Victory in Canada: TRG-Aston Martin Racing Earns Three Wins, Six Podiums Over PWC Race Weekend

The TRG-AMR team’s four drivers secured a win, two 1-2 finishes, and a 3rd place podium during the Pirelli World Challenge race weekend in Canada.

Max Riddle, Kris Wilson, Jason Alexandridis and Derek DeBoer took home ten trophies in total from Saturday and Sunday’s events at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. All drivers raced Aston Martin V8 Vantages in the first two rounds of the new SprintX series; Riddle competed in two GTS races.

A high point of the weekend was when Vancouver native Max Riddle won his first-ever GTS race on Sunday, at what is considered his “home track” in the PWC series. Riddle, along with his teammate Wilson, returned to Canada to defend their pole position from last year.

The field of skilled drivers and extremely competitive cars showed no mercy while attempting to pursue the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, and at times the gap between Riddle and the following car was less than a tenth of a second. After taking 3rd place on Saturday, Riddle’s determination to taste victory was sated with a triumphant win on Sunday. Wilson, who acts as both coach and teammate to Riddle, was a winning co-driver in their No. 07 TRG-AMR Adobe Road Winery/LaSalle Solutions Aston Martin Vantage GT4, sharing wins with Max in both SprintX races.

The Alexandridis/DeBoer driver pair enjoyed consistent 2nd-place success after taking their No 09 BRM Chronographes/Rebounderz/Rohnert Park/Racing for Cancer/Pirata Della Strada/Simon Ward car to the podium for both inaugural SprintX races. Along with the Riddle/Wilson duo, TRG-AMR took a 1-2 finish in both of these new race formats, which involves a pit stop with a driver change. Neither DeBoer nor Alexandridis had ever raced at CTMP before, making their podium success all the sweeter. Consistently successful racing from all four drivers resulted in heavy media coverage throughout the race weekend.

“I couldn’t be happier about this weekend at CTMP. 4 out of 4 podiums with 3 wins,” said Max Riddle. “At my home track, in my home country, in front of all the home fans. It’s an amazing feeling. I also couldn’t be more proud of the team. Everyone at TRG-AMR did a fantastic job and put together an amazing car for me and Kris to go out and race with. Another thing that was awesome about the races at CTMP was doing the new SprintX races with my longtime endurance racing teammate and coach, Kris Wilson. Kris and I share a lot of our successes together and we added some more to that list with the two inaugural SprintX wins. A huge thanks goes out to everyone at TRG, Kevin Buckler, Kris Wilson, my dad Dave and also a congratulation is in order for my teammates Derek DeBoer and Jason Alexandridis for finishing 2nd in both SprintX races!” 

 

Derek DeBoer added, “What a great weekend! Outstanding results finishing 2nd in each of the first rounds of Pirelli World Challenge SprintX. You never know what to expect showing up at a new track but I definitely have a new favorite to add to the list. As always, the entire TRG team gave us the car and support to get the job done. I also want to thank BRM Chronographes, Pirata Della Strada, Racing For Cancer, Simon Ward Artist, my co-driver Jason and my wife and girls cheering from home. With 3 podiums out of my last 3 races, I’m feeling like we're on a roll. Time for that top step!”

Final results:

Race 1: GTS: Max Riddle, 3rd

Race 2: GTS: Max Riddle, 1st

Race 1: SprintX: Riddle/Wilson* 1st, Alexandridis/DeBoer 2nd

Race 2: SprintX: Riddle/Wilson* 1st, Alexandridis/DeBoer 2nd.

*Wilson awarded with fastest lap for both SprintX races.

Aston Martin Racing Claims Double Podium at 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps

Aston Martin Racing won the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship; the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. After securing pole, the #98 V8 Vantage GTE of Pedro Lamy, Mathias Lauda and Paul Dalla Lana took the checkered flag in first place after a faultless afternoon at the Ardennes circuit.

Demonstrating searing pace throughout, the trio amassed a lead of over a minute before a late safety car reduced the advantage. With Lamy at the wheel for the final hour, their advantage was reinstated to secure both victory and their second visit to the podium this season. The result places them at the top of the GTE Am championship.

According to Lamy, “When the safety car came out, I was conscious that my advantage would be gone. However, I felt that I had a fast car and Paul and Mathias put us in a great position for my final stint earlier in the race. I found the car to be very fast on new tires which made the final laps much easier. With pole yesterday and a win today, this is the perfect result."

In the GTE Pro class, the team’s #97 entry of Jonny Adam, Ferna

ndo Rees and Richie Stanaway placed third after a consistent show of form across the six hours. As both ambient and track temperature dropped in the final hour, Adam was able to exploit the performance of the V8 Vantage GTE and with a late retirement at the front, brought the car home in third.

Adam said, “Claiming a podium is great and with just a lap or two more we could have potentially claimed second. The car was nice and consistent all the way. If it wasn't for a bit of traffic at the start of the restart we could have potentially fought harder with the Ford ahead. The result today sets us up nicely for Le Mans in June and it’s nice to go into that big event with such a good feeling. The car and its tires were working really well and we’ll hopefully find even more speed”.

It was a difficult afternoon for the #95 GTE Pro of Nicki Thiim, Marco Sørensen and Darren Turner. Despite a strong start by Sørensen to move from sixth to fourth after the first lap, Thiim was unfortunately hit by another competitor in the second hour. The team reported that Thiim was OK following the incident.

The 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps is the final race before the WEC’s centerpiece event; the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Team Principal Paul Howarth said after the race, “What an excellent weekend for the team. Again we’ve delivered in both classes by stepping on to the podium. We came very close in the Pro class to finishing second and then to go and challenge for the lead. We raced right until the finish and this is very positive result going into Le Mans”.

Speaking of #98’s GTE Am victory, he added, “The Am result was an outstanding victory and it takes them into the lead of their championship two races in. If we can keep this momentum and deliver our team to the podium at every event, then their championship is off to a very good start”.

The team immediately returned to the track the next day at the official Le Mans test.

Aston Martin Racing ready to Compete at 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps

Aston Martin Racing will contest the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps this weekend (Saturday, May 7) with the continued objective of maximising points in the early stages of this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

Taking on one of the world’s most challenging race circuits, hidden deep in the Ardennes Forest, Aston Martin Racing will enter its three WEC challengers – two GTE Pro and one GTE Am – as the team looks to make its final preparations ahead of the season’s centerpiece event; the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

With the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps bringing great success for the team in recent times, including victory in both GTE Pro and Am in 2015, the team’s drivers are relishing the opportunity to take on the historic circuit yet again in the WEC.

#95 GTE Pro driver Darren Turner said ahead of this weekend, “Silverstone was a great start to the season for us in the #95 car. We learnt a lot over the weekend, especially about our Dunlop tyres. I’m sure we’ll be in a position to fight for the podium this time out at Spa.  It’s a track I enjoy and it’s all great preparation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans”.

Jonny Adam will return to the cockpit of the #97 GTE Pro and will race alongside Richie Stanaway and Fernando Rees. This weekend will be Adam’s first opportunity to compete in the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps after joining the team last year to support its practice sessions.

“This weekend will be invaluable ahead of Le Mans. We’re still continuing to learn with our new partners Dunlop and Total but I think we’ll be in a good place at the end of Saturday,” Adam commented. “It will also be my first opportunity to complete a race alongside Fernando and Richie and I’m sure we’ll put in a strong showing as a trio. The guys have been training hard as have I and I’m excited to join them”.

The #98 GTE Am trio of Paul Dalla Lana, Mathias Lauda (A) and Pedro Lamy will also hope to build on their second place finish at Silverstone, as they continue to work towards their objective of GTE Am world titles.

Paul Howarth Team Principal Aston Martin Racing said, “Spa is a demanding circuit both on the car and driver and will be the perfect test for us at this stage of the season. We continue to learn and progress each day with our new technical partners Dunlop and Total, but we aim to be in a great position to achieve success at the 24 Hours of Le Mans by the end of this weekend”.

The 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps begins at 24:30 CET on Saturday, May 7th.