Aston Martin to challenge for outright victory at 2009 Le Mans

Aston Martin has announced its intention to compete for outright victory at this year's Le Mans 24 hour race, due to be held over the weekend of 13-14 June.

The Warwickshire-based sportscar maker intends to build on its success in the GT1 class and achieve overall victory fifty years after the marque first secured the top step on the classic endurance race podium.

While Aston's efforts with its DBR9 racer have delivered class victory two years in a row, competing for the overall title against the proven speed and endurance of the diesel-powered cars such as the Audi R15 and Peugeot 908 is an ambitious goal.

But in 2009, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), which sets the rules for the race, is introducing new regulations aimed at balancing the performance of petrol and diesel engined cars, which Aston believe hands them an opportunity to climb the rankings.

The attempt to emulate the legendary achievements of Aston's 1959 DBR1 driven by Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori will be spearheaded by two Works LMP1 cars (pictured) wearing the iconic blue and orange livery of Gulf Oil.

The new car will be based on the 2008 Charouz Racing System Lola, which came a respectable 9th place in last year's race, the first six positions being occupied by the ground breaking diesel racers.

Also working on the car together with Aston Martin will be Lola, Michelin, Koni and BBS. Power will be provided by the same production-based V12 engine from the class-winning DBR9, which also last year powered the Charouz Lola to a new Le Mans lap record for a petrol car.

To ensure complete focus on the LMP1 challenge, Aston Martin will not defend its double GT1 title in 2009. However, the company will continue to support its official partner teams and customers competing at the race.

Aston Martin chairman, David Richards, whose consortium took over Aston Martin from Ford in 2007, said;

"2009 is a hugely significant year for Aston Martin at Le Mans and the challenge of reclaiming victory in this famous race for Aston Martin and Great Britain was simply too great to ignore."

"However, we do not underestimate the task," he said. "Nonetheless, I see this as a great opportunity to showcase the ingenuity of British engineering talent."

Aston Martin revives Lagonda marque

Aston Martin has today confirmed the company's intention to revive the historic British Lagonda marque.

In a statement announcing the news, Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez referred to the company's forthcoming four-door Rapide model, further raising speculation that the car may be badged as a Lagonda rather than Aston Martin.

Dr Bez said: "We will take elements of DNA from the past but will be very future orientated as we are with Aston Martin." Rapide is also a model name previously used by Lagonda.

By offering cars of a "different character" from Aston Martin and with "a unique design language", the move is a bid to expand the company's market presence from 32 to 100 countries worldwide.

Lagonda history

The last production outing for the famous marque, which was purchased by David Brown in 1947 together with Aston Martin and merged into one company, was the futuristic 1970s Aston Martin Lagonda.

While the car itself was beset by problems with its advanced electronics and did not earn a good reputation, the technical ambition it demonstrated as well as income generated from advance orders was credited with saving Aston Martin from bankruptcy.

Only a few bespoke four-door 1990s Aston Martin Virage models produced for export have since worn the Lagonda badge.

More jobs in Gaydon

The new Rapide is expected to add another 1,000 - 2,000 cars to Aston Martin's production numbers and create jobs for at least 200 more workers at its Warwickshire plant, with the facility having to be expanded with a new production line and developments to the body and paint shops.

A concept of the first new Lagonda will be revealed in 2009 with the car planned to be in production by 2012.

Rapide growth planned at Aston Martin

More Aston Martin news in The Times today, which reports that the company plans to step up production by more than a quarter in the next three years.

Growth will be driven by the start of production of two new models - the DBS of latest James Bond fame and the four-door Rapide - taking the marque's range to seven cars.

Ulrich Bez, chief exec of Aston Martin, said that the Rapide would add another 1,000 - 2,000 cars to its record 2006 total of 7,000.

The sportscar maker expects to take on at least 200 more workers at its Warwickshire plant as a result, with the facility having to be expanded with a new production line and developments to the body and paint shops.

Mr Richards reassured Aston Martin fans that the new owners were committed to the company long term and would not be seeking a quick turnaround like many private equity groups.

He said: “The car industry and this business require long-term investment. You can’t come in and out in two to three years as some private equity groups do.”

Ford also owns Jaguar and Land Rover in the UK, but Lewis Booth, head of Ford Europe, yesterday said that there were no plans to sell those companies too.

Aston Martin has very little in common with other Ford brands so was seen as the easiest to sell. Land Rover and Jaguar and Ford-badged cars share a great deal of parts and design.

Back to British

Luxury sports car maker Aston Martin is heading back into British hands. Ford have sold the company to a UK-led group for £479 million.

The buying consortium is led by Dave Richards, boss of respected motorsport specialist Prodrive.

The American car giant has had a big stake in Aston Martin since 1987, buying the company outright in 1994. Under Ford's ownership, the company reported record sales of 4,500 cars in 2005.

But with the onset of Ford's financial troubles, the group decided to sell Aston Martin. Ford lost more than $12bn in 2006, and faces huge restructuring costs. However the group has still held on to a £40 million slice of the company.

The sportscar specialist will remain at its purpose-built factory in Gaydon (Warwickshire), which employs 1,800 people.

Prodrive success

Under the leadership of Dave Richards, Prodrive has built a formidable reputation in motorsport, running the Aston Martin racing team in the sports car series around the world as well as the highly-successful Subaru rally team.

Dave Richards also managed the BAR Formula One team from 2002 to 2004, taking the team from eighth to second in the manufacturers world championship in that period, before Honda took a greater role in the team. Richards was also a leading figure in the Benetton F1 team in the late 90s.

Prodrive owns a slot to enter the 2008 F1 World Championship, but the consortium has called 'unfounded' speculation that Prodrive may now brand its cars Aston Martin.

Also in the consortium with Dave Richards is John Sinders - a banker in finance and shipping who spends his time between Texas and Dubai - and two Kuwaiti investment companies.

Future challenges

Looking ahead, the biggest question facing the new owners is whether, without the backing of a well-funded major car group enjoyed by many of Aston Martin's main rivals, the new owners will have enough cash to spend on developing the brand's cars to keep them ahead of the competition.

A further threat is looming EU car emissions regulations. If these are implemented on a per-manufacturer basis, that would present a major problem for independent sportscar makers unable to meet such rules by balancing the inevitably higher emissions of their products with the low-emissions city cars also produced by a large car group.

For the company to survive under such an imposed EU regime, huge investment would be needed to produce low-emissions powerplants that nevertheless maintain the required level of power and performance.