Drayson Racing Aston Martins up for sale
A pair of Drayson Racing’s Aston Martin Vantage GT2s have been fully restored and are now up for sale.
The cars formed a key part of Lord Paul Drayson’s ALMS, Le Mans Series and Le Mans 24 Hour race programmes.
In order to race, Drayson was required to take a break from his political career and seat in the House of Lords. On accepting his leave of service, the Prime Minister (Gordon Brown) stipulated two conditions; that Lord Drayson drive a British car and secondly, that he try to showcase a British innovation. The choice was a logical one and Drayson immediately ordered the first two examples (of only 9 built); Aston Martin’s new GT2 contender, the V8 Vantage GT2. Both were to be supplied in an identical and suitably patriotic livery and with their engines specified to run on BioFuel.
With the help of co-driver 2004 British GT-winner Jonny Cocker and Aston Martin stalwart Darren Turner, he proved both his own ability and the ability of the Aston GT2 chassis. In 2009, he was eligible to compete in the European Le Mans series and therefore Le Mans 24 Hours.
Both cars were retained by Drayson until 2022 at which point they were sold as a pair into the care of their current custodian, Pursuit Racing, in order to totally restore to the highest standard making them ready for their second custodian to immediately compete. Included in the purchase were all of the spares that Drayson Racing had accumulated when running the pair. As a result, a considerable running spares package accompanies each car.
Both restorations were extensive, notably reconfiguring both cars to run on conventional race fuel. In order to preserve these wholly original racers to the highest degree, both cars were supplied with new engines, the originals are retained and stored by Prodrive. Other works included crack testing, gearbox rebuilds, new fuel tanks and lines as well as recalibration to suit.
In April 2023 the car received a full shakedown post-restoration at the hands of Darren Turner at Silverstone and are now eligible for both Peter Auto’s Endurance Racing Legends and the Masters Endurance Legends series.
Hauser and Pommer wrap up Prototype Cup title
Racing Experience drivers Gary Hauser and Markus Pommer sealed the 2023 Prototype Cup Germany title over the weekend at TT Circuit Assen, with two strong performances over the meeting, a win on Saturday and a second-place finish on Sunday.
“The title feels very nice, particularly because I have been unlucky in the last two or three years,” said Pommer. “I am just happy and grateful that it has worked out. The race was a stormy affair. We had decided that Gary would come into the pits early, as he was stuck in a crowd of cars. I then pretty quickly found myself in third place. I did not want to take any risks to overtake Max van der Snel, preferring instead to follow him and close in on the leader. We then inherited second place when the leader spun off. We are mega happy.”
The title win concludes a hugely successful season for the duo, who with three wins and a further five podiums this season, have claimed the honours ahead of the final round at the Nürburgring next month.
“We really did not expect to have already wrapped up the title by this point. It is celebration time now this evening. I am going on holiday tomorrow – where the party will continue,” added Hauser.
On Sunday, following their win on Saturday, they finished runner-up in their Duqueine D08 to the More Motorsport by Reiter Ligier JS P320 of Max van der Snel and Mark van der Snel. Aust Motorsport’s Ligier of Dino Steiner and Nigel Moore came home third to complete the podium.
Hanley thrilled to be back at United for Fuji
British racer Ben Hanley is eager to hit the track at Fuji this weekend with United Autosports, following a late call-up to sub for IndyCar-bound Tom Blomqvist.
To date, Hanley has joined the #22 ORECA 07 crew for two rounds in the FIA World Endurance Championship – the 6 Hours of Portimão and the 6 Hours of Monza – in place of Filipe Albuquerque. In Fuji, however, Hanley will race the sister #23 ORECA 07 with co-drivers Olly Jarvis and Josh Pierson, stepping in for Tom Blomqvist who will be in Laguna Seca for the final IndyCar race of the season.
“I’m so excited to be back with the United Autosports team, and really looking forward to racing with Olly [Jarvis] and Josh [Pierson],” said Hanley. “Olly and I have raced each other a lot throughout our careers, from the karting days right through to this year’s ELMS and WEC. He’s coming off a great win at ELMS Aragon, so we’ll look to carry that momentum forward. Together with Josh [Pierson], who burst onto the scene with his win in Sebring last year and is now on his second year in the WEC, it’s certainly a solid line-up.”
“I know the United Autosports team, having had those two races in Portimao and Monza,” he added. “So I’m hoping to slot in seamlessly at Fuji with full focus on the task at hand.”
Images courtesy of DK Engineering, Gruppe C & United Autosports
