Aston Martin Racing’s new FIA World Endurance Championship challenger – the Vantage GTE – heads East in search of its first podium this weekend, as the Super Season goes racing at Fuji Speedway in Japan.
Following a highly encouraging performance in the previous round at Silverstone in August, where the new car qualified on the GTE Pro class front row and was a podium contender, the team aims to turn that upward momentum into success this weekend.
So far both the #97 and the sister #95 ‘Dane Train’, driven by Danish duo Nicki Thiim and Marco Sørensen, have scored points in all three rounds. This is a testament to the tireless work of the team and its technical partners Michelin and Total which continue to unlock more of potential from the car. But as we go to Japan, always a favourite among the drivers with its challenging sweeping nature and super-enthusiastic fans, Thiim is looking to turn pace in to a points haul.
The defending 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship GTE Am title-holders go to Fuji aiming to re-establish themselves as the team to beat, having won the opening round in Spa and led convincingly at Le Mans. The #98 Aston Martin V8 Vantage GTE, driven by Paul Dalla Lana (C), Pedro Lamy (P) and Mathias Lauda (A), have form in Japan, having won the race in 2016 and finished second the year before that.
The similar TF Sport car driven by Salih Yoluc (TUR), Charlie Eastwood (GB) and Aston Martin Racing factory driver Jonny Adam (GB) finished a brilliant third last time out at Silverstone and will once again be a threat in Japan.
The 6 Hours of Fuji begins at 11:00 local time on Sunday, 14 October.
