The Aston Martin Cars entered Vantage V12 – nicknamed 'Kermit' – leads the marque's charge after six hours of the Nurburgring 24 Hours.
The car sat in 27th position overall after a quarter distance, leading the SP8 class. The car, in the hands of Chris Porritt avoided any early incidents, the team opting to make their first stop early – after on four laps of the Norschleife – in order to take advantage of a relatively empty pitlane.
“I had really good fun,” he said. “It is always busy at the start here; it's just a case of gradually finding your way and getting used to so many other cars being around you.”
The team had taken advantage of rival team having a number of lengthy pitstops around the five hour mark.
Porritt is one of many drivers driving two cars in this year's 24 Hours – something of a unique tradition to the event – also being part of the team driving the four-door Aston Martin Rapide – nicknamed Katie. The blue liveried car ran 65th overall after six hours – third in SP8.
He is joined the largely road-standard car by Dr. Ulrich Bez, Aston Martin CEO, Wolfgang Schuhbauer and Matthew Marsh. “The car is enormous fun to drive and it's quick, especially in the corners,” said Marsh after his stint. “At the moment we are trying to maximise the distance we can go on a tank of fuel and I am really pleased with our progress. The track has been dry but there have been a few oil spills to negotiate.”
“So far we are running smoothly and to plan which is clearly pleasing, but at just a quarter of the way in we are still at the very early stages of the race,” said a positive David King, Head of Motorsport for Aston Martin.
“The V12 Vantage has gradually started to move up the field now and we would expect the same of Rapide as the race develops. Our plan to make the first fuel stops early and make the most of a quiet pit lane should benefit us as the race develops.”
The two works car are joined by six privateer entries, led by the pair of GT4-spec (N24 class SP10) V8 Vantages of Mathol Racing, running 34th and 58th respectively – first and third in class.
You can keep up with the race through www.radiolemans.com.
