Reduced AMR Customer Presence Expected in 2016

Photo: Vision Sport Agency

At least one Aston Martin Racing customer has ruled out a return to the FIA World Endurance Championship, with the British manufacturer poised for a reduced presence in 2016 from its five entries this year.

The GTE-Am class No. 96 Aston Martin Vantage V8, backed by Roald Goethe, has no plans of continuing in WEC, with the German gentleman driver, who missed three of the final four rounds due to business commitments, looking to reduce his overall racing program.

“Running in a World Championship takes time and it becomes difficult to reconcile work and racing,” Goethe told Endurance-Info. “That’s why I’m not expected to drive in the WEC next year. In addition, it takes a lot of money.”

Fellow AMR customer Paul Dalla Lana, meanwhile, is expected to continue in the WEC, although the Canadian, who scored a season-high three class wins alongside Pedro Lamy and Mathias Lauda, was still finalizing his program as of last weekend.

AMR team principal John Gaw told Sportscar365 they have yet to establish the number of entries they plan on running next year, although its No. 97 car in GTE-Pro is set to continue with newly re-signed factory ace Darren Turner.

A second GTE-Pro entry is also likely, between this year’s two existing efforts from the No. 99 car of Fernando Rees, Alex MacDowall and Richie Stanaway and the Young Driver-backed No. 95 Aston.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John