DT in GT2 Vantage
The first Le Mans Series race of 2010 didn’t turn out the way the JMW Motorsport team had hoped, with the eight-hour race only lasting for just over two hours for the Aston Martin Vantage GT2.
The preparations for yesterday’s race had all gone well for Darren Turner and his team-mate Rob Bell. After some good work in the practice sessions, Bell qualified the car up in fifth place on the GT2 grid. It was Bell who was tasked with taking the start and he was going well before he had to pit with a fuel pressure problem. It took around 20 minutes to fix it and then Darren jumped in to head out for his first stint.
“The race was my first run on new rubber and I joined the track right between the two Porsches that were in first and second place,” said Darren. “I was able to maintain that position throughout my run which illustrates the pace we have.”
Bell then jumped back in but halfway through his run the fuel pressure problem returned and the car had to be retired from the race. It’s always unfortunate to not finish but the Aston Martin is a rapidly-improving car and it is only a matter of time before this is reflected in the results.
“Our pace was good throughout the weekend,” said Darren. “The Dunlop tyres worked well through the whole stint and we were improving all the time. Any DNF shows that there is work to be done but I think between JMW Motorsport and Aston Martin Racing they will do the hard work now to prepare for Spa. We’re ticking things off the list now: top five in qualifying and good race pace. All measures of positive progress.”
Darren is heading straight off to Abu Dhabi now for the first round of the brand new FIA GT1 World Championship at the Yas Marina Circuit. He will be on track in the Young Driver AMR DBR9 on Friday lunchtime for the first free practice session. Qualifying takes place on Friday night ahead of the two one-hour races on Saturday.
The first Le Mans Series race of 2010 didn’t turn out the way the JMW Motorsport team had hoped, with the eight-hour race only lasting for just over two hours for the Aston Martin Vantage GT2.
The preparations for today’s race had all gone well for Darren Turner and his team-mate Rob Bell. After some good work in the practice sessions, Bell qualified the car up in fifth place on the GT2 grid.
It was Bell who was tasked with taking the start and he was going well before he had to pit with a fuel pressure problem. It took around 20 minutes to fix it and then Darren jumped in to head out for his first stint.
“The race was my first run on new rubber and I joined the track right between the two Porsches that were in first and second place,” said Darren. “I was able to maintain that position throughout my run which illustrates the pace we have.”
Bell then jumped back in but halfway through his run the fuel pressure problem returned and the car had to be retired from the race. It’s always unfortunate to not finish but the Aston Martin is a rapidly-improving car and it is only a matter of time before this is reflected in the results.
“Our pace was good throughout the weekend,” said Darren. “The Dunlop tyres worked well through the whole stint and we were improving all the time. Any DNF shows that there is work to be done but I think between JMW Motorsport and Aston Martin Racing they will do the hard work now to prepare for Spa. We’re ticking things off the list now: top five in qualifying and good race pace. All measures of positive progress.”
Darren is heading straight off to Abu Dhabi now for the first round of the brand new FIA GT1 World Championship at the Yas Marina Circuit. He will be on track in the Young Driver AMR DBR9 on Friday lunchtime for the first free practice session. Qualifying takes place on Friday night ahead of the two one-hour races on Saturday.
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