Page 31 - July 2022

Bel iev e it !

As t o n Ma r t in Vic t o r io u s in J u n e
at t h e 2 4 Ho u r s o f Le Ma n s
Alt hough t he legendary car company cont inues t o st ruggle in F1 event s,

for t he second t ime in t hree years, t he marque t opped t he podium in
France.

LE MANS- Champagne corks popped and Aston
Martin fans were over the moon. 2022 featured a
record breaking 23 cars in the GTE-Amateur
category and after 343 laps it was Aston Martin's
Vantage, campaigned by Aston Martin Official
Partner Team TF Sport, at the top of the podium
at the 90th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

This marked the second victory for an Aston Martin
in this category by TF Sports of Redhill, Surrey, Le Mans image courtesy of Aston Martin Racing
England, which also led the class in 2020. The GTE Bragging rights say that since the turn of the decade, the
AM class is described as 'the place where flying wings have finished on the podium in every class
gentlemen can drive and compete on a level AM has entered at Le Mans, 2022 being the fifth year
playing field'. The other GTE class is for of competition in the GTE portion of Le Mans by the car
professional drivers only. sportscar writers describe, tellingly, as a "British ultra

True, enthusiasts don't always think of an Aston luxury vehicle". This pair of wins demonstrates
Martin as an endurance race vehicle; now TF conclusively that the Vantage is more than just a pretty
Sold for a record set t ing $13,425,000
Sports has demonstrated that there is real reason face. AM entered the 2022 Le Mans endurance race as a
to consider that option. According to automotive favorite based on its consistent performance not its looks.
journalists writing after Le Mans 2022, 'the The Vantage has performed brilliantly in both
winning crew of Ben Keating (USA), double FIA GT professional and amateur divisions of the GTE division.
world champion Marco Sørensen (DEN) and Under the bonnet, a race-developed version of the
Henrique Chaves (POR) ? all first-time victors at Le four-litre, twin-turbo-charged V8 engine found in the road
Mans ? steered the #33 Vantage home with a car provides the power and is not shy about its heft. The
performance that was close to perfection'. Vantage was dominant in the WEC GTE Pro category

A finish at the top of the podium wasn't enough for during the 2019/2020 season. The marque recorded five
the Aston fans, who also applauded the third wins from eight races, including both Pro and Am classes
place veteran finishers that had entered the race at the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Vantage ultimately

as the favourites, also driving an Aston Martin took Aston Martin to the FIA GT Manufacturers?World
Vantage. Second and fourth place finishes went to Championship title while carrying drivers Thiim and

the always formidable 911 RSR Porsches, a Sørensen to the drivers?crown. To this point the Vantage
traditional name in endurance competition. has claimed 12 class victories in the GTE segment of
competition, now in its last year on the FIA circuit.
- 2. MacNeil (USA)/Andlauer(France)/Merrill
(USA), Porsche 911 RSR #79, 343 laps The GTE regulations will die at the end of 2022. The
- 3. Dalla Lana ( Canadian)/Pit t ard ( GB) category will be replaced in FIA WEC by a new pro-am GT
/Thiim (Germany) , Ast on Mart in #98, class called GT3 Premium; until then, there is plenty of
342 laps racing action left on the calendar. The final event will be
- 4. Wainwright (GB) /Barker (GB) /Pera (Italy) an 8 hour race in Bahrain in November.
, Porsche 911 RSR #86, 340 laps
31 Race video on page 32