Aston Martin Racing three hour report

Aston Martin Racing maintains GT1 class lead

Aston Martin Racing maintained its lead in the GT1 class after three hours of the 24 hours Le Mans endurance race today.

DBR9 number 58, with Tomas Enge at the wheel, was 50 seconds ahead.

Sister car number 59 was 7th in class in the hands of Stephane Sarrazin, having gained several places.

As the flag fell at the start number 58 was driven by Peter Kox, who despite the intense 31°C heat did a double stint of nearly two hours. He handed over to Tomas, who also plans a double stint and is currently driving.

The progress of number 59 was slightly less straightforward, with the start driver Darren Turner incurring two time penalties - the second of three minutes - for course infringements.

Into the second hour Darren had led the GT1 class, but the time penalties pushed him down the field. In addition, after Stephane Sarrazin had taken the wheel, the car spent several minutes in the pits after slight frontal damage from an earlier incident.

As he awaited his first driving stint, in number 59, David Brabham said: "Of course time penalties are unfortunate but it's early days and I believe we can catch it up. There's a long way to go."

-amr-