• Aston Martin AMR-One to debut at Paul Ricard LMS race
• Gulf AMR Middle East in GT2 Category
• OAK Racing to enter its prototypes in Iconic Gulf livery
• Seven Gulf cars potentially at Le Mans 24 Hours
• Aston Martin Racing works race cars lubricated with Gulf Competition products
• Gulf sponsored Top Fuel Drag bike to contest UEM European Championship
The 2011 motorsport season is set to get underway shortly and is promises to be an amazing year for fans of Gulf’s legendary Blue and Orange racing colours. Even before the season starts, Gulf Oil International is proud to announce the further extension of its partnership with Aston Martin Racing through to at least the end of 2012.
Gulf Oil Vice President International, Alain Dujean comments, “The partnership we entered into with Aston Martin Racing in 2008 continues to go from strength to strength. This year the factory race cars will, for the first time use products from our Gulf Competition range for lubrication and we have an exciting new car, which both Gulf and Aston Martin Racing hope will truly be able to challenge for outright honours again at Le Mans events. We wanted to echo Aston Martin’s commitment to a two year programme and are delighted to be able to be able to do this with a further extension of our agreement.”
2011: A BUMPER YEAR MOTORSPORT FOR GULF
ASTON MARTIN RACING
Gulf Oil International’s official motorsport partner, Aston Martin Racing (AMR) recently unveiled Aston Martin’s sensational new LMP1 race car, the AMR-One, which will complete at Le Mans and various Le Mans endurance events throughout the year.
The new Gulf liveried sports racer has caused a stir by bucking the current trends in many important respects. With the move for 2011 being towards closed coupe, “vee” cylinder-configuration, diesel engined cars, AMR-One will be an open top racer, with a direct injection 2.0 litre turbo in-line six cylinder petrol engine.
The car is currently in its vital test and development program and Aston Martin Racing took the decision to follow this through to its conclusion, rather than interrupting it to contest this weekend’s Sebring 12 Hour race. The first race for AMR-One will therefore be the opening round of the Le Mans Series at France’s Circuit Paul Ricard HTTT on April 3rd - the Le Castellet 6 Hours.
The driver line up for the first race will be Darren Turner (GB) Stefan Mücke (D) and Harold Primat (CH), who will enter the 009 car.
Aston Martin Racing will then contend selected races in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup with rounds in the United States (Petit Le Mans), Belgium (Spa), France (Le Mans), Italy (Imola), England (Silverstone) and China (TBC).
GULF AMR MIDDLE EAST
Gulf Oil International is proud to announce its partnership with another team for the 2011 endurance season. Gulf AMR Middle East will be running a beautiful Aston Martin Vantage GT2 racer, which is being built at AMR and which carries the official support & recognition of Aston Martin’s factory race team. Gulf AMR Middle East will contest the full Intercontinental Le Mans Challenge.
The team is based in the UAE and the Gulf liveried Aston Martin will run in the LM GTE AM category which is designed to promote opportunities for Gentleman racers – teaming them up with seasoned professionals..
Gentleman pilots Roald Goethe and Michael Wainwright are joined again by the vastly experienced, Fabien Giroix (previous team principle and driver for Gulf Team First), who will be continuing to mentor and nurture the driving talents of his team-mates. Legendary motorsport team owner and manager, David Price, will manage the team.
John Gaw, Managing Director of Aston Martin Racing commented on the new venture, “Aston Martin Racing has enjoyed a long, successful and winning relationship with Gulf and is delighted that Gulf AMR Middle East has announced this significant project in such an important championship.”
OAK RACING
In a initiative driven locally by Car Oil (Gulf’s official lubricants distributor for France, Belgium and Luxembourg), Oak Racing will be competing at Le Mans and the Intercontinental Le Mans Challenge in both the LMP1 and LMP2 prototype categories, sporting Gulf Oil International’s iconic racing livery.
OAK won the LMP2 category in last year’s inaugural Intercontinental Le Mans Challenge and will be defending their category crown, as well as challenging for the bigger class in Judd-engined Pescarolo prototypes. Among their driver line-up will be team owner Jacques Nicolet and former Gulf-Courage driver, Pierre Ragues.
Based at Le Mans in the circuit’s Technoparc, OAK have an association with Gulf that stretches back several years, but this is the first year that they will compete in Gulf Oil International’s distinctive racing livery. Caroil SA and OAK will field two cars in LMP1 at this weekend’s Sebring 12 Hours, with a further car in LMP2.
An additional LMP2 car is on the entry list for this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours, which OAK are granted thanks to taking a podium place in LMP2 in the 2010 event - the team’s third such result at Le Mans.
The Intercontinental Le Mans Series consists of the following rounds: United States (Sebring: 19/20 March) Belgium (Spa: 7th May), France (Le Mans: 11/12 June), Italy (Imola: 3rd July), England (Silverstone: 11th September) United States (Petit Le Mans: 1st October), and China (TBC: 12th November).
KING RACING – TOP FUEL DRAG BIKE
2011 will also see a unique initiative from Gulf as official Gulf distributors from around the world have come together in a cooperative effort, to sponsor one of the leading forces in European Motorbike Drag racing.
The Gulf racing livery will now adorn a 1000+BHP Top Fuel Drag racing bike, which will be prepared and run by leading bike drag racing exponents, King Racing, who are based in Hertfordshire, UK.
The driving force behind the multi-country deal coming together is Dakota, Gulf’s Official Clothing licensee, whose branding will also be seen on the bike.
The Gulf bike is currently in-build and will contest the full 2011 UEM European Drag Racing Championship starting with the opening round at Kunmadaras in Hungary over the weekend of the 28th April to 1st May.
The remainder of the 2011 UEM European Top Fuel Motorbike series runs as follows:
27 - 30/5 Santa Pod / UK 28 – 31/7 Mantorp Park / Sweden
09 -12/6 Tierp / Sweden 11 -14/8 Hockenheim / Germany
30/6 – 3/7 Alastaro / Finland 08 -11/9 Santa Pod / UK
Gulf Oil International Brand and Marketing Manager, Sam Cork gives his overview of the upcoming season. “2011 has the potential to be one of the most exciting years ever in Gulf’s motorsport history. The prospect of seeing so many cars with Gulf branding lining up in the world’s top endurance races is truly mouth-watering and should further enhance the profile of the Gulf brand worldwide – as will Gulf’s emergence as a major sponsor in the sensational arena of Top Level Motorbike Drag Racing.”