Latest News
Sunday, May 25, 2008
IT ISN'T EASY BEING GREEN - writes Rupert Lloyd Thomas
Car #7 otherwise known as Kermit is running in 16th place, but a slow out lap has put the #8 car within striking distance on the same lap - lap 116.
Oliver Mathai is caning Rose in an attempt to catch the green frog. It isn't over until it is over - the gap being clocked at 1mins 29 secs - a small margin after nearly 21 hours of racing. One slip by either of the protagonists and the pendulum can rapidly swing in the other direction.
Matthew Marsh reports: "Dr Bez is doing last stint in Kermit..."
So with the two cars trading times in the 9mins 50secs bracket there is everything to play for.
Kermit running slow on Lap 117 with a front wheel askew - the car is limping back to the pits. A cruel blow after getting this far.
12:10: #8 is now running in 16th place and leading the SP8 class. Car #7 has reached the pits where they are working on the car, meanwhile it has dropped down the leader board being shown in 21st place.
L119 and car #7 is in the pits for a scheduled stop. There are still 2hours 40mins of racing left to go and plenty of time for further twists of fate.
Mathai completed his out lap in 12mins 04.746secs.
Matthew Marsh reports: "Kermit came into contact with another car and suffered suspension damage. It's been repaired but has come back in with some other problem." Chris Porritt was at the wheel. The subsequent problem revolved around disconnecting the ABS to get back running and finding the car was difficult to drive.
Mathai is running in 17th position in the Aston Martin Vantage V8 N24, #8, and completed Lap 121 in a time of 9mins 57.823secs.
RLT [Pic by Colin Marsh].
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
EIGHT O'CLOCK
Just seven hours to go at the Nurburgring with the #1 Porsche in first place. The Manthey Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR of Timo Bernhard/Marc Lieb/Romain Dumas/Marcel Tiemann now has a three-lap advantage after early misfortune. A semi-works car with a top squad of drivers they are a formidable combination, with sufficient time in hand to think of going into cruise mode to the finish.
The #23 Manthey Racing Porsche of Hahne/Haarmann/Krumbach/Kaffer is in second place. Making it a potential all-Porsche podium is the Porsche 997 of Sabine Schmitz/Klaus Abbelen/Dr Edgar Althoff in third.
08:15: The #7 Aston Martin is leading the class in 18th place, with #8 back in 21st, 2mins 50secs adrift on our stopwatch, ably operated by Matthew's dad.
08:25: The green Aston Martin called Kermit to the pits. Matthew Marsh is in hot pursuit as we wait for the pitstop sequence to unwind.
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
SEVEN O'CLOCK: TABLES TURNED
Oliver Mathai has reclaimed the SP8 class lead running in 21st position in car #8, as the #7 car dropped to 22nd on the pitstop sequence. The change happened as we approach seven o'clock and 16 hours running. With two-thirds of the race run cars #7 and #8 remain remarkably evenly matched.
07:00 O/A: 1, 23, 121, 25, 26, 10.
Matthew Marsh back in the car at 07:35, resuming in 20th position. The #7 car has taken the class lead once again in the pitstop sequence.
Good to see Henrik Nielsen here at the track from Hong Kong. His Flex-Box logos are to be seen on the helmet of Matthew Marsh.
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RLT. [Pic by Colin Marsh.]
Labels: Aston Martin, Flex-Box, N24
MATHAI ON A CHARGE
Oliver Mathai is charging in the yellow #8 Aston Martin and is closing in on the #7 green car. They are now competing for the class lead and the honour of being the first Aston Martin home. Mathai turned a lap of 9mins 48.132secs on the cars 83rd lap. Mathai to pits on lap 85 having closed the gap on the sister car. We should see the battled rejoined in his next stint.
The green Aston Martin has pitted and we are anticipating #8 taking the class lead once more as Mathai cranks out a lap in 9mins 45.476secs.
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
IT'S A FIVE O'CLOCK WORLD
05:00: #1, 31, 23, 121, 25, 26, 10, 261, 64, 45.
#261 is the BMW 320d of Muller/Farfus/Ekblom/Sorlie.
At just gone 05:30 #7 is 26th, #8 is 27th. Rose is the faster of the two and taking chunks of time from Kermit.
Matthew adjusts his overalls after getting out the car in the rain.
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
IT'S FOUR IN THE MORNING
The Manthey Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR of Timo Bernhard/Marc Lieb/Romain Dumas/Marcel Tiemann has completed a recovery drive after an early delay to lead the race at the thirteenth hour.
2nd #31, #23, #3, #121, #25.
Matthew Marsh talks to Rupert Lloyd Thomas about driving the Nurburgring at night in the rain.
04:40 - The #7 Aston Martin is now shown in 24th place, with the #8 car in 27th.
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
ROSE BLOSSOMS AT GREEN HELL
#8 23rd, #7 27th at 02:20.
Last lap for Rose 10mins 26.891secs. #7 is running a faster pace, last lap for Kermit 9mins 55.221secs.
02:35 #7 to pits for fuel, tyres and pads. They started fitting dry tyres, switched to wets as it started to rain more heavily. 02:40 #8 with Matthew Marsh aboard calls at the pits for fuel and wet tyres. Lap times are lengthening dramatically due to the wet weather. We are now past the half way mark of the race. #8 12mins 25.569secs on lap 68, still in the class lead.
O/A 03:15: #3, 1, 31, 23, 121, 25.
#22 is now 12th six laps down.
Matthew Marsh has now completed 70 laps and retains the class lead in tricky wet conditions here at the Ring. Matthew handed the car over to Shin-Ichi Katsura at 03:45 after a spell on a very treacherous track.
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
TWO O'CLOCK
The lead car at 02:00 is the #3 Land Motorsport Porsche GT3 RSR of Marc Basseng/Johannes Stuck/Patrick Simon.
Followed by #22, #1, #31, #23, #25, Porsches all.
02:20 - #8 now 23rd after turning a lap of 10mins 16.624secs. #7 is 28th and expected to stop shortly.
Now 24th for car #8.
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
ONE O'CLOCK: TEN HOURS IN
O/A at 01:15: Porsche #22, Porsche #3, Porsche #1, Porsche #31, Porsche #23, Porsche #121.
Car #8 24th, #7 33rd.
A remarkable comeback for Porsche #1 - the top three cars are on the lead lap 63 - the Porsche steamroller is getting started.
Hi to Jo Martin in NZ who says "Good to see that Rose is going well and up to 24th. Hope that Matthew is enjoying the 'Ring in the rain." See video below.
01:35 Matthew Marsh in the car, taking over from Oliver Mathai for a long stint. The car is now 22nd and leading the class SP8, as we head towards 02:00.
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
HALF PAST TWELVE
Car #8 is in twenty-seventh position with Oliver Mathai at the wheel. There has been some rain since about 11:15, shortly after Mathai got in the car. The #7 car is in 34th place.
Matthew Marsh spoke to Rupert Lloyd Thomas on the pit wall as the race approaches midnight.
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
TEN O'CLOCK
#8 is 31st, #7 is 34th. Matthew Marsh ran a stint and a half, before the team put Katsura back in the car. Marsh was running a conservative race pace to save fuel and minimise the time spent in the pits. Matthew said the traffic was not proving to be a problem. His water bottle had punctured and he was short of a drink in the car - he had to borrow some money from his father to buy a new one. Oliver Mathai said he was very pleased compared to last year when he had all the bad luck. The car is carrying a lucky jade charm courtesy of Mrs Marsh.
The team plans to play to their strengths, with Mathai and Marsh doing most of the night running.
Running order O/A at 10:00 - Porsche #22, Porsche #3, BMW #5, Porsche #31, Porsche #4, Porsche #1[creeping back up the leader board after an early delay].
Update: 10:45 #7 29th, #8 34th.
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
ONE QUARTER DISTANCE
In the lead is the #22 Porsche of Emmanuel Collard, Marino Franchitti, Frank Stippler and Richard Westbrook on 38 laps. Second the #5 BMW, third the Porsche #3, fourth Porsche #31, fifth the Alzen Porsche #4, sixth Porsche #23.
Car #8 is 31st at one quarter distance on 34 laps. Car #7 is 44th, also on 34 laps.
The #5 BMW has moved into the lead shortly after nine o'clock.
The DBRS 9 has dropped down the leader board as Tomas Enge got out of the car at 09:24.
Battle for the lead between the #5 BMW and #22 Porsche running seconds apart.
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
FIVE HOURS: ROSE 29th, KERMIT 39th
Matthew Marsh in the pitlane prior to driving the yellow Aston Martin known as Rose.
[Pic by Colin Marsh.]
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
FOUR HOURS: STANDBY FOR MATTHEW MARSH
We are waiting for the #8 Aston Martin to pit when Matthew Marsh will get behind the wheel for the first time in anger in the 24 Hour race. The car is running 29th as we approach seven o'clock in the evening.
After the disappointment at Daytona, when his Ferrari was out of the race after two hours, hopes are high for a sustained run to the finish for Matthew and the team here at the Nurburgring.
Now showing #8 in 25th after 23 laps.
The Fiat 500 #168 is still trundling round.
19:05: The #8 has pitted from 24th place and we are waiting for Matthew's out lap. Routine stop. Now completed in 13mins 05.700secs. First flying lap 10mins 05.258 secs.
The Viper is slithering up the leader board towards the top twenty.
RLT.
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
THREE HOURS AND COUNTING
The Aston Martins are running in convoy: #7 32nd, #8 33rd, four seconds apart. The DBRS 9 is ninth. Thought to be 4th and 5th in class. Now two laps down. Overall a good start for the Vantage cars.
27th for #7, 29th for #8 after 21 laps, 2 laps down on the leader.
18:50 #47 Porsche to the pits with a shredded tyre.
RLT.
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
Saturday, May 24, 2008
ULRICH BEZ IN HIS ELEMENT
Dr Ulrich Bez, left, Aston Martin CEO, watches as the #8 Vantage V8 makes a pitstop. Oliver Mathai handed over the car to Shin-Ichi Katsura about 17:20 in the afternoon.
[Pic by Colin Marsh.]
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
SMOOTH STOP FOR ROSE: KATSURA IN CAR
Oliver Mathai handed over the yellow Aston Martin #8 to Shin-Ichi Katsura at about 17:20 after a scheduled stop for fuel and tyres. Matthew Marsh is expected to take over the car at 19:00. The #8 Aston Martin is running 35th, #7 is 38th.
#24 Porsche stopped on the circuit, now to pit garage.
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
RSVP TO THE RING
Please send emails about the Nurburgring 24 hours to ring@matthewmarsh.net
Radio Le Mans is broadcasting - from a booth in the Aston Martin suite one floor above the press office here at the Nurburgring. RLT.
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
With about an hour to go the two Aston Martin Vantage V8 N24 cars are being fettled for the start of ADAC Zurich 24h Rennen on the Nurburgring-Nordschleife circuit, the Green Hell. The pits and paddock are heaving as the time counts down to 15:00.
Car #7, known as Kermit, was qualified 43rd by driver Chris Porritt, in a time of 9mins 38.556secs. The car will be started in the race by Wolfgang Schubauer. The other drivers are Ulrich Bez and Richard Meaden.
Car #8, known as Rose, was qualified 46th by Oliver Mathai, in a time of 9mins 39.187 secs, and Oliver will take the first session at the wheel. He will be followed in the car by Matthew Marsh from Hong Kong and then Japanese driver Shin-Ichi Katsura. Mathai will possibly take a long first stint to put the car on a different pitstop strategy to car #7, and also #6, the Prodrive-run Aston Martin DBRS 9 of Tomas Enge, Stephan Mücke, Robert Lechner and Karl Wendlinger.
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
ROSE REFUELLING
The Aston Martin known as 'Rose' is refuelled at the Nurburgring during final practice.
RLT. [Pic by Colin Marsh.]
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
HACK TACKLES MARSH
Matthew Marsh faces a gentleman of the press.
RLT. [Pic by Colin Marsh.]
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
KATSURA WAITS HIS TURN
Shin-Ichi Katsura waits his turn in the pitlane during final qualifying as the #8 Aston Martin is out on track.
Pic by RLT.
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
PITLANE CONFIDENTIAL
The new Apollo passes Kermit and Rose on Friday morning.
RLT. [Pic by Colin Marsh.]
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
ASTON MARTIN EMPHASISES 'RING CONNECTION
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Aston Martin Chairman David Richards is at the Nurburgring this week-end to see his cars compete in the 24 hour race, which starts at 15:00 on Saturday. Richards took a ride around the circuit in one his companies Vantage sports cars, after attending the launch of a new Aston Martin development centre situated nearby. New to the circuit, he expressed surprise that cars could race at the track known as the "Green Hell."The centre will provide a venue for customer support and arrive-and-drive opportunities for those wishing to race an Aston Martin at this famous circuit. Built in just thirteen weeks to be ready in time for this year's event, the centre reflects the high standards implicit in the Aston Martin brand, with many examples of the British-built machines on display. Words and Pic by RLT.
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
Friday, May 23, 2008
FIRST PRACTICE POINTS TO PORSCHE
The Manthey Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR of Timo Bernhard, Marc Lieb, Romain Dumas and Marcel Tiemann set fastest time in first qualifying in a time of 8mins 26.730 secs. Second was the Porsche 911 of Jurgen Alzen, Markus Gedlich, Christian Abt and Christian Menzel. Third was the Dodge Viper of Sascha Bert, Christophe Bouchut, Tom Coronel and Duncan Huisman.
Sixth fastest was the Aston Martin DBRS 9 of Tomas Enge, Stephan Mücke, Robert Lechner and Karl Wendlinger in a time of 8mins 49.880 secs.
In 35th place was the Aston Martin V8 Vantage N24 of Ulrich Bez, Christopher Porritt, Richard Meaden, and Wolgang Schuhbauer. The similar car of Oliver Mathai, Matthew Marsh and Katsura Shin-Ichi finished with 40th best time: 9mins 39.748 secs. The two N24 cars carry the nicknames Kermit and Rose.
The race starts at 15:00 tomorrow
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
TALKING HEADS
Matthew Marsh talks to Rupert Lloyd Thomas at the Nurburgring about driving his Aston Martin in the 24 hour race:
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
GLORIOUS PAST, FANTASTIC FUTURE
The names of the corners on the Nurburgring-Nordschleife bring back childhood memories, when reading about this circuit, which was originally built as a make-work project to attract visitors to the Eiffel region: Flugplatz, Pflanzgarten, Karussell, Schwalbenschwanz. A petrolheads dream. No furtive acceptance of racing here.
A celebration of the motor car on a scale never before witnessed. A heritage that speaks of Auto Union, Mercedes, Porsche, Ferrari, Lotus and Aston Martin. A circuit that is being remodelled this year. Seven cranes tower over a building site near the start/finish line that will feature a new hotel, casino, events hall, grandstands and a kart track. RLT.
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
FEELING NO PAIN AT NORDSCHLEIFE
Greetings from the Nurburgring. You can send comments and questions about the Nurburgring 24 hours to RLT at ring@matthewmarsh.netTo Germany yesterday from the UK. Train ride from Lewes to Ashford, pickup by Colin Marsh and Arni Wookey at Ashford International in BMW M3. Channel Tunnel. France on strike as usual, huge queue of trucks for miles at Calais waiting to get the shuttle. About 300 miles through Belgium, past Spa-Francorchamps to the Nurburgring arriving 19:45.
Dinner with Matthew Marsh at Restaurant Pistenklause. Jolly racing crowd with Tom Coronel greeting us at the table. To Adenau for hotel check-in. Top digs. Three small beers and early night at 11:00.
Now in the F1 standard press office hooked up to WiFi and ready to rock. Something like 300 wired seats in the press office. This is motor racing on an industrial scale with the big 24h race on the Nordschleife and short-circuit support races.
Matthew Marsh is on track in the yellow factory Aston Martin at this awesome venue. I know that is an overworked word but it truly applies in this case. The 12.9 mile circuit will start 220 cars in the big race. RLT. [Pic: Colin Marsh.]
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
IN THE PAPERS
Hong Kong's top-selling newspaper, Apple Daily, ran this story last week about Aston Martin inviting a Hong Kong driver to join their team at the Nuerburgring 24 hours.
Labels: Aston Martin, N24
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
BOOM, LIKE THAT
(Photos by Martin Meiners)
It was great to get back to the Nuerburgring-Nordschleife last weekend. I first raced there in 2000 and when I returned for the first time in 2006 I had to ask myself what I had been doing for the past six years. Wasting my life was the only answer I could give
Good also finally to be sharing a car with Richard Meaden. We first met at Silverstone in 2004 when we were both guest drivers in the Maserati Trofeo race supporting the British Grand Prix. Sadly Richard won't be in the same car as me for the 24-hours but I hope he will continue to provide advice and support - much needed and appreciated last weekend!
I will be sharing again with Oliver Mathai at the 24-hours and this is clearly a good thing. His opening lap on Saturday morning (after a year out of the car) was a 9:22 followed by a 9:18 - my best all weekend was a 9:32! Here is Oliver speaking to team
manager Graham Humphrys:
Our car, 'Rose' ran almost faultlessly in the race which is a good sign. We were unlucky to lose an engine drive belt (almost certainly caused by some gravel getting in to the engine bay). The Aston Martin team are well practiced at the pit stops:
It was good to see that Aston Martin really do use their motor sport to develop and improve their cars. This is not about testing concepts. The N24 is a V8 Vantage which has been adapted for the race track and the lessons learnt at the 'Ring are passed back to the production line at Gaydon. Below I talk to test driver Chris Porrit - who piloted the green N24, 'Kermit' over the weekend:
Here's Kermit in action (followed by Rose):
And here's Rose yumping out at Pflanzgarten!
Labels: Aston Martin, VLN
Saturday, April 26, 2008
'RING RUSTY NO MORE
Matthew Marsh final report from the Nurburgring:"I went to the lavatory and when I came out the car had arrived - two laps early - because a drive belt had come off the engine. So I threw on my helmet and got strapped in as the team struggled to fit a new belt.
"We lost a lot of time to this problem but somehow managed to finish 130th overall and 3rd in class.
More important for me personally is that my lap times are now becoming more decent. From 9:59 in free practice I am now doing 9:32s."
RLT. [Pic by Stephan Diekmann - www.d-m-motorsport.de ]
Labels: Aston Martin, VLN
FRANCHITTI LEADS - reports RLT
Marino Franchitti in the Porsche leads. Meanwhile Kermit is running 37th with Chris Porritt on board. By the way VLN stands for Veranstaltergemeinschaft Langstreckenpokal Nürburgring.
Update: For Matthew finishing tenth in the Nurburgring 24 Hours in 2006 go here. 2007 here.
RLT.
Labels: Aston Martin, VLN
FIRST HOUR IN THE EIFFEL
MM reports "There are two V8 Vantage 'N24' cars being run here by Aston Martin Lagonda (an extension of the factory's engineering department). There's also a DBRS9 being run by Aston Martin Racing (the Prodrive-Aston Martin partnership) with Karl Wendlinger and Robert Lechner at the wheel. Sadly their race ended on the first lap after Robert spun-off on oil at the Eschbach corner.We had a drama approaching the end of the first hour when Richard radioed in to say there is oil all over the place and then - 10 seconds later - that he had spun off on the oil! Luckily he found one of the few gravel traps on the circuit and the car was undamaged. The car was pushed out and Richard returned to the pits. Oliver Mathai is now at the wheel.
Richard says it's crazy out there with cars smashed to pieces at almost every corner and the track littered with debris and oil. "Everyone's gone a bit giddy," he said."
Update: The other N24 - driven by Wolfgang Schuhbauer - lies 2nd in the SP8 class. As reported by Richard many cars are crashing or retiring with technical maladies. This has helped the Aston team. In our class the two Gallardos and a Dodge Viper have retired elevating Kermit to P2.
RLT. [Pic by Stephan Diekmann - www.d-m-motorsport.de]
Labels: Aston Martin, VLN
RUSHES FROM THE 'RING
Matthew Marsh reports "We started 46th of 230. Not sure of leaders because I don't know the car numbers. I think it's Coronel (Viper) from Marino Franchitti in a Porsche." RLT.
Labels: Aston Martin, VLN
FACTORY ASTON FOR NOTORIOUS NORDSCHLEIFE - writes Rupert Lloyd Thomas
The news is out! Matthew Marsh is driving a works Aston Martin in the 4 hour VLN race on the famous Nurburgring-Nordschleife circuit this weekend. The drive is seen as a warm-up for the Nurburgring 24 Hours, as Matthew will drive the same car in the big race on May 24/25. The drive came about through discussion with Aston Martin's CEO Dr Ulrich Bez over dinner in Tokyo.
Matthew reports: "Aston Martin have run the V8 Vantage racer in the Nurburgring 24 hour race since 2006. The car I am driving is the yellow one - Rose. There's also a green one -'Kermit' - driven here by Chris Porritt and Wolfgang Schuhbauer. Both are development drivers/engineers at Aston Martin. Theirs has the 'sportshift' paddle gear change.
"At the 24 hour race I will share with Oliver Mathai (Supercup in mid-90s) and a Japanese driver, Katsura-san. This weekend I'm with Richard Meaden, a motoring journalist previously of EVO and now of driver's republic - a website.
"The car is surprisingly good - lots of grip and well balanced. However, I'm struggling to drive it because I have a difficulty in the cockpit. The problem is mine, of course - I have very long legs. The car, called 'Rose,' is the first N24 (the oldest Vantage, actually, I think) and I believe the later cars are much more comfortable - I don't recall having a problem in the production model N24 racer I drove at Zhuhai. I'm struggling to do a blip on downchange because of the angle of my legs and this made me very weak in braking zones. I was 30 seconds off the pace in free practice!
"Anyway, it's great to be here. The team are really nice and the guy I am driving with, Richard Meaden, has assured me I'll get used to the cockpit. I think he's right. He talked me through a lap over dinner and it's amazing the high gears he's using in corners. High gears obviates the need for a downchange which is good news! I'm looking forward to putting his advice into practice."
For more on the Aston Martin go here. RLT.
Labels: Aston Martin, VLN
Friday, June 22, 2007
GOODWOOD
After two weekends in a row doing driving stints of two hours, this weekend my runs should be about a minute! I'm driving a 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Labels: Aston Martin
