Photo : PASCAL SAIVET / VSA

 

The pair of Aston Martin Racing LM GTE Am cars spent the race swapping places at the front of the class with the Danish trio of Kristian Poulsen, David Heinemeier Hansson and Nicki Thiim, at one point, leading the entire LM GTE field. Despite challenges from Christoffer Nygaard, Pedro Lamy and Paul Dalla Lana in the #98, it was the #95 car that crossed the line first to take its third race win of the 2014 season and extend its lead at the top of the Championship.

Meanwhile, the #99 driven by Fernando Rees, Alex MacDowall and Darryl O’Young spent the next six hours in a wheel-to-wheel battle with the two AF Corse Ferraris. A clever pit strategy, consistently quick lap times and a reliable car all contributed to the #99 Craft-Bamboo Racing team taking its first WEC podium in only its fifth Championship race.

David Heinemeier-Hansson (driver #95 Aston Martin Vantage GTE, Young Driver AMR, LM GTE Am winner) : “The Vantage GTE makes it easy for gentlemen drivers like Kristian and I to be mixing it up with the professional drivers. If a car is easy to drive, like the Aston Martin is, the difference between the Am and Pro is smaller.”

John Gaw (Aston Martin Racing Team Principal): “I’m really pleased for the #95 team for extending its lead at the top of the Championship. We always do well in Shanghai, we took our first FIA WEC race win there in 2012 and then repeated it in 2013, so we must focus on keeping our strong record there.”

The sixth round of the 2014 FIA WEC, the 6 Hours of Shanghai will take place on Sunday 2 November 2, 2014.

(Based upon Aston Martin Racing press information)

Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, TUESDAY JUNE 10, 2014, DRIVERS' AUTOGRAPH SESSION. The LM GTE Am winners at Fuji, Nicki Thiim, Kristian Poulsen and David Heinemeier-Hansson (left to right) also took the class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.