Photo : PASCAL SAIVET / VISION SPORT AGENCY

 

A year ago, at the beginning of the third lap, 8 minutes and 20 seconds after the start of the race, Allan Simonsen left the track at the exit of Tertre Rouge and hit hard on the barrier. A fatality that still haunts David Richards, Chairman of Aston Martin.

"Sometimes I sit and think about what happened last year”, said Richards. “I feel very sad. The team remembers him with great affection. Allan and his memory will be with us during the race because we need to move forward ... "

For Prodrive who are in charge of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage entries in LM GTE Pro and LM GTE Am, the 2014 edition of the 24 Hours is significant as it coincides with the 30th anniversary of the famous engineering company based in Banbury , England.

"There are many highlights in these three decades, as we have raced in all major disciplines of motor sport, F1 to Sport-Prototypes through Rally and Touring Cars. Thirty years is the prime of life and we have lots of projects, things to do. I'm more confident for the future of Prodrive than a few years ago. There are now a lot of young and talented people within the company where there is a dynamic atmosphere! "

Of all the programs run by Prodrive, the 24 Hours of Le Mans has always occupied a special place, because of the notoriety of the event and also memories of the team boss. "Le Mans came into my life when I was 12. My family was in the habit of going on holiday in Spain and we went through Le Mans. We were four brothers in the back of the family Ford Zodiac and every year, we encouraged our father to break 100 mph. Later, I watched the 24 Hours on TV and I dreamed of racing there. Over time it has become one of our top ambitions at Prodrive ... "

After making a debut in 2002 with the Ferrari 550 Maranello and a first class victory in 2003, the company turned to Aston Martin from 2004 on, scoring two more victories since. On Sunday evening, he obviously hopes to add a fourth one...

"Every year”, David concluded “Le Mans echoes my childhood memory, and it is with great pleasure that I am back in La Sarthe! ". Something he shares with thousands of race fans...

JMD - Translation Dave Davies / ACO

Photo : LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY JUNE 14 2014. David Richards, Chairman of Aston Martin, speaks of his emotions at the 24 Hours 2014.