WEC
Marino Franchitti Aston Martin test summary
Aston Martin Testing Marino has just finished his second round of tests this week driving the Aston Martin Vantage GT2 for Drayson Racing. Having initially driven the car at the LMS 2-day test on the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans last weekend, just ...
Published: Jun 19, 2009, 7:53 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Aston Martin Testing
Marino has just finished his second round of tests this week driving the Aston Martin Vantage GT2 for Drayson Racing. Having initially driven the car at the LMS 2-day test on the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans last weekend, just 48 hours later Marino was preparing himself to simulate a 24 hour run, along with team-mates Paul Drayson (car and team co-owner) and Jonny Cocker, Paul's regular co-driver in the LMS Series, in their Le Mans entered Aston Martin Vantage GT2.
The Bugatti test helped the team tremendously in building on the information already learned about this new car which only recently ran in Europe for the first time at the LMS event in Barcelona. The 2 days of running on the Bugatti not only gave the team new information to evaluate, it also helped Marino in getting to know his fellow team mates with whom he will share the car at the epic 24 hours of Le Mans next month.
"It's always exciting to work with a new team; it was a real pleasure getting to know everyone at Drayson Racing during the last two tests and I'm delighted how well we all worked together", said Marino. "It's just as I hoped it would be, and I head to Le Mans completely integrated with the team and with a lot of confidence. Paul and Jonny couldn't have been more welcoming and as we all liked the same things from the car, used the same seat and belt settings, we couldn't be a better matched team for Le Mans."
At the opposite end of the scale, a 24-hour simulation test is undertaken in just the same way as running the real event, a driver rotation is selected, the car is fuelled to capacity and the clock begins ticking. Team members, tyre technicians and all those involved in evaluating the car's performance under such conditions are present.
The simulation was not flawless, which is exactly the reason it was carried out. With no Pre-Test in Le Mans this year it deprives the team of obtaining valuable information in advance of the race itself, fuel consumption,
A evaluation of different race components, brake pads, tyre wear, etc, all have to be recorded and evaluated.
The car had only run twice previously under competitive conditions, the ALMS 12 Hours of Sebring, and the LMS event in Barcelona, so testing was vital to the progress of this new project, and the reactions from all those involved, drivers alike, were very positive indeed.
Marino commented, "We made a huge amount of progress during the tests and I had a lot of fun driving the Aston Martin Vantage. We had the chance to compare our performance to some of our competitors in Le Mans and we were very happy with our pace. I can't wait to see how we compare when we hit the track in June".
The 24 Hours of Le Mans, beginning at 3pm on Saturday, 13th June, could not be more poignant as it marks the 50th Anniversary of the last win at this historic track for Aston Martin, and Marino will be giving all to Paul, Jonny and his Drayson Racing team-mates to help replicate that result.
-credit: www.marinofranchitti.com
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Next article Toyota Le Mans prototype has support from ORECA for 2012
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Marino Franchitti
Di Grassi, Franchitti to race for Mazda at Petit Le Mans
IMSA
IMSA
Road Atlanta
Di Grassi, Franchitti to race for Mazda at Petit Le Mans
Marino Franchitti seeking new U.S. opportunities
IMSA
IMSA
Marino Franchitti seeking new U.S. opportunities
Franchitti gets Mazda prototype seat for Sebring 12h
IMSA
IMSA
Sebring
Franchitti gets Mazda prototype seat for Sebring 12h
Latest news
Peterson Racing addresses online abuse after parting ways with Austin Green
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Talladega II
2 min
Peterson Racing addresses online abuse after parting ways with Austin Green
'Lines were crossed' – Franco Colapinto speaks out after online abuse targeting Alpine F1 staff
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
14 min
'Lines were crossed' – Franco Colapinto speaks out after online abuse targeting Alpine F1 staff
IndyCar set to drop Nashville Superspeedway and D.C. for 2027; Barcelona announcement looms
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 1 h
IndyCar set to drop Nashville Superspeedway and D.C. for 2027; Barcelona announcement looms
Carlos Sainz: "Difficult to be convinced" that F1 2026 can finish in the Middle East
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
1 h
Carlos Sainz: "Difficult to be convinced" that F1 2026 can finish in the Middle East
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe