Podium for Aston Martin Racing in Portugal

The 007 Aston Martin LMP1 car of Jan Charouz (CZ), Tomas Enge (CZ) and Stefan Mücke (DE) finished second, securing a place on the podium at the Algarve 1000 kilometres in Portugal.

The sister 009 car of Harold Primat (CH), Miguel Ramos (PT) and Darren Turner (GB) finished fifth.

Mücke started the race at 19:15 in the 007 car from second on the grid and was soon in the lead. However, after just over an hour 007 was in the gravel following a spin. The car was undamaged and rejoined in fourth place. At around 21:00, after completing a double stint, Mücke handed the 007 Aston Martin to team-mate Charouz who turned in a fault-free performance. Charouz made rapid progress under the cover of darkness to finish in front.

Czech driver Enge took over at 22:50 and stayed at the wheel for two stints before returning the car to Mücke with 27 laps remaining. The 007 car and the number 16 Pescarolo spent the race trading first and second positions but it was the Pescarolo that came out on top leaving Mücke to bring the Gulf liveried Aston Martin across the line in second place.

In the 009 car, Ramos started the race from fifth on the grid, dropping down to ninth in the frantic first laps before settling into a good rhythm and working back up to fifth.

Second in the 009 was Swiss driver Primat who dropped back following contact with another car. Luckily, damage to the 009 Aston Martin was minimal and Primat was able to rejoin the race and work his was back through the pack.

Turner took over just after 22:00 and made impressive progress, climbing again to fifth before Primat returned for his second run with just over an hour of the race remaining. Turner took over with 23 laps left to run, bringing the car home safely in fifth.

Team Principal George Howard-Chappell commented: “We are of course disappointed with second but the combination of the spin and a small technical fault with the 007 car at the end of the race cost us the victory. I was pleased to see the 009 car come home safely and we are still in the hunt for the championship. Once again the pit work from the team was excellent.”