Aston Martin Racing today unveiled its plans for the 2016 season in the FIA WEC, and at the Nurburgring 24 Hours.
The FIA WEC effort features a pair of new 2016 spec V8 Vantage GTE challengers in the GTE Pro class with new collaborations with global energy supplier TOTAL and tyre supplier and new technical partner Dunlop. AMR will also field a single entry in the GTE Am class.
With a raft of new regulation changes including a greater freedom on aero development, the team formally unveiled its latest 2016 V8 Vantage GTE, the car already seen at the post 2015 WEC test in Bahrain, boasting a fully re-designed aerodynamic package including a distinctly pronounced new rear diffuser.
Also new for the 2016 season, Aston Martin Racing will run exclusively on Dunlop rubber throughout the FIA WEC. Working closely together on testing and development throughout the winter months, the V8 Vantage GTE will be equipped with the latest Sport Maxx GT racing tyres.
On the driving front the #95 GTE Pro entry will see the Danish pair of Nicki Thiim and Marco Sørensen joined by Aston Martin Racing’s Darren Turner for the 2016 season.
The second Pro entry of #97 will be occupied by Richie Stanaway, Jonny Adam and Fernando Rees.
In GTE Am, the #98 Aston Martin will return with an unchanged line-up, as Paul Dalla Lana hunts championship success alongside Pedro Lamy and Mathias Lauda.
One major visual change is the factory teams livery. With the departure of Gulf backing the trio of Vantage GTEs will feature a ‘Back to the Future’ Stirling Green livery, each car featuring different highlight colours.
New team partner Total will provide technical support both at the factory and each round of the WEC season. Boasting over 60 years of knowledge and research in automotive fluids.
Alongside the FIA WEC commitment comes a full factory two car effort at the Nurburgring 24 Hours, 2016 the fourth year of competition for AMR at the infamous ‘Green Hell’.
Aston Martin will field two V12 Vantage GT3s in the Nürburgring 24hrs’ top-tier SP9 class,. The new 2016 V12 Vantage GT3s are now also equipped with Dunlop rubber and will feature backing from new team sponsor IQ Option; a leading global binary option broker.
The brand will provide full-livery backing to this year’s #007 N24 challenger, while also holding a prominent space on all FIA WEC entries.
Aston Martin Racing has also confirmed the return for another season from men’s designer clothing brand Hackett, supplying all team and replica wear.
David King, Head of Global Motorsports, Aston Martin commented, “It’s fantastic to launch our 2016 race programme here at Aston Martin’s Gaydon headquarters. It’s an important point in time for the brand with the upcoming launch of DB11 and the 2016 motorsport season is an equally exciting prospect. Motorsport is a key part of Aston Martin’s DNA and it’s vital that we’re represented by such a strong line-up. We’re very much looking forward to our home race at Silverstone and the first opportunity to see the 2016 V8 Vantage GTE in competitive action”.
John Gaw, Managing Director of Aston Martin Racing said, “We’re pleased to welcome our new sponsors and technical collaborators to the Aston Martin fold. With an extremely competitive World Endurance Championship ahead of us, I’m confident we have our strongest driver line-up to date and we can expect plenty of success throughout the season”.
Driver line-ups:
World Endurance Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans
GTE Pro
95: Nicki Thiim, Darren Turner, Marco Sørensen
97: Jonny Adam, Richie Stanaway, Fernando Rees
GTE Am
98: Paul Dalla Lana, Pedro Lamy, Mathias Lauda
Nürburgring 24 Hours
006: Richie Stanaway, Jonny Adam, Fernando Rees, Mathias Lauda
007: Nicki Thiim, Marco Sørensen, Darren Turner, Pedro Lamy
Driver quotes:
Darren Turner: “This will undoubtedly be a different year to the past three WEC seasons that I’ve been involved in, but I’m very much looking forward to partnering with Nicki and Marco in the #95”. Testing has gone very well during the winter months and I think we’ll be in with a strong chance by the time Le Mans comes around in June”.
Richie Stanaway: “After a strong start to 2016 placing fourth at the Daytona 24hrs, we’re all feeling confident going into 2016. It’s great to partner Fernando again and to also have Jonny permanently in the car. I’m sure he’ll make a great addition”
Nicki Thiim: “Stepping up to GTE Pro was a great experience last year and I can’t wait to do the same again. I’m really happy to be partnering with Darren and Marco and I think we have a really good chance to compete at the top of the championship”.
Pedro Lamy: “I’m really excited for both the FIA WEC and Nürburgring 24hrs this year. We have unfinished business in both but I think we have everything right to get the results we want this season”.
