LeMans: Aston’s French invasion

France is preparing itself for a British invasion at the weekend. This coming Saturday sees the Le Mans 24 hours race get underway, and Aston Martin is out to score a victory on the 50th anniversary of its first win at the gruelling endurance event.

The UK outfit is entering three of its distinctive orange and blue-liveried LMP1 racers, including one for former Formula One ace Anthony Davidson and ex-BTCC star Darren Turner.

However, the British squad will have its work cut out, as its petrol-powered cars lack the outright pace of the diesel-engined machines of arch-rivals Peugeot and Audi. Race organisers have attempted to slow down the oil-burners by reducing the speed of fuel delivery at pitstops and adding an extra 30kg of ballast. But despite these changes, the Astons are still slower over a single lap of the legendary La Sarthe circuit.

That means the battle for overall victory is likely to be between Peugeot and Audi. The German squad has an incredible record at Le Mans, winning eight times in the last nine years, with Scot Allan McNish taking the honours in 2008.

This time out Audi will be racing its all-new R15 TDI racer, which made its debut at March’s Sebring 12-hour race in America. Not only did the newcomer take a maiden victory, it also beat the Peugeot 908 HDis in the process.

But don’t rule the French firm out just yet, though, as team bosses are desperate to score a victory on home territory. Like Aston and Audi, it’s entering a three-car squad as it aims to go one better on last year’s second-place finish.

Also in with a shot of victory are the two privately run Audi R10s of Kolles Racing. With former F1 drivers Nahrain Karthikeyan and Christijan Albers behind the wheel, these year-old machines will be there to pick up the pieces if trouble strikes Audi, Peugeot or Aston.