Matters of moment, September 2004

Author

admin

Browse pages
Current page

1

Current page

2

Current page

3

Current page

4

Current page

5

Current page

6

Current page

7

Current page

8

Current page

9

Current page

10

Current page

11

Current page

12

Current page

13

Current page

14

Current page

15

Current page

16

Current page

17

Current page

18

Current page

19

Current page

20

Current page

21

Current page

22

Current page

23

Current page

24

Current page

25

Current page

26

Current page

27

Current page

28

Current page

29

Current page

30

Current page

31

Current page

32

Current page

33

Current page

34

Current page

35

Current page

36

Current page

37

Current page

38

Current page

39

Current page

40

Current page

41

Current page

42

Current page

43

Current page

44

Current page

45

Current page

46

Current page

47

Current page

48

Current page

49

Current page

50

Current page

51

Current page

52

Current page

53

Current page

54

Current page

55

Current page

56

Current page

57

Current page

58

Current page

59

Current page

60

Current page

61

Current page

62

Current page

63

Current page

64

Current page

65

Current page

66

Current page

67

Current page

68

Current page

69

Current page

70

Current page

71

Current page

72

Current page

73

Current page

74

Current page

75

Current page

76

Current page

77

Current page

78

Current page

79

Current page

80

Current page

81

Current page

82

Current page

83

Current page

84

Current page

85

Current page

86

Current page

87

Current page

88

Current page

89

Current page

90

Current page

91

Current page

92

Current page

93

Current page

94

Current page

95

Current page

96

Current page

97

Current page

98

Current page

99

Current page

100

Current page

101

Current page

102

Current page

103

Current page

104

Current page

105

Current page

106

Current page

107

Current page

108

Current page

109

Current page

110

Current page

111

Current page

112

Current page

113

Current page

114

Current page

115

Current page

116

Current page

117

Current page

118

Current page

119

Current page

120

Current page

121

Current page

122

Current page

123

Current page

124

Current page

125

Current page

126

Current page

127

Current page

128

Current page

129

Current page

130

Current page

131

Current page

132

Current page

133

Current page

134

Current page

135

Current page

136

Current page

137

Current page

138

Current page

139

Current page

140

Current page

141

Current page

142

Current page

143

Current page

144

Current page

145

Current page

146

Current page

147

Current page

148

Current page

149

Current page

150

Current page

151

Current page

152

Current page

153

Current page

154

Current page

155

Current page

156

Current page

157

Current page

158

Current page

159

Current page

160

Current page

161

Current page

162

Aston Martin’s Le Mans attack

Aston Martin will make a return to Le Mans next year for its first crack at the 24-hour race in 15 years.

The DBR9, a racing version of the DB9 road car, is being developed by Prodrive and will then be supplied to three teams, which will each run two cars in racing programmes that are likely to include the FIA GT series as well as Le Mans. All the teams will operate with the full support of Aston Martin Racing.

“It’s a really big deal,” said a spokesperson for AM. “We are returning to our racing roots and are building on our heritage. All of our competitors have racing programmes. This is a long-term project.”

A limited number of DBR9s will also be available to selected customers, and a presence in North America seems highly probable.

Jeremy Main, director of motorsport for Aston Martin, said: “The design of the DB9 lends itself to be translated perfectly into the DBR9.”

The marque last tackled Le Mans in 1989 when Brian Redman led the team that took the Group C AMR1 to 11th place.

******

Final Goodwood Revival pieces slotted into place

Ex-Renault and Ferrari GP star René Arnoux will make his Revival debut at Goodwood next month. The Frenchman has been a regular visitor to the Festival of Speed, and now the organisers are planning to place him in cars for the TT Celebration race and Saturday’s heat of the St Mary’s saloon car encounter.

Win Percy will also be competing in the latter race having had his first taste of the hand controls fitted to Leo Voyazides’ Jaguar Mk1 (left). Win was typically modest about his efforts, explaining that he was having some difficulties with downchanges, but came past the pits nicely ‘on the pipe’.

It has also been confirmed that the Cooper that changed Indy for ever in 1962 (right) will take part in Jack Brabham tributes on both days.

******

How L’Ouest was won

Victory at Le Mans brings glory that no other race can match. Forty-five years ago Aston Martin’s long campaign finally brought that victory — and within weeks, the sportscar world title as well.

Aston’s weapon was the DBR I — low, mean and muscular. And, with three racing seasons behind it, a proven race winner. Three victories in the Nürburgring 1000Km confirmed its speed and reliability as the three-car Feltham team headed for Le Mans in 1959. Team boss John Wyer gave Stirling Moss a faster but more fragile engine, hoping to break the Ferrari threat, and sure enough two Testarossas expired before the ‘hare’ broke. After a tense morning trading the lead between Maranello and Feltham, the DBR1 of Roy Salvadori and Carroll Shelby carried off the biggest prize in sportscar racing. And a third victory, in the TT at Goodwood, ousted Ferrari and brought the title back to Britain.