The 2008 Le Mans Series season starts this coming weekend with a 1000km race at the Circuit de Catalunya near to Barcelona, and once more the Team Modena Aston Martin DBR9 will be a front-runner in the GT1 category. With the car now running to the latest factory specification and a strong driver line-up featuring Team Modena regular Antonio Garcia and the very experienced Tomas Enge, hopes are high that the team can start the season with an impressive performance.
"We have done a lot of work to bring the car up to the latest specification," says Team Principal Graham Schultz, "we have the latest engine, new air conditioning, and have even made some changes to the livery of the car. Over the winter we had the time to carry out a lot of the changes we have wanted to make, and now it is in the latest Aston Martin Racing format. We probably have the best driver line-up in GT1, and it should be good for us in Barcelona."
"We can't wait to start the LMS season," says Sporting Director Rik Bryan. "Our driver line-up is really strong and we have the car now in the very latest specification, so it could be a good season for us. As ever in the LMS the opposition will be tough, there are good cars out there with strong competitive drivers, but we will be competitive and on the pace."
Garcia has completed more races in the Team Modena Aston Martin than any other driver, including twice racing at Le Mans and once at Sebring for the team. He is joined for 2008 by Tomas Enge who has raced in Formula One and has DBR9 experience with Aston Martin Racing - including the American Le Mans Series and Le Mans itself in recent seasons. The duo recently had a successful test of the car at Donington Park.
Opposition in the GT1 category this weekend comes from some very experienced car and driver combinations. The Saleen is always quick in LMS competition, and the two Chevrolet Corvettes from the Luc Alphand Adventures team will be in the hunt as ever. The 215-laps of the 1000km of Catalunya is scheduled to start at 11.35am local time on Sunday April 6th, with a 15-minute qualifying session for the GT1 cars at 14.15 on Saturday afternoon.