Aston Martin geared up for Algarve night race

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© Aston Martin Racing

Following a fourth overall and highest petrol finish at the Le Mans 24 hour race in June, Aston Martin Racing continues with the remainder of the Le Mans Series (LMS) and heads to the new Autodromo Internacional Algarve in Portugal for the first ever LMS night race.

Aston Martin Racing will field two LMP1 cars for the third round of this year’s Le Mans Series. Hoping to secure their third consecutive LMS podium finish, the 007 car of Jan Charouz (CZ), Tomas Enge (CZ) and Stefan Mucke (DE) will be joined by the 009 car of Harold Primat (CH), Miguel Ramos (PT) and Darren Turner (GB).

The Aston Martin LMP1 cars will take the rolling start of the Algarve 1000 kilometres at 19:15 local time on Saturday 1 August. The race will finish at approximately 01:15 on Sunday morning after 215 laps.

The iconic blue and orange Gulf liveried Aston Martins will take to the track on Thursday afternoon at 16:45 and again at 21:30 for two free practice sessions, the second of which is a two hour session after sunset allowing the team and drivers to prepare for Saturday’s night race. The third and final free practice session takes place on Friday at 13:45 prior to a 20 minute qualifying session at 19:40.

Completed in 2008, the 4.65 kilometre/2.89 miles long circuit is one of the most modern in Europe, benefiting from excellent safety and comfort for both drivers and spectators alike. The undulating terrain lends itself to an exciting circuit packed with elevation changes and blind corners that will challenge all of the competitors.

Although the Autodromo Internacional Algarve is new to the Le Mans Series, it is familiar to the team as Aston Martin Racing held an endurance test at the track in April.

Six weeks on from the team’s Le Mans 24 hour endeavour, Aston Martin Racing Team Principal George Howard-Chappell is looking forward to competing at the new Algarve circuit: “I’m hoping that our testing here earlier in the year will be of some benefit and in addition we are happy to be racing again. We need to focus on trying to win the Championship and also on winning races outright, which should be possible now without the factory diesel cars. I am also looking forward to welcoming back our Portuguese driver Miguel Ramos to the squad.”