New International GT Series to Feature new Aston, Lamborghini and Ferrari
Aston Martin will once again be charging after the checkered flag by the end of the 2004 season, according to an announcement made by the a spokesman at the distinguished marque earlier this month.
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| Race-prepared DB9 coupes will be entered into the International GT, a new international series that includes three 1000-kilometer (621-mile) races. (Photo: Aston Martin) |
New factory-prepared DB9 coupes will join race-modified privateers in an effort to take International GT (Grand Touring) honors in a new international series that includes three 1000-kilometer (621-mile) races developed in association with the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (the Le Mans organizers) and the American Le Mans series.
Heading up the project will be British car stars Prodrive, a team best known for their successful Subaru rally car campaign. One of its founders, David Richards, is also infamous as of late for his reported treatment of Canadian motorsport superstar Jacques Villeneuve.
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| Heading up the project will be British car stars Prodrive, a team best known for their successful Subaru rally car campaign. (Photo: Aston Martin) |
While an ironic twist would be to see Villeneuve pilot the Prodrive DB9 in the new series, it's even more unlikely than seeing the frustrated F1 world champion winning the available BMW/Williams seat in 2005.
Richard's BAR F1 team sports Honda power, the same brand that Prodrive has been involved with in other racing series. The company's most successful campaign of late has been its Ferrari 550 Maranellos, doing well in international GT.
Such results would prove welcome by the top-tier Ford division, as its PAG (Premiere Auto Group) stable mate Jaguar has found F1 more of a challenge than initially expected, and the blue oval parent company's WRC efforts looking promising with rising Estonian star Markko Martin, but not on top yet.