola-Aston last year, will share one car at Le Mans and in the five-race Le Mans Series in Europe, while Prodrive regular Darren Turner and sports car regular Harold Primat are so far the only two signed for the second car in a full programme of events.

The Aston, which has yet to be given a type number, is expected to make its first public appearance in the LMS pre-season test at Paul Ricard at the start of March.