Aston Martin Supports Young British Talent on World Stage

Aston Martin Racing suppored the top up-and-coming GT drivers that Britain has to boast on July 26-27 at the TOTAL Spa 24 Hours, as part of its ongoing commitment to promoting and developing talent in the sport.

Across its five V12 Vantage GT3s, Aston Martin Racing will have seven young British drivers in the fold at the 24-hour endurance race, one of the largest GT events in the world.

In the Beechdean AMR car, Jonny Adam, who signed as an Aston Martin Racing works driver at the start of 2013, was joined by fellow young driver Daniel Lloyd, as he steps up to a more senior role in the team.

“I’ve been an Aston Martin Racing works driver for two years now and it’s opened up many opportunities to me,” commented Adam. "I was not only involved in the development and set-up of the TUSCC-regulated Vantage GT3 in America last year, but I was a reserve driver at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and competed in two World Endurance Championship races.”

At the start of 2014, Richard Abra was signed to a similar role as Adam had a year ago – an Aston Martin Racing works academy driver – thanks to an impressive season in the British GT Championship last year. This year, in addition to his British GT Championship program, Abra is contesting the Blancpain GT Series alongside fellow young Brit Joe Osborne, who joins him in the MP Motorsport car this weekend.

“Being part of the Aston Martin Racing family allows you to learn more than you would in a regular customer team,” comments Abra. “At Spa this weekend, we have four cars under our roof so the amount I can learn increases four-fold. Driving with Darren Turner is invaluable – that’s where I want to be in the future so I’m carefully observing his approach to the race.”

Also contesting the British GT Championship is former British Touring Car Championship-star Tom Onslow-Cole, who is pleased with his transition into GT racing and is thankful to Aston Martin Racing for its support this year.

“I started racing in the Aston Martin at the start of this year and, although it’s for a customer team, the factory support has been outstanding,” comments Onslow-Cole. “At the British GT Championship round at Spa a fortnight ago, I wasn’t due to be returning for the 24-hour race. But, after a good performance, Aston Martin Racing worked hard to find me a seat and I’m now here about to start the biggest race of my life.”

The latest GT3 customer team to join Aston Martin Racing is Leonard Motorsport. Stuart Leonard has been contesting the Nürburgring’s VLN series as well as the Blancpain GT Series round at Silverstone in preparation for Spa 24 Hours. Alongside Leonard in the team’s Vantage GT3, Michael Meadows will make his Aston Martin Racing debut this weekend.

As well as supporting talent at Spa 24 Hours, Aston Martin Racing is working alongside Beechdean AMR, TF Sport and Motorbase to develop their young drivers in the British GT Championship. Most recently, the team has been working with Jody Fannin, who took a win and a second place finish at last weekend’s Silverstone GT Open race alongside Turner.

“The pool of talented British drivers has never been bigger or stronger, but it’s up to manufacturers to help develop these youngsters to ensure that the best and brightest get the opportunities they deserve,” comments John Gaw, Team Principal at Aston Martin Racing. “We are carefully watching and monitoring these GT drivers as we look to build the future Aston Martin Racing works team – our quest for the next Darren Turner is well underway.”

Aston Martin In Top-20 Shoot-Out At Spa

Aston Martin Racing works driver Stefan Mücke put the Beechdean AMR V12 Vantage GT3 through to the Spa 24 Hours Top-20 SuperPole shoot-out in the first of two qualifying sessions held on July 24.

The lap – a 2:19.698 – qualified the car in eighth place overall in a grid of 61 GT3s and enters the #107 car into the 20-minute shoot-out that will take place between the 20 fastest drivers this evening.

“We are very happy to be in the top-20 shoot-out,” commented Mücke, who qualified on pole for last year's race. “That was our target so to be in the top ten is even better. I’m really looking forward to the shoot-out, I have great memories from last year but this year will be tough - already, the lap times are much quicker than they were last year. It should be good fun, though.”

In the #38 V12 Vantage GT3, Aston Martin Racing works driver Darren Turner narrowly missed out on the top 20 due to traffic on the busy 7-km long Circuit de Spa Francorchamps. The Brit had to settle for 22nd place overall and eighth in class, but is confident that it’s enough for him and his MP Motorsport team-mates to work with in Saturday’s race.

“That wasn’t my greatest qualifying session,” said Turner. “There was a lot of traffic and yellow flags, which is to be expected with 60-odd cars on track and, although some people managed to get a good lap, we didn’t. Still, it’s a long race and we’re starting from the front half of the grid, so we’ll see what we can do on Saturday.”

The third fastest Aston Martin of the evening was the PGF-Kinfaun V12 Vantage GT3 in the hands of British driver Tom Onslow-Cole who, although only half a second off the top 20, will start the race from 31st.

“That was tough,” commented Onslow-Cole. “Every time I get in the car I go faster, but it seems so does everyone else! The car feels good and our Am drivers, Phil and Paul, are setting some really great lap times, which will be invaluable in a 24-hour race.”

It was another Aston Martin Racing works driver to qualify for Leonard Motorsport, as Pedro Lamy took the team’s black and yellow V12 Vantage GT3 out onto the cooling track. The ex-Formula One driver and five-times Nürburgring 24 Hours-winner recorded his fastest lap on lap two and his team-mates were unable to better it during the two qualifying sessions leaving them to start from 34th.

The Oman Racing Team V12 Vantage GT3 run by Motorbase qualified in 37th.

“It was a tough session thanks to several red and yellow flags, but all of our drivers stayed out of trouble to qualify for the race on Saturday,” commented John Gaw, Team Principal at Aston Martin Racing. “It’s fantastic that Stefan is in the SuperPole shoot-out tomorrow and we’re all looking forward to watching what should be a really exciting session.”

The top-20 shoot-out takes place on July 25 at 6:30 local time.

TRG-AMR Ramps Up Aston Martin V12 Vantages for the Brickyard Grand Prix

Racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is special anytime. But there’s even more on tap this week for TRG-AMR North America, which is doubling down its racing effort. TRG-AMR is fielding a car in each of Friday’s sports car events at the iconic racetrack – the Brickyard Grand Prix in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship and the Brickyard SportsCar Challenge for the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge series. Everyone at TRG-AMR has high hopes for both cars, and they know of no better place than Indianapolis to shine. Al Carter and James Davison will share the No. 007 B+ Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 in Friday’s headline TUDOR series race, as they have all season. Prior to that, Kris Wilson and Max Riddle will co-drive the No. 07 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 that is in the thick of the battle for the CTSCC season championship. “This is a big week for the entire TRG-AMR organization,” team owner Kevin Buckler said. “It is a great feeling to be competing at Indianapolis, one of the most famous racetracks anywhere, and to have cars running in two events is even more special. We have high expectations for both our cars and believe each has the potential to reach the podium. We’re also hosting several important events for key partners and sponsors to show our gratitude for all they do for us, so it will be a busy but rewarding week.”

Five Aston Martin V12 Vantages To Take On Spa 24 Hours

A total of five Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3s will contest Spa 24 Hours, the fourth round of the Blancpain GT Series, this weekend (26-27 July). All of the cars are supported by Aston Martin Racing works drivers and talented young up-coming drivers under the team’s watch.

In the Pro class, the Oman Racing Team V12 Vantage GT3, run by Motorbase, will be driven by Ahmad Al Harthy, Michael Caine and Stephen Jelley. The trio is contesting the full Blancpain GT Series this year and is looking to take as many points away from the biggest race of the year following a podium finish in the British GT Championship at Spa a week ago.

“It doesn’t get any bigger or better in GT3 racing than the Spa 24 Hours”, commented Al Harthy. “It’s an amazing event and a fantastic race to be part of – I can’t wait to be back there.”

In the Pro Am class, long-standing Aston Martin Racing works driver Darren Turner will join Mark Poole, Joe Osborne  and Richard Abra  in the MP Motorsport Vantage GT3.

“This will be the biggest race in my career and one I've wanted to do since I started racing,” said Abra, who signed to Aston Martin Racing earlier this year. “To do it in an Aston Martin with a great driver line-up and great support from Aston Martin Racing is a dream come true. I'm looking forward to working with Darren Turner and learning as much as possible from him. I hope we can have a clean race as we have every chance of having a very good result.”

Turner’s fellow works driver Stefan Mücke, who set pole at the Spa 24 Hours last year with Beechdean AMR, is once again joining Aston Martin Racing's Jonny Adam, regular team-mate Andrew Howard and new-comer Daniel Lloyd in the 2013 British GT Championship-winning Vantage GT3.

Lloyd, who will make his 24-hour race debut this weekend said: “Everything about next weekend will be completely new, I’ve never done a 24-hour race before. With such strong team-mates though, we’ve definitely got a chance of winning Pro-Am and being able to learn from and compare myself to factory drivers like Jonny and Stefan is massive. I’ve put a huge amount of work into my preparation so can’t wait for the race now.”

A new Aston Martin Racing team for 2014, Leonard Motorsport, will enter with drivers Stuart Leonard, Paul Wilson, Michael Meadows and Aston Martin Racing works driver Pedro Lamy.

“We are really excited about the first 24 hour event for Leonard Motorsport,” commented Leonard. “We have a really fantastic driver line up with Paul, Michael and Pedro joining us. The Vantage GT3 is well proven in endurance racing and we are looking forward to the biggest GT3 24 hour race in the world.”

Team-mate Wilson, who contested the Blancpain GT Series round at Silverstone alongside Leonard added: “Despite the fact it is the first 24 hour race for Leonard Motorsport we have set ourselves some hard targets. The driver line up should be one of the fastest, however with so many cars we need to be very careful not to pick up unnecessary damage to stay out of the pits. If we can do our job, we’ve ever confidence in the team and car we should be aiming for a strong result.”

The final of the five entries, the PGF-Kinfaun Vantage GT3, will be driven by the team’s regular British GT Championship drivers John Gaw and Phil Dryburugh. The pair will be joined by Strata21 team-mates Paul White and Tom Onslow-Cole who are also contesting the British GT Championship in an Aston Martin Vantage GT3.

“The grid is extremely competitive, but after a successful weekend at British GT, I’m confident the pace is there,” commented Onslow-Cole. “Making it through a 24-hour race is a totally different challenge, though.

“Phil and Paul are both safe hands and are among the top Am drivers in the UK. Paul is extremely experienced in endurance racing and that will be invaluable during the 24-hour race and John is a fantastic team-mate for me to have – he’s really quick on-track and his strategic expertise is something I’m looking to absorb.”

Spa 24 Hours starts at 4:30 in France on Saturday, July 26. Fans can watch the race live at http://www.blancpain-gt-series.com/live. 

Fine Wine and Fine Motorcars to Be Celebrated at the Aston Martin Motorsports Festival

After the fantastic opening Friday evening Welcome Dinner for the Aston Martin Motorsports Festival held at the beautiful Red Bull energy, it has been announced that Saturday evening will feature a smaller and more intimate food and wine event featuring some of the biggest names in the industry. The event will be an exclusive, invitation-only wine dinner on the sunset deck at the beautiful Monterey Plaza Hotel overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

 The Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa is dramatically located over the Monterey Bay on Cannery Row and the event will be conducted on the spectacular and stunning outside Ocean deck.

According to Monterey Plaza Chef Waller, “The abundance of fresh foods available on the Monterey Peninsula makes it possible to develop menus that are simple, elegant, and exciting.” The Monterey Plaza culinary team will be hosting the event but is also enlisting the services of several prominent Carmel and Monterey chefs to add an additional and unique flair to the event.

The evening is slated to be one of the finest lifestyle and food and wine events. Guests will have the opportunity to try some of the latest releases from the wineries, and of course, spend time with the owners to hear stories while celebrating this fantastic evening.

The evening will be headlined by Fred Schrader (Schrader Cellars, Aston Estate and Double Diamond) and Michael Browne (Kosta Browne and Cirq), as well as team owner and organizer Kevin Buckler from Adobe Road Winery. The fantastic wine selections will be paired with several of Carmel and Monterey’s finest chefs. This will truly be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to mingle and taste with some of the top names in the wine world while enjoying fantastic cuisine and overlooking the Monterey Bay.

For more than a decade Schrader Cellars has produced award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon from the most prestigious vineyards in the Napa Valley and beyond — notably the first-growth Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville. Schrader has received an unprecedented 11 perfect (100 point) scores and is the only winemaker to have ever done it across three consecutive vintages.

Schrader also has a passion for exceptional Pinot Noirs as well as a love for Aston Martins and has also produced a dedicated line of Pinot Noir called Aston Estate as well as his additional label, Double Diamond.

Both labels focus on highlighting the character and profile of each variety, vineyard and vintage with minimal intervention that allows the true nature of each to shine. Schrader is one of the superstars from the wine world and was recently featured on the cover of the Wine Spectator. The connections run even deeper as Schrader and Buckler were teammates and co-drivers at the Aston Martin Festival at Le Mans France in 2012 where they drove together and finished an incredible third-place at the famed international circuit.

Sonoma County superstar and Kosta Browne co-founder, Michael Browne, has also had a storybook career and is one of the worldwide leaders for Pinot Noir. He has recently started his own new label called CIRQ and has committed his resources into developing two of the most exciting sites in this hotbed region for Pinot Noir. Production is extremely limited with one goal in mind: to provide enthusiasts with wines of uncommon breeding that delight their senses and connect them to these special places.

Browne has also had the incredible honor of having had his 2011 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir rated as the #1 Wine of the Year by Wine Spectator. Additionally, Browne is a loyal Aston Martin owner and will be participating in the event with his beautiful 2011 V12 Vantage Carbon Black edition.

TRG-Aston-Martin Racing CEO Kevin Buckler’s other passion is wine and he approaches it with the same focus and drive as he does all of his endeavors. Over the past fifteen years he has built Adobe Road Winery into one of the premier boutique wineries in Sonoma County, garnering awards and accolades from Wine Spectator and other top publications. Adobe Road produces a wide range of flavorful, distinctive wines, each handcrafted with fine attention to detail to provide a unique taste and experience.

Invitations and tickets will go on sale next week. The event is extremely limited so call now to reserve your place on the waiting list. Information is available at http://trg-astonmartinracing.com/festival.  

Danny Sulivan Announced as Aston Martin Motorsports Festival Grand Festival in August

Aston Martin owners from the Austin area are planning to attend the new Aston Martin Motorsports Festival next month. More news about this great event is making it even more desirable to be part of the weekend!

Monterey Peninsula resident and 1985 Indianapolis 500 winner Danny Sullivan has been announced as the Grand Marshal for the inaugural Aston Martin Motorsports Festival. He brings a tremendous background in motorsports from both the U.S. and abroad.

Sullivan is one of a select few drivers in the world who has competed in an incredible variety of series and events that include Formula One, IndyCar (Indy 500 champion), NASCAR, the Baja 1000, the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He has traveled the globe in pursuit of his motorsports and racing endeavors but has now chosen to make the Monterey Peninsula his home.


In addition to his many accolades, Sullivan brings the ideal off-track presence to the event to help connect the Aston Martin Motorsports and lifestyle components for the Festival. Sullivan has been featured on numerous TV shows including the iconic 80’s show Miami Vice. His time living in Europe in both the 1980’s and 1990’s also afforded him the opportunity to compete in the U.K. and drive a variety of Aston Martin race cars while living in Europe.

More recently Sullivan has worked on a number of driver development projects with companies such as Red Bull, and multiple car manufacturers and motorsports programs. He will be part of all of the track events as well as the exclusive evening wine dinner and lifestyle events.

Read more about this event at: http://trg-astonmartinracing.com/festival.

Aston Martin's V12 Vantage S Roadster

Aston Martin will unleash a new V12 Vantage S Roadster later this year. This sports car will be the most potent, fastest and quickest accelerating series production roadster to date. Enthusiasts can access this marvelous Roadster through Aston Martin of Austin , the only official dealership in central Texas.

“We look forward to offering the new Vantage S Roadster to serious drivers across Central Texas,” said Sonny Morgan, dealer principal of John Eagle European. “Texans love Aston Martin and we’re excited to give them with the fastest and sportiest Aston Martin convertible built to date. I personally can’t wait to drive one through the Hill Country.”

Providing an open-top experience with sporty agility and powered by a 6.0-liter V12 engine, this roadster will top out at 201 mph. The engine has 565 horsepower with 457 lb-ft of torque, allowing for a zero to sixty time of 3.9 seconds. 

 “The new V12 Vantage S Roadster not only looks the part, but has been engineered and built to showcase the ethos of Aston Martin: power, beauty and soul,” said Marek Reichman, Aston Martin Director of Design. “We believe that it is a truly exceptional sports car, with the capacity to set pulses racing just by its sound alone. The authentic appeal of its style, performance, quality and craftsmanship ensure it stands head and shoulders above others.” 

As Aston Martin’s most sporty convertible, the roadster was styled to reflect its position as the leading convertible in the Vantage collection. Distinguishing features of the Vantage S Roadster are a new black or silver carbon fiber grille to maximize airflow, new lightweight forged alloy ten-spoke wheels, pronounced body style and graphics and new seat and door trim styles. 

Those interested in ordering a V12 Vantage S Roadster should contact Sonny Morgan with Aston Martin of Austin at (512) 401-4606. Additional information can be found online at Aston Martin of Austin.

Five Trophies for Aston Martin at Spa

Aston Martin Racing took five podium spots at the British GT Championship at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend (12 July) as the pair of Oman Racing Team V12 Vantage GT3s finished second and third overall, the TF Sport V8 Vantage GT4 took its first class win and the Beechdean AMR GT4 took third and first in the two one-hour races.

In race one, the pair of Oman Racing Vantage GT3s, run by Motorbase, started the first race on slick tyres, despite the damp track. However, after the first of the two formation laps, the other cars – that had started on wets – pitted to change, leaving them free to move forward and pull away from the rest of the pack.

“Race one was great,” commented Ahmad Al Harthy (OM), who partnered Michael Caine (GB) in the one-hour long race. “My stint was really strong and we made the right call with the tyres. Second place was a great result and I was really happy with my driving.”

The sister-car from Oman Racing Team finished close behind in third.

The fastest lap of the two races was recorded in race one when Tom Onslow-Cole (GB) in the Strata 21 V12 Vantage GT3 was the only driver to get inside the two minute 22 seconds mark and four of the seven Vantage GT3s finished inside the top ten, with TF Sport in eighth and Beechdean AMR in ninth.

In the GT4 class, TF Sport’s V8 Vantage – driven by Andrew Jarman (GB) and Devon Modell (GB) – took the race win with the Beechdean AMR GT4 of Ross Wylie (GB) and Jake Giddings (GB) in second.

Aston Martin Racing GT4 Challenge of Great Britain race-winner Jarman commented: "We got a 12-second lead but a poor pit stop lost us the advantage and we had the Beechdean boys right on our back. Devon did a mega job and it was great to have a battle at the front for the whole hour.”

In race two, the Beechdean AMR GT4 team took its second championship win and eighth top-four finish to extend their GT4 drivers championship lead to 19 points.

“It was important to extend our lead and a first and second is almost a perfect weekend,” commented Wylie. “It was a great team effort and we’re in a strong place going into the final two rounds.”

At the end of the weekend, Beechdean AMR drivers Andrew Howard (GB) and Jonny Adam (GB) and the Oman Racing team of Al Harthy and Caine are in contention for the teams championship win, with two rounds remaining.

The next round of the British GT Championship is at Brands Hatch on 30/31 August.