Aston Martin Racing team Beechdean AMR started its 2013 Blancpain Endurance Series (BES) campaign in spectacular style at the weekend (13/14 April), finishing 11th overall and fourth in class in its championship debut.
The #99 Vantage GT3, driven by Jonny Adam (GB), Daniel McKenzie (GB) and team-owner Andrew Howard (GB), raced in the Pro-Am class in the highly competitive grid of 60 cars. Each setting solid qualifying times, it was Adam’s time of 1:48.770 that started the trio from third in class on the grid and seventh overall.
Beating off stiff competition from many of the Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche, BMW and Audi Pro cars, the all-British team performed consistently throughout the three-hour race, just narrowly missing out on a podium position.
Andrew Howard comments: “To drive in the hardest GT3 championship in Europe was an amazing experience. The team, drivers and car really stepped up and delivered a great result. This was our hardest round of the championship, next stop Silverstone.”
Commenting on the success of Beechdean AMR, Aston Martin Racing’s team principal John Gaw adds: “Beechdean AMR has gone from strength-to-strength in the past year and is positioning itself as one of the most competitive teams in Europe. It was one of our first GT3 customers at the end of 2011 and entered the history books by scoring our first win for the Vantage GT3 at the Nurburgring round of the British GT Championship last year. This is lining up to be another successful year for the team and Aston Martin Racing will give it its full support to challenge for wins across the year.”
The Blancpain Endurance Series continues with Aston Martin Racing and Beechdean Motorsport’s home race at Silverstone on 1/2 June. Beechdean Motorsport’s next event is the second round of the British GT Championship at Rockingham on 5 May. Follow the team’s progress at www.beechdeanmotorsport.co.uk.
Blancpain Endurance Series calendar:
1/2 June - Silverstone
29/30 June – Paul Ricard
24/28 July – 24 Hours of Spa
21/22 September – 1000km
Notes to editors
Aston Martin Racing is the motorsport arm of Aston Martin. In 2013, it will contest the FIA World Endurance Championship with its Vantage GTE. It also has customer teams competing in major championships around the world in its Vantage GT4, GT3 and GTE cars, which all share a bonded aluminium chassis and fundamental engine design with Aston Martin's road-going V8 Vantage.
Follow the team's progress at www.facebook.com/astonmartinracing on Twitter using @amr_official and on the website www.astonmartin.com/racing.