TRG Confirms AMR GTE Program

[Beetle]

http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/11/...ng-launch.html

Aston Martin and TRG recently announced their partnership in racing a GTE-spec car(s) in the ALMS next year, GT-spec car(s) in Rolex next year, and GT4-spec Vantages in next years Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. It will be interesting to see if they attempt Le Mans in 2013 or wait until 2014. In any case, I wouldn't be surprised to see them entering some other races with this backing next year. Very interesting news!

[I Rosputnik]

Seems like the floodgates have just opened in regards to GT3 in the US. How long before we see Lamboghini's and McLarens going across as well?

[Beetle]

Originally Posted by I Rosputnik

Seems like the floodgates have just opened in regards to GT3 in the US. How long before we see Lamboghini's and McLarens going across as well?

And Mercedes... my favorite.

My theory: with the announcement of the merger and the F1 race in Austin, teams around the world can see racing is growing in the USA. Also, with the announcement of the merging of GTE and GT3 cars to create one universal GT class, teams seem to have been electrified by the news and are trying to develop and homologate their cars to GTE spec.

[I Rosputnik]

Now the USA just needs a Dubai 24 hours style event.

[Beetle]

Originally Posted by I Rosputnik

Now the USA just needs a Dubai 24 hours style event.

We have it. The 24 Hours of Daytona.

[NaBUru38]

Great news! I hope that Adrián Fernández joins the team.

I'm a bit worried about the one-make series. Weren't they trying to reduce the number of championships?

[The Badger]

Id love to see Turner in that car ..... and Enge .

From what I understand , Enge is banned from Fia sanctioned events but , would the ALMS be ok for him ?

And this is excellant neds indeed . The ALMS GTE class is world envyous , and going from strength to strength .

[Beetle]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Id love to see Turner in that car ..... and Enge .

From what I understand , Enge is banned from Fia sanctioned events but , would the ALMS be ok for him ?

And this is excellant neds indeed . The ALMS GTE class is world envyous , and going from strength to strength .

And it will hopefully be growing in the following years with the possible Williams/RML Jaguar program, the Acura NSX GT Program, the BMW Z4s (next year perhaps!), the McLaren factory program, the eventual Corvette C7 GTs, and the universal 2015 GT class!

Sportscar racing is just getting better and better.

[Pandamasque]

Am I reading that right? 2 full-season entries in ALMS GT? Along with all the other massive plans that looks very ambitious. I hope TRG can pull it off!

[Maelochs]

After all, they aren't anything like Lotus ....

[TrueBlueFlyer]

Originally Posted by Beetle

We have it. The 24 Hours of Daytona.

looking forward to my first one coming up in January...

24hrs of Daytona also has Daytona Prototypes

[Beetle]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

Am I reading that right? 2 full-season entries in ALMS GT? Along with all the other massive plans that looks very ambitious. I hope TRG can pull it off!

That's what I was thinking... hopefully so. I didn't know Kevin Buckler was stashing all that money.

[Jonerz]

Originally Posted by Beetle

That's what I was thinking... hopefully so. I didn't know Kevin Buckler was stashing all that money.

Keep in mind that TRG has been selling cars (and race & street parts and other services), seats and renting crews for years. They have a manageable business model. Furthermore, I believe this is a partnership with Aston Martin Racing/proper. They've started a new LLC, and while money surely has to change hands for the cars, I expect Buckler sees this as a potential profit-making venture.

On an unrelated note, I don't think Adrian Fernandez will be involved after the events of the late WEC season. I hope for a strong driver line-up regardless, and quite frankly I hope Adrian reappears in a P-car.

Chris

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by Beetle

That's what I was thinking... hopefully so. I didn't know Kevin Buckler was stashing all that money.

Its 2 cars ?

[Maelochs]

My understanding is Aston-TRG will run two essentially factory cars (GTE) for ALMS.

Not sure if the Grand Am and World Challenge GT3s and GT4s are all customer cars, but since TRG has so many Porsches which are still legal for those series, I cannot imagine they will be buying Astons for those series ... which means i might be wrong and they are.

[MitchZ06]

Those Porsches don't need to be kept you know....

[WolfsburgRS]

Not that saying it makes it true, but TRG's Facebook page (or one of the releases, can't recall which) said they had 10 Astons of various models and specs for their 2013 effort. That's a lot of cars - and no way could anybody but the very, very wealthiest of privateer teams could afford to do that. That's factory all the way if it's the truth.

[R4z3rw33n]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Id love to see Turner in that car ..... and Enge .

From what I understand , Enge is banned from Fia sanctioned events but , would the ALMS be ok for him ?

And this is excellant neds indeed . The ALMS GTE class is world envyous , and going from strength to strength .

Between ALMS and WEC, there's certainly a demand on AMR with regard to driver provision - at least, if there's an intention to place factory drivers in the TRG entries.
Seems there'll be some seats opening, regardless.

Originally Posted by WolfsburgRS

Not that saying it makes it true, but TRG's Facebook page (or one of the releases, can't recall which) said they had 10 Astons of various models and specs for their 2013 effort. That's a lot of cars - and no way could anybody but the very, very wealthiest of privateer teams could afford to do that. That's factory all the way if it's the truth.

The nature of the deal isn't entirely clear. Although, there seems to be official AM/US involvement via the N/A dealers association.
As you've mentioned, an inventory list of that depth doesn't occur by accident - seems likely there's funding involved.

Originally Posted by Article

An integral part of the new company and relationship with Aston Martin is its North American dealership network that will work together with the new TRG-AMR North American group to explore partnership and marketing opportunities together. There are 35 Aston Martin dealerships in the US with five additional in Canada.

[HORNDAWG]

It is a full AMR partnership;
"Under a new partnership; TRG-Aston Martin Racing North America, LLC (hereafter; TRG-AMR), the two companies will work together with the aim of bringing Aston Martin race cars to all of the major sports car racing series’ in the United States."


http://www.astonmartin.com/en/racing...e-221be7ba1000




L.P.

[TrueBlueFlyer]

why do the Aston Martins always look like they have lipstick on?



btw... TRG normally races that many Porsche's.... was walking thru their paddock at the US F1 GP, and they had quite a few Porsche's racing in the Carrera Cup as well as the Grand-Am and ALMS versions just there for display purposes.

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by TrueBlueFlyer

why do the Aston Martins always look like they have lipstick on?

It's an old tradition...
<--- as you can see.

It originated in the 50-s (if not earlier) to help the team tell its cars apart from a distance when they approach the pits or pass by. Other manufacturers and teams were doing similar stuff.

Little known fact is that when Prodrive were running the BAR F1 team, that's when Button was fighting for poles vs the almighty Ferrari F2004 and Davidson regularly matched Schumi on Fridays, the two BAR 006 F1 cars had that tiny little nose cone hole painted in different colours. One was orange, the other light green or turquoise. Rings a bell? I think Richards is quite fond of that tradition even though it made no sense in F1. And the next year Prodrive rolled out the DBR9 with similar marking.

[KA]

Originally Posted by R4z3rw33n

The nature of the deal isn't entirely clear. Although, there seems to be official AM/US involvement via the N/A dealers association.
As you've mentioned, an inventory list of that depth doesn't occur by accident - seems likely there's funding involved.

With that many cars apparently involved, it does suggest that there may be one or more customers/owners with their cars being run by TRG, rather than Buckler actually owning all of them himself

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by KA

With that many cars apparently involved, it does suggest that there may be one or more customers/owners with their cars being run by TRG, rather than Buckler actually owning all of them himself

I'd have assumed the lower class stuff would just be rent-a-rides like the Porsche Cup cars? Aston will own the cars.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Beetle

We have it. The 24 Hours of Daytona.

Dubai and Daytona are completely different kinds of 24 hour races.

[Beetle]

Originally Posted by Matt

Dubai and Daytona are completely different kinds of 24 hour races.

Dubai and Spa... similar.

Good news on the OFFICIAL partnership stuff... that means that they will definitely be at Le Mans and perhaps with some extra cars.